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Committee asks DHCD to draft legislation and funding options for a state land bank
Summary
The committee inserted language directing the Department of Housing and Community Development to produce a report, including proposed legislative language and funding proposals, for a State Land Bank by Nov. 15, 2025, and asked staff to refine the draft to ensure the report considers statewide and regional approaches.
The House Committee on General and Housing added draft language directing the Department of Housing and Community Development to produce a report that outlines a legal framework and proposed funding sources to implement a State Land Bank.
Cameron Lloyd, Legislative Council, said the draft requires DHCD to submit a report "on or before 11/15/2025" that will include proposed legislative language to create a State Land Bank and identify funding proposals to support its sustainability.
Committee members discussed the difference between land trusts and land banks. Chris Donnelly of Champlain Housing Trust described their organization as a community land trust that holds property in perpetuity for affordable housing. He contrasted that model with a land bank, which committees heard could be a funding and acquisition vehicle used to acquire distressed or vacant properties and later convey them for redevelopment.
Members asked the department to be explicit that the report should include actionable legislative text. Lloyd said the department's recent report provided discussion and options, but the committee wanted DHCD to produce draft statutory language the legislature could use to implement a land bank.
Committee members also debated whether the study should focus only on a single statewide land bank or also evaluate regional or local land banks and how a state model might support smaller communities without capacity to create their own entities. One member proposed language asking DHCD to study "a state land bank or and/or regional land bank approaches such that where such approaches make the benefits of the bank available to all areas of the state," and to include funding proposals.
The committee did not take final action on creating a land bank; Lloyd said staff would redraft the study language to clarify that DHCD should examine state and regional options and propose legislation and funding mechanisms for the committee's consideration.
