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5/1/2025
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House approves Chairman Craven’s bill that addresses housing crisis
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Legislation is part of Speaker Shekarchi’s 2025 12-bill housing package
STATE HOUSE – The House today approved House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert E. Craven’s legislation that would make it easier to build much-needed housing in Rhode Island.
The bill is part of House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) 12-bill package of legislation regarding housing issues, his fifth comprehensive suite of housing bills since becoming Speaker in 2021.
“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).
The legislation (2025-H 5794Aaa) is based on feedback received from the House Commission on Land Use 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, Rhode Island’s Adaptive Reuse law (2023-H 6090A, 2023-S 1035A) is further clarified to encourage projects to continue to convert underutilized or vacant commercial buildings.
The bill would take effect upon passage and it now heads to the Senate for consideration.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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