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HB 6213

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RHODE ISLAND COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND LAND USE ACT--COMPREHENSIVE PERMITS PROHIBITED IN WATERSHED OVERLAY PROTECTION

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jay Edwards and 1 co-sponsor

Prohibits comprehensive permits in watershed overlay protection districts, strengthening local water protections and potentially limiting some housing development pathways.

06/04/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 6213

Summary — HB 6213

Title: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES — RHODE ISLAND COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND LAND USE ACT — COMPREHENSIVE PERMITS PROHIBITED IN WATERSHED OVERLAY PROTECTION

Main purpose / intent

The bill is intended to amend the Rhode Island Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Act (chapter 45‑22.2) to strengthen protections for watersheds by (1) adding or clarifying statutory definitions for “watershed” and “watershed overlay protection district” and (2) (per the bill title) prohibiting the use of comprehensive permits within those watershed overlay protection districts. The text provided with the bill, however, shows detailed amendments to the definitions section (§ 45‑22.2‑4) and does not include the explicit prohibition language in the excerpted pages. Readers should consult the full bill text for the operative prohibition language and placement.

Key provisions (as shown in the bill text)

  • Amends § 45‑22.2‑4 (Definitions) of the Rhode Island Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Act.
  • Adds or clarifies several terms including:
    • “Overlay district” — a zoning district superimposed on one or more underlying districts with potentially stricter (or less strict) standards.
    • “Watershed” — defined as a land area that, because of topography, soil and drainage, collects raw waters that replenish rivers and public water supplies.
    • “Watershed overlay protection district” — defined as a zoning designation applying a specific set of (often stricter) rules intended to protect water resources within a watershed.
  • Other existing definitions in § 45‑22.2‑4 are renumbered/updated in the amendment.

Who would be affected

  • Municipalities: planning boards, zoning officials, and municipal legislative bodies that adopt and administer overlay districts and comprehensive plans.
  • Developers and property owners: especially those proposing multi‑unit or large developments that would otherwise seek comprehensive permits that may be used to override certain local land‑use standards.
  • Water suppliers, watershed protection organizations, and downstream users: could gain stronger local regulatory tools to protect drinking water sources and watershed quality.
  • Municipal housing and land‑use advocates: potential tension between watershed protections and strategies (such as comprehensive permits) used to facilitate affordable housing or density.

Likely impacts

  • If the bill’s title reflects its substantive intent (prohibiting comprehensive permits in watershed overlay protection districts), it would limit or remove the ability of developers to use the comprehensive‑permit process to circumvent local zoning standards in designated watershed protection areas. This could:
    • Strengthen municipal control and water‑quality protections in sensitive watersheds.
    • Reduce siting options for certain residential developments (including affordable housing) that rely on comprehensive permits as a development pathway.
  • The definition changes themselves make explicit the statutory basis for municipally adopted watershed overlay protection zones, clarifying the legal framework for local land‑use regulation related to water resources.

Procedural status and timeline

  • Introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly: text indicates introduced April 9, 2025 by Representatives Edwards and McGaw and referred to the House Municipal Government & Housing Committee.
  • Hearing scheduled May 30, 2025; committee action on June 4, 2025: Committee recommended the measure be held for further study (i.e., no immediate advancement).
  • Note: the legislative history and document set provided also contains unrelated entries and a separate Michigan income tax amendment text; the operative Rhode Island portion relevant to HB 6213 is the § 45‑22.2‑4 amendment and the bill title referencing prohibition of comprehensive permits in watershed overlay districts.

Recommendation

Because the excerpted bill text primarily shows definitional changes and does not include the explicit prohibition language, consult the full bill text or committee reports to review the exact statutory amendment that would bar comprehensive permits in watershed overlay protection districts and to identify transitional provisions, enforcement, or exceptions.

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

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