Special Committee on Housing votes 15-0 to send SB 173 to consent calendar

The Special Committee on Housing voted 15-0 to place Senate Bill 173 on the consent calendar after Representative Page moved that the committee report the bill "ought to pass." Vice Chairman Cole seconded the motion and the clerk recorded the unanimous roll call.

Committee members said the bill would create greater predictability for property owners and help support those providing low-income housing. "I just think this is a good bill and that will create more predictability for property owners," Representative Page said. "It'll be easier to implement, and I think we need to do everything we can to support these property owners who want to be providing low income housing." Representative Bolio added that an initial analysis note he had reviewed applied to a different bill: "Upon further review, I realized the note from DRA actually is not for HB 173. It was actually for SB 170, which was a very similar bill that's been amended to do something entirely different now. But some of the concerns about the language in the bill were actually for SB 170 and not SB 173. So I also support SB 173 as it is before this committee."

After the vote, Chairman Alexander said the bill would be placed on the consent calendar and instructed Representative Page to provide materials to him by 4:30 p.m. that day. The committee chair also reminded members of a full executive session scheduled for the following Tuesday and a field trip on May 13 to "Leidenborough," described in the meeting as west of Gausetown.

The meeting record shows no amendments, conditions, or dissent on SB 173 during the discussion. The committee action was recorded as a formal motion to report the bill "ought to pass," with a unanimous roll-call vote of 15 in favor and none opposed.