AN ACT VALIDATING AND RATIFYING AMENDMENTS TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF WOONSOCKET

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jon Brien and 2 co-sponsors

Allocates funds from the Regional Planning Incentive Account to each Regional Council of Governments to hire staff who will accelerate planning and permitting for new housing.

07/01/2025 Effective without Governor's signature

HB 6419 — Summary

Basic bill information

Bill Number: HB 6419

Title: AN ACT ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE REGIONAL PLANNING INCENTIVE ACCOUNT TO EACH REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS FOR THE HIRING OF PERSONNEL TO FACILITATE THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL HOUSING

Status: Ref. to Joint Committee on Planning and Development

Introduced: January 23, 2025

Purpose and intent

The bill intends to spur the development of additional housing by providing targeted funding to regional planning bodies. Specifically, it would allocate money from the Regional Planning Incentive Account to each Regional Council of Governments (COGs) to hire personnel tasked with facilitating housing creation. The core aim is to strengthen regional capacity to plan, coordinate, and advance housing projects.

Key provisions (as described in available information)

Funding source: Funds would come from the Regional Planning Incentive Account.

Beneficiaries: Each Regional Council of Governments (COGs) would receive an allocation.

Use of funds: For the hiring of personnel whose duties are to facilitate the creation of additional housing.

Fiscal and program details: The summary provided does not include exact allocation formulas, eligible positions, cap amounts, performance requirements, or oversight provisions. The full bill text would specify these details (e.g., how funds are distributed among COGs, duration of funding, and permissible uses beyond salaries).

Who is affected

Regional Councils of Governments (COGs) across the applicable region/state would be the primary recipients and implementers.

The broader housing development ecosystem could be affected through faster planning, coordination, and permitting processes facilitated by newly hired staff.

Procedural/timeline aspects

Introduced: January 23, 2025.

Status: Referred to the Joint Committee on Planning and Development for consideration, potential hearings, amendments, and vote.

Next steps: The bill would need committee action, passage by the full chamber(s), and, if applicable, reconciliation between measures from different chambers, followed by enactment.

Potential impacts and considerations (questions to anticipate)

Allocation methodology: Will funds be distributed based on population, regional need, or another formula?

Use of funds: Are personnel costs the only eligible use, or can related administrative costs be covered?

Accountability: What reporting and oversight requirements would accompany the funding (milestones, housing outcomes, audits)?

Duration and sunset: Is this funding temporary or ongoing, and are there renewal or sunset provisions?

Local implications: How will towns and municipalities within each COG interact with newly funded staff, and how might this influence local zoning or permitting?

This summary reflects the information available from the bill's introduction and status. The full text will clarify exact allocations, eligible positions, and administrative requirements.