Committee advances Fast‑Track Permits Act, sets deadlines for local permitting and a fee‑penalty for late changes

House Bill 202, dubbed the Fast‑Track Permits Act, advanced from the House Education and Miscellaneous Topic Committee on Jan. 27, 2025, after public testimony and a roll‑call vote that passed the bill 6‑3.

Sponsor Representative Feiler said the bill is intended to reduce permitting delays for projects that are permitted uses under local zoning. The bill sets several timelines: local government entities must notify an applicant in writing within 15 days whether an application is complete; after a completed submission the entity must approve or deny the request within 60 days (with enumerated exceptions); and if a local government imposes requirements missed during plan review after approval, the applicant is entitled to a 10 percent reduction in fees. The bill excludes conditional use permits, rezoning, subdivisions and temporary zoning uses from the fast‑track process.

Supporters argued the measure would bring…