Bill
HB 6068
Creates Rhode Island's public database of low/moderate-income housing with monthly municipal updates and notices to prospective buyers and renters.
Status (key dates)
- Introduced: March 12, 2025 (House Municipal Government & Housing)
- Committee activity: Scheduled hearing March 28, 2025; as of April 2, 2025, committee recommended the measure be held for further study.
- Effective date in bill text: upon passage.
Purpose
- Create an up-to-date, publicly accessible statewide inventory and notification system for single‑family and rental units that qualify as low- or moderate‑income housing, by requiring municipalities and certain market actors to report unit availability to the Rhode Island Department of Housing, which will maintain an online database and notify interested persons.
Key provisions
- New statutory section added to Chapter 45‑53 (Low and Moderate Income Housing) — § 45‑53‑14.1 (Reporting by municipalities of single‑family low‑ or moderate‑income housing).
- Department responsibilities:
- In coordination with Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation, maintain an online database of rental units and single‑family households for rent or sale that would be considered low‑ or moderate‑income housing.
- Maintain a list of individuals (email and/or phone) who sign up to receive notices of available units and send monthly notifications of new/updated inventory.
- Post the information publicly on the department’s website (to be available without delay by April 2, 2026) and update it monthly.
- Provide an annual report to the Speaker of the House and Senate President by January 31 listing the number of single‑family low/mod properties and rentals in existence and under construction, indexed by municipality.
- Provide monthly statewide notices to each municipality and municipal housing authority for local public posting.
- Promulgate implementing rules and regulations as needed.
- Municipal obligations:
- Beginning December 31, 2025, submit monthly updates to the department about current inventory and units under construction that are available or soon to be available for purchase or rent, plus contact information for the property/contact person or entity.
- Developer / realtor obligations:
- Any developer receiving a certificate of occupancy for property considered low/mod income, and any realtor listing such property for rent or sale, must provide location and any additional information the department requires.
Who is affected
- Municipalities: new recurring (monthly) reporting burden to the Department of Housing.
- State agencies: Department of Housing and Rhode Island Housing — responsible for building and maintaining the database, notification lists, and reports.
- Developers and realtors: required to report certain listings and certificate‑of‑occupancy information.
- Prospective low/mod income renters and buyers: improved ability to find available units via the database and opt‑in notifications.
- Municipal housing authorities and the general public: greater visibility of local inventory.
Implementation timeline (as provided)
- Monthly municipal reporting begins December 31, 2025.
- Public posting of collected information on the department’s website: required by April 2, 2026, and monthly updates thereafter.
- Annual legislative report due each January 31.
Other notable points / potential impacts
- The bill does not specify enforcement mechanisms or penalties for noncompliance in the text provided.
- The definition or income thresholds that determine whether a unit is “low‑ or moderate‑income” are not detailed in the excerpt; these likely rely on existing definitions in Chapter 45‑53 or other state policy.
- Implementation will likely require administrative resources (staff, IT/database build and maintenance, outreach) and data‑privacy safeguards for registrant contact information.
- The measure aims to increase transparency, centralize available housing data, and improve matching between supply and people seeking low/mod income homes.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
