Allows faith-based organizations to develop affordable and mixed-use housing on land they own as a by-right use, set statewide development standards, limit local barriers, and streamline approvals to expand housing supply.

Rhode Island Faith-Based Affordable Housing Development Act

This bill would allow churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious organizations to build affordable housing or mixed-use developments (such as apartments combined with shops or services) on land they already own. Under this proposal, these projects would be permitted "by right," meaning faith-based groups could move forward with construction without needing special approval from local zoning boards or going through lengthy public hearings. The state would set uniform development standards that would apply statewide, limiting the ability of individual cities and towns to block or significantly restrict these types of projects.

The goal of the bill is to increase Rhode Island's overall housing supply by making it easier to use land that religious organizations already own but may not be fully using. Many religious properties include parking lots, vacant lots, or underused buildings that could potentially be converted into or replaced with housing. By streamlining the approval process, supporters of this approach argue that housing could be built faster and with less expense compared to traditional development pathways.

This bill would affect religious organizations across Rhode Island by giving them a new option for how they use their property. It would also affect local governments, which would have less authority to restrict these specific types of housing projects. Renters and prospective homebuyers could potentially benefit if the bill leads to more affordable housing units becoming available. The bill is currently in committee, where lawmakers have recommended holding it for further study before taking any action.