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6/21/2025
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Assembly approves Chairmen Craven and Bissaillon’s legislation that addresses housing crisis
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STATE HOUSE – The General Assembly today approved legislation sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert E. Craven Sr. and Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee Chairman Jacob E. Bissaillon 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.
“While our state desperately needs new housing construction of all kinds, this bill will help ease the difficult process of building more housing by taking advantage of land that has historically been off-limits to residential zoning. The only way out of Rhode Island’s housing crisis is to build more units and this piece of legislation will assist in making that goal a reality,” said Chairman Craven (D-Dist. 32, North Kingstown).
“Addressing our housing crisis isn’t just about building more units — it’s about reimagining the communities we want to live in. By allowing residential development in commercial areas, this legislation helps us create neighborhoods where people can live, work, and shop in the same place. It brings us closer to a vision of community that is more connected, more accessible, and ultimately more human,” said Chairman Bissaillon (D-Dist. 1, Providence).
The legislation (2025-H 5800A, 2025-S 1090A) would require municipalities to provide for village or mixed-use zoning to allow residential use in some or all areas of their commercial zoning districts. The legislation would take effect on January 1, 2026, and it now heads to the governor for consideration.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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