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House debate on accessible housing bill highlights planning, bonding and limits on mandates
Summary
House members spent extended floor time on House Bill 36, which would boost visibility for 'accessible housing' in state planning and bonding criteria but does not mandate construction; lawmakers debated language about bonding criteria, loans/grants authority and whether the bill expands departmental powers.
House Bill 36 drew one of the longest floor debates of the Jan. 21 session as sponsors and colleagues parsed the bill’s language and its practical effect on local governments and housing markets.
Sponsor Representative Stephen Mascaro framed the bill with a personal anecdote about his mother-in-law to illustrate the need for more single-level, zero-step homes with wider doorways and larger main-floor bathrooms. Mascaro emphasized the text uses discretionary language — "may" — and does not mandate local governments or builders to construct…
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