Short-term rental commission to accept public comment

STATE HOUSE – The special legislative commission studying the economic and social effects of the short-term rental industry will meet Thursday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. in the House Lounge on the second floor of the State House to accept comments from the public.

The meeting will be televised on Capitol Television on Cox Communications channel 61, i3 Broadband (formerly Full Channel) channel 15 and Verizon channel 34. It will also be live streamed at capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/.

Public comment at the meeting will be limited to three minutes per speaker. Written comments will be accepted as well, and can be submitted by email, preferably in PDF format, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

The commission was created as a result of legislation (2023-H 6449) sponsored last year by Rep. Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport), who serves as its chairwoman. It is reviewing all current and existing Rhode Island statutes on short-term rentals, Department of Business Regulation registrations process and enforcement, municipal vs. state regulation, taxation, the impact on year-round and local housing markets and neighborhoods, health and safety concerns and best practices in other states and communities. The commission is working to establish a working definition of “short-term rentals;” engage the public and community stakeholders including property owners, industry representatives, police and fire chiefs  and zoning and planning officials for input; develop an understanding of the nature, extent and scope of short-term rental activity; and identify specific benefits, problems or issues associated with short-term rentals and how they vary from neighborhood to neighborhood and municipality to municipality.

In addition to Chairwoman Carson, commission members include Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown); Rep. Thomas E. Noret (D-Dist. 25, Coventry, West Warwick); Rep. Robert J. Quattrocchi (R-Dist. 41, Scituate, Cranston); Division of Taxation Tax Administrator Neena S. Savage; Division of Statewide Planning Assistant Chief Roberta Groch; Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns Director of Member Services and Training Jennifer Slattery; Rhode Island Hospitality Association Chief Operating Officer Heather R. Singleton; Michael Mita of the Rhode Island Association of Realtors; Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Kristen Adamo; Newport City Councilor Xaykham “Xay” Khamsyvoravong; Warwick Principal Planner Sean Henry; Greer Gagnier, executive director and founder of the Rhode Island Short Term Rental Association; Carol Mossa, owner of a small, owner-occupied short-term rental; and Jim Durkin, owner of short-term rental units.