Senate committee readies CHIP amendment, asks for emergency-rule authority to speed launches

The Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee agreed Wednesday to finalize an amendment to the state’s housing infrastructure program (CHIP), hold a public discussion at 9 a.m. tomorrow and appoint a conference committee at 10 a.m. to resolve differences with the House version of S.127.

The decision matters because committee members said they want CHIP up and running quickly after passage; several members pressed for language that would allow the administering agency to adopt emergency or interim rules so projects and incentives could be available without waiting through a full 12–18 month rulemaking cycle.

Committee leaders told staff they would produce an amendment for public discussion at 9 a.m. and, if possible, a vote to send a final position to the floor. The chair asked legislative counsel to prepare a side-by-side of the Senate and House text and to circulate a list of the changes for conference committee negotiators.

Committee staff and legislative counsel described two paths to speed implementation. David Leonard of the Office of Legislative Council explained the normal rulemaking timeline and emergency-rule mechanics: "the…