Restores the requirement that a local review board issue findings for denial in reviewing a comprehensive permit request and clarifies that affordable housing units shall be included in each town and city when the building permits for units are granted.

Plain-English Summary

This bill makes two changes to Rhode Island's rules about affordable housing development. First, it restores a requirement that when a local zoning or review board rejects a request to build affordable housing, the board must formally explain in writing why it is denying the project. This "findings for denial" requirement means boards cannot simply turn down affordable housing projects without providing specific, documented reasons.

Second, the bill clarifies when affordable housing units get counted toward a town or city's affordable housing totals. Under this bill, units would be officially counted once building permits are actually granted — meaning a town or city cannot claim credit for affordable housing that has been approved on paper but not yet permitted for actual construction.

These changes affect developers who build affordable housing, local planning and zoning boards, and residents of Rhode Island cities and towns. For developers, requiring written findings makes it easier to understand and potentially appeal a denial. For municipalities, the permit-based counting rule ensures that a town's affordable housing numbers reflect units that are genuinely moving forward toward construction, rather than just units that have received early approvals.

Overall, this bill is aimed at bringing more transparency and accountability to the local affordable housing approval process in Rhode Island, while also making the method of tracking affordable housing inventory more precise and consistent across the state.