Appropriations committee trims Housing Opportunity Mobility Empowerment grant, allows existing lots to qualify

The Appropriations Committee on Wednesday amended Senate Bill 2225, cutting the Housing Opportunity Mobility Empowerment Grant Program's requested funding and adding new eligibility language for existing lots.

The amendment reduces the bill's original $50,000,000 request by $20,000,000 and lowers the maximum grant available to a community from 1.5 to 1 (units not specified in the transcript). It also clarifies that infrastructure funds can be used on existing lots and makes communities provide a $2 local match for each $1 of state funding in the categories discussed. Representative Murphy moved the committee to give the bill a do-pass recommendation as amended; the amendment and the do-pass recommendation carried on roll calls reported as 22 yes, 0 no and 1 absent.

Why it matters: the program targets infrastructure and property-readiness work to make lots cheaper for homebuyers and to spur construction in smaller communities. Committee members said the change aims to prevent developers from receiving…