The bill amends sections 45-53-3 and 45-53-4 of the General Laws concerning "Low and Moderate Income Housing," introducing new definitions and clarifying application procedures for substantial multi-family housing projects, defined as those proposing to build over sixty units in municipalities with populations under 35,000. It requires separate applications for substantial projects to be submitted to local boards, which will evaluate their consistency with local needs.

The bill establishes a structured process for substantial multi-family housing applications, including a mandatory pre-application conference with local review boards. Applicants must provide documentation demonstrating that the project is consistent with local needs, including the impact on public school systems, public transportation, and public infrastructure. The bill sets a timeline for scheduling the pre-application conference and allows applicants to proceed with the application for preliminary plan review if the conference does not occur within the specified timeframe.

Additionally, the bill mandates that all applications for substantial multi-family housing projects require final plan review and approval by local review boards. It specifies that local review board decisions on these applications must be made by a majority vote of the entire board.

The act aims to streamline the approval process for low- and moderate-income housing while ensuring that local needs are prioritized and is set to take effect upon passage.