Bill > H5229

This bill establishes a voluntary Rhode Island housing champion designation program administered by the Department of Housing, through which municipalities can apply to receive preferential access to state resources by meeting specific housing and infrastructure development criteria. To qualify, municipalities must adopt land use regulations that promote housing development, provide training for planning and zoning board members, implement infrastructure improvements like water, sewer, and transportation systems, and potentially adopt financial incentives for housing development. Municipalities that receive the designation would be evaluated based on a scoring system and would need to report annually on metrics like land use board applications and building permits. The designation would be valid for three years and renewable, with the Department of Housing required to produce an annual report assessing the program's impact, including the number of additional housing units created. The goal is to encourage municipalities to take proactive steps in supporting housing development that aligns with state housing goals, with the potential reward of increased access to state funding and resources.

Housing and Urban Affairs

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