The bill amends various sections of the Rhode Island Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Act to facilitate the development of state-owned vacant, abandoned, or underutilized land for housing purposes. Key provisions include the establishment of a process for state agencies wishing to undertake programs or projects on such lands that do not conform to local comprehensive plans or zoning ordinances. In these cases, the state planning council is required to hold a public hearing within sixty days of receiving the proposal, providing at least fourteen days' notice to the relevant municipality. During the hearing, the state agency must demonstrate the proposal's conformity with the state guide plan, its necessity for public health, safety, and welfare, and that it has considered local design standards and obtained expert reports on potential impacts.

Furthermore, the bill specifies that local regulations and zoning ordinances will not apply to these state projects, provided that the public hearing has been conducted as required. This change aims to streamline the process for housing development on state-owned properties while ensuring local input is considered. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
1093: 45-22.2-10, 45-23-27, 45-24-28