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12/4/2023 Media Advisory: Short-term rental commission to meet Wednesday
STATE HOUSE – The special legislative commission studying the economic and social effects of the short-term rental industry will meet Wednesday for overviews of the short-term rental industry from the perspective of municipal leaders.

The Special Legislative Commission to Review and Provide Recommendations for Policies that Deal with Numerous Economic and Social Short-Term Rentals Issues will meet Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. in the House lounge on the second floor of the State House. 

The meeting will include presentations by Narragansett Town Council President Ewa M. Dzwierzynski, Jamestown Town Manager Ed Mello, Smithfield Town Manager Randy R. Rossi and Tiverton Town Solicitor Michael J. Marcello.  No public testimony will be taken at this meeting.

The meeting will be televised on Capitol Television on Cox Communications, channel 15  or 61 for high definition; on i3 Broadband (formerly Full Channel) on channel 15; and on Verizon, channel 34. It will also be live streamed at https://www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx 

The commission was created as a result of legislation (2023-H 6449) sponsored this legislative session by Rep. Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport), who serves as its chairwoman. It is to review all current and existing Rhode Island statutes on short-term rentals, Department of Business Regulation registrations process and enforcement, municipal vs. state regulation, taxation, the impact on year-round and local housing markets and neighborhoods, health and safety concerns and best practice in other states and communities. The commission is to establish a working definition of “short-term rentals;”  engage the public and community stakeholders including property owners, industry representatives, police and fire chiefs  and zoning and planning officials for input; develop an understanding of the nature, extent, and scope of short-term rental activity; and identify specific benefits, problems, or issues associated with short-term rentals and how they vary from neighborhood to neighborhood and municipality to municipality.

In addition to Chairwoman Carson, commission members include Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown); Rep. Thomas E. Noret (D-Dist. 25, Coventry, West Warwick); Rep. Robert J. Quattrocchi (R-Dist. 41, Scituate, Cranston); Division of Taxation Tax Administrator Neena S. Savage; Division of Statewide Planning Assistant Chief Roberta Groch; Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns Associate Director Jordan Day, Rhode Island Hospitality Association Chief Operating Officer Heather R. Singleton; Rhode Island Association of Realtors Vice President of Public Affairs David Salvatore; Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Kristen Adamo; Newport Mayor Xaykham “Xay” Khamsyvoravong, Warwick Principal Planner Sean Henry, Carol Mossa, owner of a small, owner-occupied short-term rental and Greer Gagnier, executive director and founder of the Rhode Island Short Term Rental Association.




For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923