Prohibits contractors from submitting a single application to a local review board seeking a comprehensive permit for housing projects in certain circumstances.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would place new restrictions on how housing developers can apply for permits to build certain housing projects in Rhode Island. Currently, under state law, developers can submit a single, streamlined application — called a "comprehensive permit" — to a local review board when they want to build housing that includes affordable units for low- and moderate-income residents. This process was originally designed to make it easier and faster to get approval for affordable housing projects. This bill would prohibit developers from using that single, combined application process in certain specific circumstances.

The bill primarily affects housing contractors and developers who build affordable or mixed-income housing, as well as the local towns and cities that review and approve such projects. By limiting when a developer can use the streamlined permit process, local communities would potentially have more opportunity to review and weigh in on proposed housing developments through separate, individual permit applications rather than one consolidated review. Residents of affected communities could also see changes in how new housing projects move through local approval processes.

As of now, the bill has been referred to the Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee and has been recommended to be held for further study, meaning it has not yet advanced toward a full vote. The specific circumstances under which the comprehensive permit would be prohibited are detailed in the full bill language, which lawmakers are continuing to examine before taking further action.