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Committee advances bill allowing churches to develop affordable housing on existing property amid tax and discrimination concerns
Summary
Senate Bill 59, with a committee substitute limiting eligibility to existing church property, cleared the committee after debate over tax exemption, local control and whether religious organizations could lawfully discriminate in housing.
Senator Jimmy Higdon introduced Senate Bill 59 and a committee substitute that narrows the proposal to development on "existing property," saying the change was intended to match the bill’s intent and avoid unintended expansion. "The committee sub adds is this it says on existing property," Higdon said.
Higdon described the bill as modeled on measures in other states that allow churches to build affordable housing on land they already own while still requiring local governing-body approval and compliance with building codes. He said "this…
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