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Lawmakers debate unfunded-mandate concerns in bill requiring pre‑approved housing designs for municipalities
Summary
Senate Bill 15-29 would require municipalities to establish pre-approved housing design plan programs; two members said they plan to vote no on the floor, calling the requirement an unfunded mandate because the bill includes no appropriation for municipal costs.
Senate Bill 15-29 directs municipalities to establish programs to offer pre-approved housing designs or standards when requested by an officer in charge of elections or other authorized official; committee staff summarized the bill and said it was on the third-read consent calendar from committee.
During caucus, Representative Finks and at least one other member said they voted no in committee because their municipalities told them the measure is an unfunded mandate. "The reason why I did vote no was because I spoke with my municipalities and they said this was an unfunded mandate, and they would prefer instead of being required to... the cities are concerned about it being an unfunded mandate," Representative Finks said.
Staff and members confirmed there is no appropriation in the bill. When asked whether the sponsor had specified the funding municipalities would need, staff said municipalities had not provided an estimate. One member said the sponsor should reach out to municipalities and consider amendments; caucus discussion noted calendar time remains to amend the bill before floor action.
A member said they would vote no on the floor unless the bill is changed to address municipal funding concerns. The bill was advanced from committee to caucus with recorded committee dissent and no floor vote recorded in caucus.
