The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee voted to hold CB 86-2025 after staff and administration representatives raised implementation and legal questions about the proposed legacy wealth construction incentive program.

Committee staff described the bill as creating a program that could reimburse up to 50% of building or grading permit fees for qualifying projects that direct substantial expenditures to county-based minority business enterprises (MBEs) or locally owned and operated businesses. The supplier development and diversity division of the Office of Procurement and the Office of Finance were named in the draft as potential participants in verifying compliance and remitting payments.

The budget analyst said the county may forego up to 50% of permit fee revenues on qualifying projects and that fiscal exposure would depend on the number and size of participants. Procurement staff suggested the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) may be the more appropriate agency to administer aspects of the program, and Office of Law raised concerns that language referencing county-based minority businesses could raise equal protection issues.

The sponsor was not present; the committee moved to hold the bill until the sponsor and administration could agree on amendments. The motion to hold carried 5-0. Committee staff will work with the sponsor and relevant agencies on implementation details and legal review before the measure returns to committee.