The bill amends the Rhode Island General Laws to establish and enhance electronic permitting platforms for state and local permitting processes. Key insertions include the definition of the chapter's scope, which now explicitly covers the maintenance of these electronic platforms, and the introduction of a short title for the act as the “Rhode Island State Building Code.” The bill outlines the responsibilities of the state building code commissioner, emphasizing the enforcement of building codes and the standardization of interpretations across the state. It also introduces a new fee structure for permits, which will be based on a percentage of the total construction cost, with a portion allocated to support the development of a web-accessible service for electronic plan review and permit management.

Significant deletions include the removal of previous deadlines for the building commissioner to develop a standard statewide electronic permitting process by July 1, 2013, and implement it by December 1, 2013. Instead, the bill mandates that all municipalities adopt a standardized electronic permitting platform by October 1, 2025, and requires local towns and cities to charge an additional fee of one-tenth percent of the total application fee to support this system. The bill also mandates the Department of Environmental Management and the Coastal Resources Management Council to establish their electronic permitting platforms by October 1, 2026, ensuring that all necessary filings and documents are conducted electronically. Overall, the amendments aim to modernize and streamline the permitting process, enhancing efficiency and compliance across Rhode Island's municipalities and state departments.

Statutes affected:
1087: 45-23-36.1, 45-24-58.1, 45-53-16, 23-27.3-100.1.1