Senate committee outlines housing, labor and economic development priorities ahead of March 14 bill deadline

The Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs committee opened a planning discussion to identify three priority areas for committee bills — housing, labor and economic development — and to begin drafting language before the March 14 bill-filing deadline, the committee chair said. "We have to get our bills out by March 14," the chair said.

The conversation focused on housing infrastructure and policy options the committee could pursue this session, including project-based tax increment financing (TIF) reforms, brownfields incentives, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), the state BHIP/ADHIP proposals, landlord-tenant changes, incentives to convert second homes into year-round housing, and approaches to homelessness and construction workforce shortages. The committee discussed directing a mix of permanent policy changes and additional appropriations and asked staff to circulate an omnibus housing draft for consideration next week.

Committee members identified several near-term, actionable items. They plan to review the governor's brownfields proposals and BHIP/ADHIP language…