Rhode Island House Bill H7301

Rhode Island 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/26
• Refer: 1/23/26
• Report Pass: 2/3/26
• Passed: 2/11/26

Caption

REINSTATING THE LIFE OF AND EXTENDING THE REPORTING AND EXPIRATION, DATES OF THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICIES THAT DEAL WITH NUMEROUS ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL SHORT-TERM RENTALS ISSUES

Summary

House Resolution H7301 reinstates and extends the life of the Special Legislative Commission that was originally created to study short-term rental issues in Rhode Island. The resolution reappoints the existing members, allows the commission to continue its work, and moves its reporting deadline to September 30, 2026. It also sets the commission’s expiration date at January 10, 2027, while rescinding the prior reporting extension tied to the 2024 resolution. The measure does not change substantive short-term rental law directly. Instead, it keeps an existing legislative study commission active so it can continue reviewing economic and social issues associated with short-term rentals and provide recommendations for future policy. Its practical effect is to preserve the Legislature’s ability to gather information and develop potential regulatory or policy responses before the commission sunsets.

Impact

H7301 affects legislative procedure and the status of an existing special commission rather than amending the state’s short-term rental statutes. It extends the commission’s reporting deadline from September 30, 2025 to September 30, 2026 and sets a new expiration date of January 10, 2027. The resolution therefore keeps the commission in place to continue studying short-term rental policy issues and to report recommendations to the House.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have broad support and little visible opposition. It passed the House Municipal Government & Housing Committee unanimously, 14-0, and then passed the House unanimously, 60-0. That voting record suggests lawmakers generally agreed that the commission should continue its work on short-term rental issues.

Contention

No specific controversy is reflected in the available transcripts or votes, and there were no recorded dissenting votes. The only likely point of discussion is the policy subject itself: short-term rentals can raise competing concerns about housing availability, neighborhood impacts, tourism, and property rights. However, this resolution only extends the commission’s study period, so any substantive disagreement would likely arise later when the commission’s recommendations are considered.