Senate passes Euer bill to put $3 million Jamestown affordable housing bond on November ballot

The Rhode Island Senate has approved legislation from Sen. Dawn Euer that would seek Jamestown voters’ approval in November for up to $3 million in bonds to fund affordable housing projects.

The bill (2026-S 3186) cleared the Senate on Thursday, May 7. If passed by the full General Assembly and approved by voters in a referendum on Nov. 3, the measure would authorize Jamestown to borrow up to $3 million for a series of affordable housing projects, including an 11-unit development at the former ambulance barn at 11 Knowles Court.

“I commend the Jamestown Town Council for their dedicated and creative efforts to meet head on the challenge of providing affordable housing on Conanicut Island,” said Euer, a Democrat representing District 13, which covers Newport and Jamestown. “If approved by the voters of Jamestown, this bond will allow the town to efficiently convert existing municipal properties to much-needed affordable housing. Jamestown is a community that understands the urgency of our affordable housing crisis and is acting accordingly, and I am happy to support these efforts by introducing this legislation on behalf of the Town Council.”

The town has hired an engineering firm to look at 13 additional town-owned properties to determine their feasibility for affordable housing.

The bill now heads to the House, where Rep. Alex S. Finkelman, a Democrat representing District 74, which covers Jamestown and Middletown, has introduced companion legislation (2026-H 8403).…Read more by Ryan Belmore