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Rhode Island
RI House speaker unveils housing bills for 2026. What to know
House Speaker Shekarchi unveils 2026 RI housing legislative package
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s nine-bill package for 2026 seeks to cut red tape and relax rules on parking, dividing lots and staircases.
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi is once again taking aim at the regulations he says are stifling new homebuilding.
The Warwick Democrat unveiled his sixth annual suite of housing legislation on Thursday, Feb. 26, a few weeks after announcing he would not be running for governor this year.
“We are still trying to play catch-up for all the years that Rhode Island was dead last in the country for new housing starts,” Shekarchi said. “While Rhode Island remains a relatively affordable option for people moving here from other states, our own residents are too often priced out of the neighborhoods they grew up in.”
The legislative text of the nine-bill housing package, and with it the specifics of how it would work, were not available for Thursday’s news conference.
But highlights of the package, according to summaries, include:
- Infill housing. Allow property owners to divide lots in single-family zoning districts, creating multiple dwellings instead of one, provided they have water and sewer service.
- Parking maximums. Put new limits on how much off-street parking communities require for new apartment buildings.
- Homeless Bill of Rights. Expand the state’s Homeless Bill of Rights to require 15-day notice to the occupants of encampments before local authorities clear them.
- Emergency shelters. Let communities build temporary shelters, such as the ECHO Village Pallet shelter in Providence, during a state of emergency.
- Stairs. Legalize the construction of four-story apartment buildings with a single staircase.
- Affordable housing taxes. Overhaul the tax system for income-restricted housing covered by the state’s “8 Law.”
Is land-use reform working?
Since Shekarchi was elected speaker in 2021, the General Assembly has passed dozens of bills he backed that tweaked state land-use statutes or streamlined the process for building.
How successful this approach has been is subject to debate.
Many local elected officials wary of development in their communities continue to rail against efforts to erode their power over construction.
Others in the growing Yes In My Back Yard movement see Rhode Island’s piecemeal approach as inadequate in comparison with the scale of the affordability problem and what other states are doing.
As evidence that his changes are making a difference, Shekarchi said Rhode Island saw a 70% increase in building permits in 2023 and a more modest increase in 2024. (Statistics for last year were not immediately available.)
Gov. Dan McKee’s 2030 plan calls for 15,000 new housing units built by that year.
Democratic primary challenger Helena Foulkes is slated to roll out her housing plan on Monday.
It is expected to include a millionaires tax to fund affordable housing, a revolving fund and target of 20,000 new homes.
What would the new laws do?
Letting property owners put multiple homes on a plot of land is one of the most direct ways that lawmakers can encourage the construction of more homes, but it is also one of the most controversial.
That’s especially true in areas zoned for large lots and single-family homes.
How far the new bill allowing lots to be subdivided in single-family zones goes is unclear. It is sponsored by Rep. Stephen Casey, D-Woonsocket.
Legislation setting maximum parking requirements for new developments, introduced by Rep. Joshua Giraldo, D-Central Falls, would apply to areas accessible by public transit.
Critics of off-street parking requirements say they make it harder to build new apartments and make the units that are built more expensive.
Shekarchi proposed the emergency shelter bill last year. It passed the House and died in the Senate.
It was the result of how long it took state officials to navigate Rhode Island’s building code and open the ECHO Village Pallet shelter in Providence.
The staircase bill, sponsored by Rep. June Speakman, a Warren Democrat and chair of the House’s home affordability study commission, follows a wave of cities and states relaxing rules on how many exits are required in new construction.
Currently, the state building code requires two stairways in buildings with more than three stories, and fire officials have opposed all efforts to change that.
Speakman’s bill would allow four-story buildings with a maximum of 16 units with a single staircase.
Supporters of single-stair buildings say they allow development of small sites that would otherwise sit vacant and allow family-sized units with more light and better ventilation.
A previous Rhode Island single-stair bill would have allowed six stories, but it died in committee.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed an executive order in mid-February to study the idea.
This article is sponsored by Rhode Island.
Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the country, but don’t let its size fool you. The Ocean State packs an impressive amount of personality into its coastline, from thriving LGBTQ+ nightlife and local food favorites to waterfront views, creative neighborhoods, and one of New England’s most vibrant Pride celebrations.
Travelers looking to stay in the heart of the action will find plenty of options, including Aloft Providence Downtown, which places visitors within easy reach of Pride festivities, nightlife, local attractions, and many of the destinations that make Providence Pride weekend so memorable.
If you’re wondering how to make the most of the experience, start with the six Must C’s of Rhode Island.
Courtesy of Rhode Island
Cuisine
Good food is never hard to find here. Start the morning with brunch at Small Format, then grab small bites at Track 15 between events. Satisfy your late-night cravings with buck naked fries at Friskie Fries after the block parties, or grab something more hearty from Pizza Queen. Together, they offer a taste of the variety that defines Rhode Island’s food scene.
Coast
They don’t call it the Ocean State for nothing. Rhode Island’s coastal identity is woven into everything from its waterfront views to its relaxed atmosphere. Spend time along Providence’s RiverWalk, take in the views around India Point Park, or venture toward nearby seaside communities where the Atlantic is never far away. Whether you’re exploring Providence or heading farther afield, the coast remains part of the experience.
Courtesy of Rhode Island
Culture
Providence is filled with independent businesses, local art, and neighborhoods that invite exploration. A stroll down Wickenden Street lets you browse Pride gear at Mister Sister, then grab something more wholesome for mom at Nostalgia Antiques. Many local businesses and community spaces continue to shape the city’s creative identity, while nearby Federal Hill offers another vibrant corner of Providence worth exploring. During your time on Federal Hill, be sure to stop by Heartleaf Books, the only employee-owned, queer/trans-owned, and “seemingly first bookstore ever in Federal Hill.”
Cocktails
When the sun goes down, Rhode Island’s LGBTQ+ nightlife comes alive. Pride weekend block parties spill into the evening as venues like The Eagle, Stable, and The Dark Lady fill with dancers, drag performances, and celebration. You can also stop in at the country’s third-oldest gay bar, Mirabar, or head into The VU Lounge & Bistro that offers lounge seating and a food menu until 10 pm. Whether you’re joining the Friday night festivities, catching Sangria Sunday at Stable, or simply looking for a place to raise a glass with friends, these community gathering spots help keep the energy going long after the daytime events end.
Courtesy of Rhode Island
Community
One of Rhode Island’s greatest strengths is its people. LGBTQ+ organizations, creators, performers, and businesses help shape a welcoming atmosphere throughout the year. Community-driven spaces and voices, including projects like Fruit Loop PVD, highlight the people and stories that make Providence feel connected and inclusive, both during Pride weekend and throughout the year.
Courtesy of Rhode Island
Celebrations
If there is one time when all of these elements come together, it’s Pride. From browsing vendors at PrideFest in the 195 District Park to gathering at dusk as the parade makes its way through the city, Providence Pride weekend transforms the city into one continuous celebration, with music, performances, and community filling the streets.
Rhode Island may be America’s smallest state, but when it comes to food, culture, nightlife, and Pride, it delivers an experience that feels anything but small. Come for one of the C’s, and you’ll probably discover the rest along the way.
Local News
“As the need across our communities continues to grow, this $1 million donation will go a long way in helping us purchase and distribute the nutritious, culturally appropriate food that Rhode Islanders deserve,” the food bank’s CEO says.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce made a $1 million donation to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank ahead of the couple’s wedding at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, the nonprofit organization announced.
The Rhode Island Community Food Bank — which acts as the primary food distribution center for a network of 137 member agencies across the state — intends to use the contributions to purchase additional food for local families and to provide further support to its member agencies, the food bank said in a press release.
“We are incredibly grateful to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce for their extraordinarily generous and unexpected gift,” CEO Melissa Cherney said in the release. “As the need across our communities continues to grow, this $1 million donation will go a long way in helping us purchase and distribute the nutritious, culturally appropriate food that Rhode Islanders deserve.”
The food bank thanked the couple in social media posts Friday, a day before Swift and Kelce’s wedding.
“We were THRILLED to learn of this unexpected gift,” the organization wrote, “which comes at a time when the need for food assistance in our state is at an all-time high.”
The food bank said the gift is particularly valuable during the summer, which typically means slower food donations.
“Gifts like this are a powerful reminder of the good we can do with the support of our community,” Cherney said. “This act of generosity shows that, together, we can meet this moment and truly eliminate hunger in our state.”
The $1 million gift is one of several donations the couple made prior to their wedding. Swift and Kelce donated to other northeast charities, including nine in New York and Helping Harvest, a food bank in Pennsylvania, Variety reported.
Rhode Island Community Food Bank noted other large donations made to charities — Feeding America, one of the largest food banks in the U.S., and Harvesters, a regional food bank serving Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri.
Feeding America received a $2 million donation, while Harvesters were given $1 million, according to social media posts from the organizations thanking the couple.
“I hope their gift inspires others,” Cherney added. “It has certainly inspired us.”
DERRY, N.H. (WJAR) — The six New England states are joining forces to help reduce speeding-related crashes and deaths on highways across the region.
Officials announced the “New England Drive to Save Lives” campaign on Monday morning, saying that they were hoping to help shift drivers’ mindsets and foster community responsibility amongst New Englanders on the roads.
As part of the campaign, officers will conduct increased patrols on the road. In addition, highway safety offices throughout New England will hold community outreach events and put public service announcements on social media.
“Throughout the Drive to Save Lives campaign, you will see additional Rhode Island State Police patrols on our highways and local road,” Rhode Island State Police Lt. Brendan Doyle said. “We’ll be working alongside our partners and police departments up and down Interstate 95, and across the state, with one shared goal- saving lives.”
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The Drive to Save Lives campaign is expected to continue through the end of the month.
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