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SB 2690

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

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Bissaillon and 6 co-sponsors

Rhode Island requires owners of low- or moderate-income housing to list units in a state online database, improving access and matching for renters and buyers.

06/18/2026 Signed by Governor
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 2690

Summary of Bill: SB 2690 (Rhode Island, 2026)

Main purpose and intent

  • Modernizes Rhode Island’s approach to low- and moderate-income housing by expanding the scope beyond “low-income” to include “moderate-income” housing.
  • streamlines and centralizes access to affordable housing opportunities through a state-hosted online database.
  • Requires property owners with qualifying low- or moderate-income housing to list their property in the database, with timing rules for new developments.

Key provisions and changes

1) Database of low- and moderate-income housing (amendment to § 45-53-14)
- The executive office of housing or the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation (the “corporation”) must maintain an online database of:
- Residential developments that meet the definition of low- or moderate-income housing (including:
- Low-income housing tax credit developments designated for households at or below 60% of area median income (AMI), adjusted for household size.
- Subsidized housing developments designated for households at or below 80% AMI, adjusted for household size.
- Information to be included (to the extent available):
- Current inventory of such housing unit, and whether it is for rent or sale.
- Contact person or entity and contact information for each development.
- A copy of the application to apply for housing (where available).
- Information on any special populations served (elderly, disabled, homeless, victims of domestic violence).
- Filtering capabilities to identify and alert users to developments matching specific affordable-housing criteria (types of housing desired) as they become available.
- Public accessibility: Database must be accessible to the public by July 1, 2023 (existing deadline prior to this act’s passage; the bill codifies this expectation).

2) Listing obligation for owners of low- or moderate-income housing (new § 45-53-14.1)
- Mandate: Any owner of a property qualifying as low- or moderate-income housing must list the property on the state database.
- Timing for new developments:
- For developments completed after January 1, 2027, listings must occur prior to or concurrently with opening for lease-up (or, for homeownership, prior to leasing or listing for sale).
- Timing for existing and ongoing developments:
- For homeownership units, listings must occur prior to initial sale and prior to or concurrently with listing for resale.
- Note: The policy emphasizes public visibility of affordable units and alignment of listing timing with leasing or sale timelines.

3) Effective date
- The act takes effect on January 1, 2027.

Who is affected

  • Owners of properties qualifying as low- or moderate-income housing (both rental and homeownership units) will be required to list their properties in the state database.
  • The executive office of housing and the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation will administer and maintain the database.
  • Prospective renters, buyers, and the general public gain enhanced access to information about affordable housing options and application processes.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Database availability: Public access requirement remains in force, with an existing deadline (July 1, 2023) noted for the database’s public accessibility.
  • Listing compliance: New listings for post-2027 developments must occur before opening for lease-up or sale; exemptions are not specified beyond the timing rules.
  • Effective date: January 1, 2027, giving owners time to prepare for mandatory listings and for the database to be fully implemented.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Increased transparency and easier access to affordable housing opportunities for Rhode Island residents.
  • Potential administrative burden on owners to list properties and on the state to maintain up-to-date data and robust search/filter capabilities.
  • By removing rigid income percentage thresholds in the explanatory text, the bill emphasizes inclusive access to moderate-income units, subject to how “low- or moderate-income” is defined in current law (with emphasis on units designated for incomes up to 60% or 80% AMI).
  • Enhanced ability to match applicants with available units, including support for populations with special needs.

Note: This summary focuses on the substantive provisions, their intended effects, and timelines based on the bill text.

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

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