 |
|
7/1/2025
|
Craven, McKenney bill enacted to help address housing crisis
|
Legislation is part of Speaker Shekarchi’s 2025 housing package
STATE HOUSE – Legislation sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert E. Craven Sr. and Senate Rules, Government Ethics and Oversight Committee Chairman Mark McKenney to make it easier to build much-needed housing in Rhode Island has been signed into law.
The legislation, which was approved by lawmakers June 21 and signed into law Friday, was part of the housing package backed this year by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick), who has made housing the top priority of the House and has worked to enact such a package each of the five years he has been speaker.
“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 who calls our state home. With safe and adequate housing remaining elusive for too many of our residents, this legislation will address 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, which took effect immediately, clarifies the processes set forth in the Zoning Enabling Act and Subdivision Act and addresses issues that are creating unnecessary delays or red tape. Additionally, the requirements and process for conversions of commercial and industrial structures to residential are further clarified to continue to encourage projects to convert underutilized or vacant commercial buildings. The bill also allows oversized lots to be subdivided if the resulting lots are equal to or greater than the lots in the immediate area. Additionally, the legislation allows administrative modifications of certain dimensional requirements based on the average dimensional standard of the surrounding structures.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
|
|