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6/21/2025
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Assembly approves Chairmen Craven and McKenney’s bill that addresses housing crisis
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STATE HOUSE – The General Assembly today approved House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert E. Craven Sr. and Senate Rules, Government Ethics & Oversight Committee Chairman Mark McKenney’s legislation that would make it easier to build much-needed housing in Rhode Island.
The legislation is part of House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) package of legislation regarding housing issues, his fifth comprehensive suite of housing bills since becoming Speaker in 2021. It now heads to the governor for consideration.
“After countless hours of feedback and testimony from stakeholders across the spectrum of housing construction, the result of this legislation will be more housing being built in Rhode Island, which will benefit every single individual that calls our state home. With safe and adequate housing remaining elusive for too many of our residents, this legislation will address and help solve a crisis that needs to be resolved for the sake of Rhode Island’s future,” said Chairman Craven (D-Dist. 32, North Kingstown).
“Proper housing is a fundamental need that remains unobtainable for too many of our state’s residents. We need to build more housing and that is only possible through communication and collaboration with every stakeholder in the state. This legislation is a product of that collaboration and it will lead to the critical housing being built that Rhode Island needs,” said Chairman McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick).
The legislation (2025-H 5794Baa, 2025-S 1086Aaa) is based on feedback received from the Land Use Commission and various stakeholders, including local cities and towns, developers, advocates, planners and developers. The legislation seeks to clarify the processes set forth in the Zoning Enabling Act and Subdivision Act and to correct issues that are creating unnecessary delays and/or red tape. Additionally, the requirements and process for conversions of commercial and industrial structures to residential (2023-H 6090A, 2023-S 1035A) are further clarified to continue to encourage projects to convert underutilized or vacant commercial buildings. This bill also would allow oversized lots to be subdivided if the resulting lots are equal to or greater than the lots in the immediate area. Additionally, the legislation would allow administrative modifications of certain dimensional requirements based on the average dimensional standard of the surrounding structures. This legislation was passed by the House May 1, 2025.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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