Committee reviews housing omnibus draft 7.2; members debate 30% set‑aside for 5‑year grants, reporting and tax options

Cameron Wood of the Office of Legislative Counsel presented draft 7.2 of the committee’s housing omnibus bill (draft request 250838) on March 11, a wide‑ranging package that includes programs for rental housing improvements, set‑asides for short‑term and longer‑term forgivable loans, a universal‑design study, expanded data access for the Department of Taxes, landlord certificate reporting, short‑term rental municipal taxing authority language, and multiple appropriations.

Wood described edits since draft 6.1 and highlighted new or revised sections. One of the central policy questions that drew sustained discussion was a provision that would require the Department to establish a minimum annual set‑aside for 5‑year grants and forgivable loans. The draft language reads that the set‑aside “shall be a minimum of 30% of funds dispersed annually.” Members asked whether that 30% was intended as a durable annual minimum or as a starting point (30% for the first year) with administrative adjustment afterward.

Wood said that departmental staff told him their intent was for 30% in year one and the department would be able to set the amount above or below that level in subsequent years, but the submitted draft implements a perennial…