Authorizes the town of Johnston, if an aggregate of two hundred fifty (250) or more units should be proposed in comprehensive permit project(s), to enact an emergency moratorium until the permit requirement of § 45-53-4 are amended.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would give the town of Johnston, Rhode Island a special legal power to temporarily pause or freeze certain housing development projects under specific circumstances. Under Rhode Island's current affordable housing law, developers can apply for a "comprehensive permit" — a streamlined process that allows them to bypass some local zoning rules when building affordable housing. This bill would allow Johnston to declare an emergency halt on such projects if the total number of housing units proposed through these permits reaches 250 or more at one time.

The temporary pause (called a moratorium) would stay in place until the state updates the rules governing how these comprehensive permits work. Essentially, the bill is giving Johnston a "timeout" option — a way to stop and catch its breath if it feels overwhelmed by the volume of affordable housing applications coming in at once. The moratorium would be tied specifically to changing the state's existing permit requirements, meaning it wouldn't last indefinitely.

This bill primarily affects the town of Johnston, housing developers who want to build affordable housing there, and residents who might benefit from — or be impacted by — new housing developments in the community. Supporters of affordable housing may be concerned that such a moratorium could delay or discourage the construction of homes for low- and moderate-income residents. On the other hand, local officials may see it as a necessary tool to manage rapid development. The bill has been referred to the Senate Housing and Municipal Government committee for further review.