Committee OKs interim study on housing regulatory barriers, sends SCR 103 to the floor

Representative Jordan Redmond introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 103 on behalf of an interim study of housing supply and regulatory barriers and the House Committee on Local Government voted to send the resolution to the floor with a due-pass recommendation after brief discussion and supportive testimony from the Idaho Home Builders Association.

Redmond, who represents District 3 in Kootenai County, told the committee that SCR 103 would “establish an interim study committee to look at ways to help with the housing issues we're seeing currently in our state,” and said the panel would hear from stakeholders and experts about regulatory changes that could reduce housing costs.

The measure drew cautious support and questions from committee members. Representative Wheeler moved the motion: “I move that we send senate concurrent resolution 103 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.” Representative Hawkins said he supported the motion but warned that government action can create problems, and Representative Alfieri asked how the committee would be composed; Redmond pointed to language in the draft that, he said, sets out membership from both chambers and nonlegislative stakeholders. Representative Price asked whether nonlegislative members would be reimbursed; Redmond said they would not be reimbursed for their work.

Ken Burgess of Veritas Advisors, testifying for the Idaho Home Builders Association, told the committee the causes of higher housing costs are multifactorial and said industry estimates show regulatory costs are a significant share of new-home prices. “It is estimated by the National Association of Home Builders that nearly 25% of the sales price of a new single family home is due to the cost of meeting those government regulations,” Burgess said, and added that the association supports an interim process to consider solutions.

Representative Cheatham asked whether the committee would emphasize single-family, multifamily or both; Redmond said the intent was to address housing broadly. After brief discussion the committee approved the motion by voice vote; the record shows committee members indicated “aye” and no opposition was recorded in the transcript.

SCR 103, if advanced, would create a temporary legislative advisory committee to meet during the interim and solicit testimony from municipal officials, developers, builders, advocates and other stakeholders. The resolution text (page 1–2, lines beginning at line 38, as discussed in the hearing) specifies the committee makeup and procedures and notes on page 3 that nonlegislative members shall not be reimbursed from legislative funds.

The committee did not take a roll-call tally in the transcript; the recommendation to send SCR 103 to the floor was entered by voice vote and recorded as approved. The committee concluded its hearing and indicated it would next meet on Wednesday.