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

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lou DiPalma and 1 co-sponsor

Tiverton could pause processing of all new comprehensive permit applications if 500+ units are proposed, with no grandfathered applications during the moratorium.

05/12/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Summary of SB 2581 (Rhode Island, 2026)

Purpose and intent

This bill would authorize the town of Tiverton to adopt an emergency moratorium on certain housing permit applications if there is a substantial level of proposed low- and moderate-income housing projects.

The aim is to give Tiverton a temporary pause in processing new comprehensive permit applications when 500 or more units are proposed in total, allowing time to reconsider or adjust existing comprehensive permit requirements.

Key provisions and changes

New Section 45-53-17: Tiverton emergency moratorium

Trigger: If Tiverton has an aggregate of 500 or more units proposed in a comprehensive permit project or projects.
Authority: Tiverton may enact an emergency moratorium and may refuse to accept or process further applications during the moratorium.
Grandfathering: No applications proposed, offered, submitted, or tendered during the moratorium will have any grandfathered status. In other words, they would not be treated as exempt from the moratorium or given special consideration.
Duration: The moratorium may continue until such time as the comprehensive permit requirements in § 45-53-4 are amended.

Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.

Who/what is affected

Primary: The town of Tiverton, Rhode Island.

Affected processes: Comprehensive permit applications for low- and moderate-income housing under Rhode Island's low and moderate income housing framework.

Applicants: Developers or entities proposing 500+ units in Tiverton would be impacted by a temporary halt in processing; no new applications during the moratorium would receive grandfathered status.

Procedural and timeline considerations

Introduction and referral: Introduced February 13, 2026, referred to Senate Housing & Municipal Government.

Scheduling: The bill shows an upcoming hearing/consideration date (as of the action history) on May 12, 2026.

Implementation: If enacted, the moratorium would take effect immediately upon passage, and would persist until the state's comprehensive permit requirements (as codified in § 45-53-4) are amended.

Potential impact and considerations

Short-term impact: Tiverton would have the authority to pause new comprehensive permit applications once 500+ units are proposed, potentially slowing the rate of development during the moratorium period.

Policy nuance: The bill targets a specific scenario (large-scale proposed housing units) and provides a mechanism for local control while larger changes to the comprehensive permit framework remain possible through amendments to § 45-53-4.

Grandfathering note: Any applications filed during the moratorium would not receive grandfathered treatment, emphasizing the temporary nature of the pause.

Note: This summary presents the bill’s provisions as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may occur during the legislative process.