# Rhode Island H8001: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE -- ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT . Rhode Island H8001, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE -- ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by K. Joseph Shekarchi (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-23 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 328) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8001-2026 - 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 H8001 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE -- ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-27 - Last action: 2026-06-23, Signed by Governor — Chapter 328 - Sponsor: K. Joseph Shekarchi (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 5 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 1 (62 yes, 5 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 8 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Convert commercial buildings into homes: benefit, medium. Owners can convert commercial buildings to homes if at least 50% of the floor area becomes housing. Projects do not need more than one off‑street parking space per home. If a project keeps the footprint, sets aside at least 20% of units for low‑ and moderate‑income households, and has sewer and wat… - Easier accessory dwelling units statewide: benefit, medium. Accessory dwelling units that meet state rules are allowed in every residential zone. Towns must use a simple administrative building permit, not special zoning hearings. This makes it easier to add a rental or space for family. - Temporary mobile homes after disasters: benefit, medium. If a home is uninhabitable after a fire, flood, or similar event, the owner can place a mobile or manufactured home on the property for former occupants. This can last up to 12 months or until the building is repaired, whichever comes first. The owner must apply promptly to the local building offic… - Manufactured homes on single-family lots: benefit, low. Towns may let qualifying manufactured homes be placed on single‑family lots and treated like single‑family houses. The home must meet state construction standards and the lot’s size and setback rules, or get relief under local law. - More home daycare and plant growing: benefit, low. Households, community residences, and family daycare homes are allowed in every residential zone. They can also be allowed in industrial and commercial zones unless housing there is banned for health or safety. Plant agriculture is allowed in all zoning districts. Towns may limit it only for public… - Which housing codes apply to you: benefit, low. The state’s housing maintenance rules set minimum living standards for all homes, no matter how old the building is. For buildings built, changed, or repaired on or after July 1, 1977, the building code edition in effect then applies if the whole building followed that edition, shown by the permit… - Faster temporary small homes with safety rules: mixed, medium. Towns can allow temporary small homes for people without housing by local zoning or during an emergency. An emergency lasts 30 days and can renew in 30‑day blocks, up to 180 days a year. The mayor or town leader must report within 30 days and every 60 days after. These units are exempt from most st… - Roommate limits and disability access rules: mixed, low. A city or town may set a limit on how many unrelated people live together. Any local limit must allow at least one person per bedroom and cannot be stricter than five unrelated people per home. NARR‑certified recovery residences are exempt. Towns must also allow reasonable changes that provide acce… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: K. Joseph Shekarchi (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Nathan W. Biah (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Anthony J. DeSimone (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Thomas E. Noret (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: William W. O'Brien (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Brandon T. Voas (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-30 | House | BUILDING CODE / ENFORCEMENT PASSAGE | pass | 62 | 5 | | ## Actions (15) - 2026-06-23: Signed by Governor — Chapter 328 (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-10: Senate passed Sub A in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-09: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/10/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-09: Committee recommends passage of Sub A in concurrence - 2026-06-05: Scheduled for consideration (06/09/2026) - 2026-05-05: Referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government (Senate) - 2026-04-30: House passed Sub A (House) - 2026-04-24: Placed on House Calendar (04/30/2026) (House) - 2026-04-15: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-04-10: Proposed Substitute - 2026-04-10: Scheduled for consideration (04/15/2026) - 2026-03-05: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-02-27: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/05/2026) - 2026-02-27: Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing (House) ## Bill text - H8001 - As Introduced, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8001.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8001.pdf) - H8001 - Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8001A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8001A.pdf) ## Related bills - H8104: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- MORTGAGES OF REAL PROPERTY . (became law) - H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES . (became law) - H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - H7866: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT . (became law) - H7642: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE . (became law) - S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) ## Sources - [H8001 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8001.htm) - [H8001 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8001.pdf) - [H8001 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8001A.htm) - [H8001 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8001A.pdf) ## Related - [H8104: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- MORTGAGES OF REAL PROPERTY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8104-2026) - [H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8046-2026) - [H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8025-2026) - [H7866: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7866-2026) - [H7642: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRIC…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7642-2026) - [S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3363-2026) - [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-H8001-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).