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5/15/2025
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Senate OKs Sen. Gu bill to create Housing Champion program for municipalities
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STATE HOUSE — The Senate today approved a bill from Sen. Victoria Gu to create a Housing Champion program to reward municipalities that are actively working to address Rhode Island’s housing crisis.
“For the longest time our state housing policy has been missing an incentive for cities and towns to proactively adopt policies to encourage the production of housing,” said Senator Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown). “This bill would provide that incentive through a program that is modeled after successful ones in Massachusetts and other states. Addressing our housing crisis is a team effort, and this program would encourage a collaborative and productive approach to addressing Rhode Island’s housing needs.”
Senator Gu’s bill (2025-S 0495A) would establish a voluntary designation of Rhode Island Housing Champion that municipalities could choose to apply for from the Department of Housing. Those granted this designation would receive preferential access to state resources, including discretionary state funds.
Qualifications to receive the designation would be determined by the Department of Housing, which would develop a scoring system that would include factors such as land use regulations and ordinances designed to promote housing, the training of planning and zoning board members, planned or completed sewer and water infrastructure improvements and planned or completed sidewalks, bike lanes or other infrastructure intended to support walkable or bikeable neighborhoods and public transportation.
The legislation is supported by Rhode Island Secretary of Housing Deborah J. Goddard, who testified before the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government that “by encouraging collaboration and recognizing achievement, S 495 provides an important tool in addressing Rhode Island’s housing needs.”
The bill now heads to the House for consideration, where Rep. June S. Speakman (D-Dist. 68, Warren, Bristol) has introduced similar legislation (2025-H 5229).
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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