Senator Plum amends property‑loss proposal: loans, insurance proof and DWS management in new fourth substitute

Senator Plum introduced a fourth substitute on Senate Bill 121 during floor consideration, substantially changing the bill’s approach to a property‑loss assistance program for properties near homeless services providers.

Lede: Senator Plum said the fourth substitute removes grants and replaces them with 0% interest loans that must be repaid within one year and requires applicants to document that they filed an insurance claim and provide the results of that claim.

Nut graf: The substitute also moves program administration to the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) rather than creating a separate committee, a change Plum said would ‘‘decrease the fiscal note significantly.’’ The Senate substituted the bill on the floor and then circled it so that senators could review the new text.

Key points from the floor

- Loan terms and insurance requirement: Senator Plum explained the substitute makes all assistance 0% interest loans due within one year and requires applicants to document an insurance claim and its outcome so the state aid does not supplant insurance coverage.

- Administration by DWS: The substitute places management responsibility with the Department of Workforce Services instead of establishing a new committee or separate allocation process.

- Procedural outcome: Senator Plum moved to delete the title and body of the third substitute and replace it with the fourth substitute; the Senate adopted the change and then circled the substituted bill for senators to review. The transcript records the floor motion to circle the fourth substitute and the motion passing.

Why it matters: The changes narrow the program’s form (loans rather than grants), require insurance claim documentation to prevent overlap with private insurance, and centralize administration to an existing state department — steps sponsors said would reduce costs and simplify implementation. Because the bill was circled on the floor after substitution, senators and stakeholders will have time to review the new language before final action.

Attribution and direct language

- Senator Plum (Senator Plum): “It’s the bill that would propose to set up a property loss fund for properties that are within 1/5 of a mile of homeless, services providers establishments. And I’ve essentially, with this amendment, made it so that there are no grants, only 0% interest loans that have to be paid back within 1 year.”

- Senator Plum also explained the insurance documentation requirement: applicants “would have to document that they had filed an insurance claim and have the results of that insurance claim.”

Meeting next steps: Because the bill was circled, sponsors will make the substituted language available for review and the Senate will recirculate the bill onto the calendar when senators are ready to consider it again.

Ending: The floor action reflects a substantive policy change in how the Legislature proposes to assist property owners near homeless‑service sites: moving from grants to repayable loans and consolidating administration within an existing department.