# Rhode Island H7371: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES . Rhode Island H7371, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Mary Ann Shallcross Smith (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-19 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 243) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7371-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Rhode Island H7371 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-28 - Last action: 2026-06-19, Signed by Governor — Chapter 243 - Sponsor: Mary Ann Shallcross Smith (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 9 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 1 (69 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Fewer wetland and septic setbacks for permits: benefit, medium. Cities and towns cannot apply their existing wetland buffer or septic-system setback rules to your development, construction, or rehab permit. They also cannot adopt new local buffers or setback distances near freshwater or coastal wetlands, or between septic systems and those wetlands. Other local… - Cities must allow 12-child family child care: benefit, medium. If you run a family child care home licensed by the Department of Human Services, your city cannot cap you below 12 children at one time. State DHS rules still apply. This helps providers add slots and gives families more options. - State review of local septic and wetland rules: cost, low. Any local zoning rule that sets standards for where or how to build or maintain on-site wastewater systems, or that sets wetland standards, must be sent to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for technical approval before adoption. Cities and towns must update their ordinances w… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Mary Ann Shallcross Smith (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mia A. Ackerman (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Grace Diaz (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Susan R. Donovan (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Deborah A. Fellela (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kathleen A. Fogarty (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Raymond A. Hull (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Joseph M. McNamara (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mary Messier (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Scott A. Slater (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-30 | House | ZONING ORDINANCES PASSAGE | pass | 69 | 0 | | ## Actions (16) - 2026-06-19: Signed by Governor — Chapter 243 (Governor) - 2026-06-16: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-11: Senate passed in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-10: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/11/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-09: Committee recommends passage in concurrence - 2026-06-05: Scheduled for consideration (06/09/2026) - 2026-05-27: Meeting postponed (05/28/2026) - 2026-05-26: Scheduled for consideration - 2026-05-01: Referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government (Senate) - 2026-04-30: House read and passed (House) - 2026-04-24: Placed on House Calendar (04/30/2026) (House) - 2026-04-15: Committee recommends passage - 2026-04-10: Scheduled for consideration (04/15/2026) - 2026-02-11: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-02-06: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/11/2026) - 2026-01-28: Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing (House) ## Bill text - H7371 - As Introduced, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7371.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7371.pdf) ## Related bills - S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) - S3337: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - S3315: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES . (became law) - S3333: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law) - S3293: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) ## Sources - [H7371 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7371.htm) - [H7371 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7371.pdf) ## Related - [S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3363-2026) - [S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3353-2026) - [S3337: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3337-2026) - [S3315: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3315-2026) - [S3333: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3333-2026) - [S3293: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3293-2026) - [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills) - [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7371-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).