Senator Ali Rabe’s resolution to study land use rules and housing supply sent to print

Senator Ali Rabe, D‑District 16, asked the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee on Feb. 4, 2025, to send RS32059 to print, proposing an interim committee to study state and local land use regulations and their impact on housing supply; the committee approved the request by voice vote.

“Rapid population growth in our state has caused housing costs to double, in many areas of Idaho and many Idahoans are struggling to find housing that they can afford,” Rabe told the committee, urging lawmakers to pursue “proactive solutions” and to model the study on a Montana bipartisan housing working group. Rabe said the Montana group produced a nearly 100‑page report with zoning‑reform recommendations and stakeholder engagement that she would like to replicate in Idaho.

Rabe described the proposed interim committee’s scope as bringing together legislators, local governments, industry stakeholders, builders, planners and architects to review land use statutes, regulatory barriers and permitting timelines “so we can come out at the end with some really practical solutions that allow us to reduce regulatory burning, streamline permitting, and encourage, responsible growth across the state.”

Senator Berndt moved that the resolution be sent to print; Senator Toews seconded the motion. The committee voted by voice to print RS32059. The transcript records the motion and the unanimous voice response but no roll‑call tally or subsequent hearing dates. The action sends the resolution into the formal filing process for later hearings and stakeholder testimony.