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Ways and Means backs $859.7 million for "Home Start" lands program to fast-track affordable housing
Summary
The committee recommended $859.7 million general fund to create a Department of Administrative Services program to identify, designate and facilitate development of state-owned and locally nominated lands for affordable housing, including temporary tax and land-use exemptions for up to five years.
The Joint Committee on Ways and Means recommended $859,665,000 in general fund to create a Home Start Lands program in the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) to identify and prepare state-owned and locally nominated lands inside urban growth boundaries for affordable housing.
Under the proposal in House Bill 23 16, DAS would be authorized to designate properties within the urban growth boundary as Home Start Lands and could facilitate sale, transfer or lease to housing developers. The measure would exempt Home Start Lands from certain land use laws and property taxes for up to five years and would allow DAS to provide grants and loans to developers and cities to support affordable housing development.
The bill creates the Home Start Lands Fund, into which proceeds from property sales (less costs) would be deposited and used to administer the program and provide loans and grants. The Capital Construction Subcommittee recommended the bill be amended by the dash B9 amendment and reported out due pass as amended.
Representative Evans said she understood the intent of the bill but expressed concern that the measure gave duties to a different agency than traditionally responsible: "I'm always a little nervous when we give a different agency something that's theoretically the purpose of another agency. So I'm just gonna be a no to make sure DAS knows that I'm a little bit confused why they're doing this instead of OCS." Representative Evans did not block the motion; the measure advanced.
Supporters said the program is intended to make better use of underused state lands inside urban growth boundaries and to accelerate housing production. The subcommittee recommended the measure be reported out due pass as amended.
Action: The Capital Construction Subcommittee recommended House Bill 23 16 be amended (dash B9) and reported out due pass as amended; the committee moved and the motion passed in the work session.
