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HB 8470

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Chippendale and 5 co-sponsors

RIHA must verify and document Coventry’s affordable housing stock twice per year.

05/26/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 8470

Summary of HB 8470 (2026) — Rhode Island

Title

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING

Purpose and Intent

  • To ensure ongoing monitoring of affordable housing stock in Coventry, Rhode Island.
  • The bill directs state housing authorities to document and verify Coventry’s affordable housing inventory on a regular basis.

Key Provisions

  • Section added to Chapter 45-53 (Low and Moderate Income Housing):

    • New provision: 45-53-17. Affordable housing stock in Coventry.
    • Requirement: The Rhode Island Housing Authority (RIHA) must verify and document the count of affordable housing stock in the town of Coventry twice per year.

  • Effective Date:

    • The act takes effect upon passage (immediate applicability after enactment).

Who Is Affected

  • Primary: The town of Coventry, Rhode Island.
  • Secondary: The Rhode Island Housing Authority (RIHA), which is tasked with performing the verification and documentation.
  • Other stakeholders may include Coventry residents and local housing policy planners who rely on RIHA data for analysis and program design.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction Date: April 17, 2026.
  • Referred to: House Municipal Government & Housing.
  • The act does not specify a detailed methodology, reporting format, or timeline beyond requiring RIHA to conduct two verifications per year. No interim or interim reporting schedule is provided beyond the twice-yearly mandate.

Potential Implications

  • Data Availability: The bill will provide RIHA-generated data on Coventry’s affordable housing stock twice annually, potentially improving transparency and informing local and state housing policy decisions.
  • Policy Oversight: Creates a formal data verification obligation for RIHA specific to Coventry, which could influence Coventry’s compliance status for any state affordable housing targets or requirements.
  • Administrative Burden: RIHA will incur administrative tasks to inventory and verify Coventry’s affordable housing stock on a semiannual basis.

Notes

  • The bill is narrowly focused on Coventry and does not address other towns or broader statewide housing inventory requirements.
  • It does not specify mechanisms for how “affordable housing stock” is defined in this context beyond existing RIHA standards, nor does it outline sanctions or remedies if targets are not met.
  • Co-sponsors include Representatives Chippendale, Noret, Serpa, Nardone, Roberts, and Read.

If you would like, I can add a brief glossary of terms (e.g., “affordable housing stock”) or compare this bill to existing Rhode Island housing statutes for context.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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