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 White House is delaying most tariffs against Mexico until next month. In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said he spoke with Mexico's President today and added the country won't be required to pay tariffs on anything under the United States Mexico and Canada Agreement. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said today that Trump will most likely announce a one-month delay on all Canadian tariffs as well. Meanwhile, stocks have tanked on Wall Street.        The House is censuring Texas Democratic Congressman Al Green. During President Trump's speech Tuesday night, Green stood in the aisle of the House chamber and waved his cane at the president. He continued his protest despite being warned that he'd be removed if he didn't sit down. Ten Democrats voted with Republicans to censure Green.        A private U.S. company is landing a spacecraft on the Moon at this hour. Houston-based "Intuitive Machines" is touching-down its "Athena" non-manned spacecraft near the lunar South Pole. It will evaluate the environment where NASA astronauts plan to land as part of the agency's "Artemis" program.        A judge is blocking President Trump's administration from cutting federal funding for research. The National Institutes of Health planned funding cuts as part of the White House's wide-ranging moves since Trump took office. A U.S district judge in Boston took into account 22 Democratic state attorneys general, medical associations and universities that argued the cuts were unlawful and would lead to not only layoffs and lab closures, but also would harm scientific and medical studies.        The majority of Americans want the U.S. to take on a bigger role on the international stage. A new Gallup survey shows about two in three Americans want the nation to take a "leading" or "major" role in solving global issues. This is the lowest rating in the past 25 years. In the 2000s, Americans averaged about 75-percent support.        The Arnold Palmer Invitational is underway in Florida. This week's PGA Tour event is going down at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando. Scottie Scheffler became a two-time winner of the Invitational after winning last year and is back in the field this year.       

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