NVCOG staff devoted substantial time to summarizing a newly passed housing bill and its likely implications for member towns.

Rick (NVCOG executive director) told members the bill replaces prior affordable housing plans with housing growth plans and allows municipalities to opt into a regional plan. "I am going to urge all of you to strongly consider opting into the regional plan," he said, citing staff capacity and state‑provided resources to develop regional plans.

Staff warned that zoning remains a constitutional power of the state and that the law changes how targets and appeals operate. A staff speaker summarized the appeals law: "8 30 g is a land use appeals process," explaining that under the statute, if a land use commission denies an eligible affordable housing application a developer can appeal, and the municipality may need to defend the denial in court.

NVCOG staff advised towns to prepare overlay zones and to tighten standards for any areas where summary review or as‑of‑right applications will apply. They cautioned that developers may file a wave of applications before rules are changed and urged municipalities to work with their town attorneys. Staff also recommended opting into the regional plan to access technical resources and potential funding and to coordinate target allocations among the 19 chief elected officials who decide distribution within the region.

NVCOG said it will produce plain‑language guidance and host briefings for planning and zoning commissions, including recorded sessions, and will analyze cross‑cutting statutory conflicts as staff parse bill language.