Woonsocket Radio News Room

Rep. Cruz introduces legislation to take advantage of underutilized land in communities

Legislation is part of Speaker Shekarchi’s 2025 12-bill housing package

 

            STATE HOUSE – Rep. Cherie L. Cruz has introduced legislation that would take advantage of underutilized land in a community for the purpose of housing construction.

            The legislation 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.

            “Every day, I see individuals and families fighting to secure safe and affordable housing.  But too often, people are left defeated because the sad reality is that there is not enough housing built to satisfy our state’s housing needs.  This bill will open up underutilized land, making it easier to construct the housing units that our residents are desperate for, and it will go a long way to maximizing the limited amount of space that our tiny state possesses,” said Representative Cruz (D-Dist. 58, Pawtucket).

            The bill (2025-H 5799) is based on feedback presented to the House Commission on Land Use to take advantage of underutilized land in a community. It 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 dimensional requirements based on the average dimensional standard of the surrounding structures.

            The legislation would take effect on January 1, 2026, and it has been referred to the House Municipal Government and Housing Committee.

The U.S. is telling Americans to immediately leave Iran as major anti-regime protests rage on. The State Department bulletin is urging its U.S. citizens to leave Iran, prepare for communication blackouts, avoid demonstrations, stock up on essential equipment, and consider leaving by land via Armenia or Turkey. The bulletin comes just as President Trump is reportedly reviewing military options if the regime kills more protesters.        Democratic leaders in Minnesota are announcing a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security. The lawsuit is over the surge of additional ICE agents to Minneapolis following the deadly shooting involving an ICE agent. The state's Attorney General Keith Ellison says the agents are untrained and are making illegal arrests, causing chaos, and targeting people based on the color of their skin. Protests in Minneapolis have been ongoing since the shooting in Minneapolis last week.        President Trump is announcing tariffs on any country that does business with Iran. Trump posted, "Effective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25-percent on any and all business being done with the United States of America." His order comes as violent anti-government protests in the country have continued over the ongoing economic crisis there. Trump is also reportedly reviewing military options if the regime kills more protesters.        Transgender athlete bans are at the center of cases the Supreme Court will take up tomorrow. Justices will hear two cases -- one out of Idaho, the other from West Virginia -- challenging whether states can ban transgender girls from participating in girls' and women's sports. The decisions on those cases will impact similar bans already enacted in about half of the U.S.        President Trump will tout his economic agenda in Detroit on Tuesday. That's according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said Trump will kick-off his visit at a Ford factory that's producing more F-150 trucks because of the President's tariffs. He'll then deliver an address at the Detroit Economic Club where he'll talk about his economic successes that include lower mortgage rates and falling gas prices.        The final spot in the NFL Divisional Round will be decided tonight. The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Houston Texans for Monday Night Football. The winner will go on to face the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round next weekend.       

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