Conference committee agrees language changes to H.91, adds $3 million for housing and adjusts regional council membership

Conference committee members reviewing H.91 on Thursday afternoon discussed and provisionally approved several edits to the bill text, including reinstating a finding, adding legislative intent to move emergency housing and the HOP program into a regularly funded structure beginning in fiscal year 27, shifting statewide homelessness organizations to required membership on regional advisory councils, and adding $3,000,000 to the Department for Children and Families to increase capacity for permanent affordable housing, emergency shelters and permanent supportive housing, with any unspent money carried forward.

The committee’s staff read the Senate proposal into the record and pointed to an insertion in the bill’s findings section that committee members agreed should be reinserted. "That's the big one. I couldn't remember any conversation about removing it," said Committee member 3.

The bill text being discussed includes a new statement of legislative intent that, as read by staff, "it is the intent of the general assembly that [be heard] for places the provision of emergency…