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House Bill 399: sponsor seeks commission to review the century‑old zoning enabling act
Summary
Representative Joe Alexander, prime sponsor of HB 399, told the Commerce Committee the zoning enabling statute is turning 100 and needs a legislative commission to study modernization; supporters urged bipartisan membership and a near‑term timetable, while senators flagged space and scheduling constraints for commissions.
Representative Joe Alexander (chair, House Housing Committee) presented House Bill 399 during the Commerce Committee’s March 11 hearing, requesting a legislative commission to study the State’s zoning enabling act and propose updates. Alexander called the law’s centennial a trigger to reassess whether statutory delegation to municipalities remains fit for purpose and asked the committee to adopt a drafting change to the bill’s appointing language so that the Speaker of the House participate in appointment authority for the House seats on the commission.
Support: Greg Moore of Americans for Prosperity testified in support and said the clustering of housing bills indicated a comprehensive review is timely. Moore recommended bipartisan, practical membership and warned that commissions must have an appointing mechanism that ensures seats are filled. Representative Alexander and witnesses emphasized the commission’s study questions (the bill lists approximately ten topics to consider) and urged a focused, time‑bounded review.
Operational notes and committee exchange: A committee member flagged practical constraints — House and Senate committee rooms and meeting space are in high demand — and asked the sponsor to be mindful of how many study commissions are created. Representative Alexander acknowledged the concern and said he intended the commission to be efficient and bipartisan. The committee also agreed to a technical amendment (698s) to correct appointing authority language for House appointees and to a second amendment adjusting an effective date coordinate tied to related legislation.
Ending: The committee closed the hearing; the sponsor and witnesses said they were open to technical amendments to clarify appointment authority and keep the commission timely and focused. The committee subsequently adopted committee and technical amendments in executive session and voted to advance HB 399 with amended appointing language to conform with speaker appointment practice.
