Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Rhode Island General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-29. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
H7423 2026 -- H 7423 ======== LC003777 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Spears, Potter, Cortvriend, Boylan, Carson, McGaw, DeSimone, Cotter, and Fogarty Date Introduced: January 30, 2026 Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 42-11 of the General Laws entitled Department of Administration 2 is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 3 42-11-10.2. Statewide wastewater capacity study. 4 (a) The administrative head of the division of statewide planning ( division ), shall within 5 available appropriations and in coordination with the department of administration, the department 6 of environmental management and the executive office of housing, conduct a statewide wastewater 7 capacity study. 8 (b) The study shall evaluate the capacity, flows, physical condition, regulatory compliance, 9 and vulnerability to natural hazards of publicly and privately owned wastewater infrastructure 10 throughout the state. 11 (c) In conducting the study, the division shall: 12 (1) Identify areas underserved by wastewater infrastructure; 13 (2) Identify existing and projected wastewater capacity limitations that constrain housing 14 production or economic development; 15 (3) Identify areas with excess wastewater capacity suitable for additional residential or 16 mixed-use development; 17 (4) Evaluate how wastewater infrastructure conditions affect housing affordability, density, 18 and location including assessment of the cumulative impact of adjacent developments and land use 1 applications; and 2 (5) Make recommendations for efficient and strategic investments in wastewater 3 infrastructure to support housing and economic development while protecting public health and the 4 environment. 5 (d) Not later than July 1, 2027, the division shall submit a written report of the findings and 6 recommendations to the governor and to the general assembly, including the house and senate 7 committees having jurisdiction over housing, municipal government, finance, and the environment. 8 (e) The administrative head of the division shall transmit the report to the state planning 9 council for consideration in updates to the state guide plan. 10 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC003777 ======== LC003777 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION *** 1 This act would require that the division of statewide planning coordinate a wastewater 2 capacity study to evaluate the capacity, flows, physical conditions, regulatory compliance and 3 vulnerabilities to natural hazards of publicly and privately owned wastewater infrastructure. 4 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC003777 ======== LC003777 - Page 3 of 3
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