Committee advances bill to encourage mixed‑use redevelopment of malls, expands scope to brownfields and grayfields

House Bill 14 46, sponsored by Representative John Siegel, would create the Economic Development and Mixed Use Redevelopment Act to encourage redevelopment of shopping malls and other underutilized large commercial sites into mixed‑use projects, including affordable housing.

The bill would create an Economic Development and Mixed Use Redevelopment Advisory Committee within the State Planning Board to develop best‑practice guidelines and publish them on the Department of Community Development’s (DCD) website within six months of the act’s effective date. It also authorizes local taxing authorities to adopt tax provisions that exempt increases in assessed value attributable to eligible redevelopment construction, subject to local ordinance or resolution.

“Many smaller communities don't often have the planning acumen or capacity to strategically redevelop larger tracts of land,” Representative Siegel said. He described the bill as “two part,” with the advisory committee provision and an updated tax‑abatement framework intended to induce developers to take on large projects that require new infrastructure.

An amendment (A01184) offered by Chairman Freeman broadened the bill’s scope to include brownfields—defined in the amendment as industrial or commercial properties complicated by actual or potential environmental contamination—and grayfields, defined as underutilized commercial properties with existing utilities. Representative Haddock supported adding brownfields, citing experience as a former mayor of Avoca and local environmental remediation costs.

Chairman Miller and others raised concerns. Miller said the amendment’s definition of “underutilized” lacks a formal determination process and warned that the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) provision could exclude nonunion construction workers; he recommended a no vote on the bill unless those issues were addressed. Representative Seacole replied that the PLA provision is optional for local taxing jurisdictions and that the first 10 years of abatement would be available “with no strings attached,” while extensions could be conditioned on community priorities such as attainable housing or green space.

The committee approved amendment A01184 by roll call, 15-11, and then voted 15-11 to report the bill to the House for consideration.

The bill, with its amendment, now directs DCD and the advisory committee to develop guidelines and gives municipal governing bodies discretion to attach community benefits—such as attainable housing, energy efficiency improvements, open space, access to transit, or project labor agreements—to extended abatement schedules.

Supporters framed the measure as a tool to repurpose large, long‑idle properties and spur jobs and housing, while critics sought clearer standards for identifying “underutilized” properties and safeguards against excluding nonunion workers.

The committee advanced the measure to the House; next steps include committee of the whole or floor scheduling and any further changes in subsequent legislative action.