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House committee advances bill to create state Office of Housing to centralize planning and data
Summary
House Bill 448 would create a state Office of Housing, administratively attached to DFA, to coordinate housing strategy, collect transparent data and assist local governments in increasing housing production and reducing homelessness.
SANTA FE — The House Appropriations and Finance Committee on Tuesday advanced House Bill 448, a measure to create a state Office of Housing charged with coordinating housing planning, increasing production and improving data collection.
Presenters told the committee the office would be administratively attached to the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) and would provide a central location to track housing spending, advise local governments, and compile transparent housing data. Daniel (last name not provided) of the governor’s office described the office as a way to “be a central tracking of all housing spending” and said the attachment to DFA would help the office track appropriations and project-based finance.
Stakeholder testimony was extensive. Mark Duran of the Manufactured Housing and Modular Industries said an organizing body is needed to coordinate the state’s response to a roughly 35,000-unit shortfall. Monet Silva of the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness urged passage, saying the office’s objectives — increase housing availability, address housing insecurity and reduce homelessness — require statewide staffing and funding. Local housing authorities, Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless, the League of Women Voters and commercial developers also testified in support.
Committee members pressed presenters for specifics about funding and staff. The office’s budget as described in testimony is $2,000,000 and presenters said the office currently has four staff and anticipates growing to about six employees by summer, with roughly $1 million of the budget earmarked for contracts such as a housing dashboard and other technical projects. Presenters also said larger construction and production appropriations are included elsewhere in the budget (referenced as separate appropriations in HB 2 and other bills) and that MFA and other agencies hold project-based funds; the office would not subsume MFA’s project finance role.
Representative Pettigrew voiced continuing concern that legislators still lack detailed outcome data on past housing expenditures. Presenters said one goal of the office is to centralize and publish those data so future appropriations can be assessed for effectiveness.
The committee moved a do-pass recommendation on HB 448; Representative Pettigrew was recorded in opposition. The bill now proceeds in the legislative process.
