H 8040

2026 -- H 8040 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED
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 LC005798/SUB A
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  STATE  OF        RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES
  Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Edwards, Giraldo, and Cruz
  Date Introduced: February 27, 2026
  Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing
 It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1SECTION 1. Chapter 45-24 of the General Laws entitled "Zoning Ordinances" is hereby
2 amended by adding thereto the following section:
345-24-33.1. Recovery houses.
4(a) For purposes of this section, a NARR-certified recovery residence means a residential
5 structure that provides recovery support services for those people recovering from substance use
6 addiction and that complies with standards established by the National Alliance for Recovery
7 Residences (NARR).
8(b) Except as otherwise provided within the general laws, any law, regulation or ordinance
9 regulating the zoning and use of a residential NARR-certified recovery residence:
10(1) Shall treat a NARR-certified recovery residence as a residential use of property which
11 shall have all the rights and responsibilities afforded to a residential use of property.
12(2) Shall not subject the recovery residence to any restrictions, prohibitions, or other
13 provisions, including provisions related to the state building or fire codes that are not contained in
14 the Rhode Island life safety code § 26.1.1.1.8.3. At no time shall a recovery residence house under
15 this chapter be given the designation of a commercial structure for fire and or building codes.
16SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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 LC005798/SUB A
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  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES
  ***
1This act would prohibit any city or town from enacting any zoning ordinance that would
2 place restrictions on residential NARR-certified recovery residences that are not applicable to other
3 residential homes.
4This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005798/SUB A
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