Committee hears first testimony on bill to create certificate-of-need for recovery housing

The House Community Revitalization Committee heard sponsor testimony on House Bill 58, which would create a certificate-of-need for recovery housing, shift certification costs from taxpayers to providers and give local ADAM boards authority to inspect, investigate and close noncompliant facilities.

Representative Pazuli, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the proposal is aimed at curbing what he called “bad actors” who exploit recovery housing for profit and, in some cases, skirt local zoning by invoking the Americans with Disabilities Act. “This bill isn't about targeting legitimate providers. It's about ensuring accountability and safeguarding our citizens,” Pazuli said in opening testimony. Pazuli said the bill would impose a modest bed fee of 69¢ per bed per day, shift certification costs to providers and allow local oversight to address fraud and safety concerns.

Why it matters: Sponsors said the proposal responds to overcrowding, alleged criminal activity, and strains on local services that they attribute to unregulated recovery homes. Pazuli cited a mapping report and county-level figures—saying 21 counties have little to no recovery housing while 22 counties operate beyond capacity—as evidence…