Committee approves amended DBEDT permit streamlining and chamber grant measures

The House Committee on Economic Development voted to advance three related measures aimed at simplifying permitting and supporting local chambers and small-business services.

HB1405 was amended to allow applicants with one state permit and one county permit to request the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism director to initiate a streamlined permit process. The committee also added an annual reporting requirement to the Legislature and directed committee notes to include one full-time position and an appropriation (committee blanks remain in the current draft).

HB1406 was amended to move an intergovernmental permit-simplification task force from DBEDT to the Legislature, to add a speaker-appointed member who will chair the task force, and to include an appropriation in the committee notes. The chair said the change was meant to position the Legislature to lead intergovernmental coordination.

For HB1407 the committee converted a grant program into a request-for-proposal model, added a 1-to-5 matching requirement on awards (example figures were discussed by the chair), and inserted a placeholder appropriation. The chair explained the match is intended to ensure local chambers have “skin in the game” and can fundraise.

Dane Wicker, deputy director at DBEDT, appeared to note his department supported the intent and that staff had offered written testimony.

The committee recorded roll-call votes for HB1405 (chair and vice chair and five members voting to adopt the chair’s recommendation; Representative Tam was noted as excused). HB1406 and HB1407 were also adopted with the chair’s recommendation.

Committee members said technical and style edits will be forthcoming in the HD1 drafts, and several provisions — including exact FTE counts and appropriation amounts — were left blank for further drafting and fiscal review.