House adopts bill creating voluntary regional planning roundtables after heated debate over local control

House Bill 11‑98, which creates a permissive regional planning roundtable commission to convene local governments at their request, passed third reading on April 21, 2025 after a technical numbering amendment and extended floor debate about local control.

The bill’s sponsor said the commission can convene regions only at the request of local governments to coordinate planning on issues that cross municipal or county lines. Representative Froelich asked the House for permission to bring a technical amendment on third reading; the body approved permission, adopted amendment l010 (a numbering fix), and then repassed the bill as amended.

Opponents, including Representative DeGraff, argued the measure would displace local authority and expand state involvement in zoning and land‑use decisions. DeGraff and others described the proposal as another layer of bureaucracy that could reduce responsiveness at the local level. Representative Soukla, citing previous experience as a county commissioner, also urged a no vote, saying local governments “already know what they need.” Supporters, including Representative Froelich, said the framework is permissive and limited to local requests — for example, to plan for unexpected, large developments such as data centers — and that the bill preserves local control by requiring local request before action.

Floor action: the House approved permission to offer the third‑reading technical amendment and the amendment itself by roll call. The final third‑reading vote passed with 38 yeas, 25 nays, and 2 excused.

Why this matters: The bill creates a state‑level mechanism that local governments may request for coordinated planning on cross‑jurisdictional issues. Backers frame it as a convening tool for complex regional challenges; opponents said it risks centralizing authority and undermining local discretion.

Ending: The bill as amended will be enrolled and transmitted per the normal process; local officials and counties weighing the available permissive option can expect outreach from the relevant state office if and when the roundtables are implemented.