Welcome back to our ongoing series breaking down the new laws coming out of Smith Hill. As the summer of 2025 winds down, it’s clear the legislature had one thing on its mind: housing. A flurry of bills signed into law aims to fundamentally reshape how, and where, development happens in Rhode Island. From overhauling local approval processes to creating new state powers, these changes are poised to have a significant impact on communities across the Ocean State.

First up is a sweeping piece of legislation, H5794, that retools the entire land development and subdivision process. For anyone who has sat through a marathon planning board meeting, this bill is for you. It attempts to streamline the path for developers by, among other things, making pre-application meetings optional and adjusting the “vesting” periods for project approvals. In plain English, this means once a project gets a certain level of approval, that approval is locked in for longer, protecting it from subsequent changes in local zoning. It’s a clear signal from the state to municipalities: speed things up on housing.

On that note, another bill, H5800, takes direct aim at local zoning rules that can hinder development. Starting January 1, 2026, municipalities will no longer be able to exclude the slope of a piece of land when calculating how many units can be built. This could unlock development on hilly parcels that were previously considered unbuildable. The law also mandates that towns allow residential units in their commercial zones, a move designed to encourage the kind of mixed-use, walkable main streets many communities say they want.

But what about land that’s just sitting there? That’s where the new state-run housing land bank, created by H5955, comes in. This program gives the Department of Housing the authority to acquire vacant, abandoned, or surplus public land for the express purpose of developing housing. Critically, the law requires all state and municipal bodies to conduct an annual review of their land holdings and give the state the right of first refusal before selling off any property. We believe this is one of the most proactive housing measures passed in years, shifting the state from a regulator to a direct participant in creating new homes.

These laws represent a major push to address the state’s housing shortage, placing new pressures on municipalities and creating new opportunities for developers. It’s a top-down approach that will undoubtedly change the character of our towns. We’ll be back soon with another report on more new laws.