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House approves changes to Olen Walker housing loan fund to allow grants, limit municipal bans on year-round shelters
Summary
Fifth substitute to SB 169 passed after debate on Midvale shelter operations and the bill’s intent to give the fund flexibility to make grants rather than requiring 50% in loans; proponents called it a bridge to expand shelter capacity and opponents cited local control concerns.
Representative Gibson moved the fifth substitute to Senate Bill 169, describing it as a companion to earlier homeless-services legislation and a package of technical and policy changes that would give the Olen Walker trust board flexibility to distribute funds as grants rather than forcing a 50 percent loan requirement. Gibson said the substitute “eliminates the requirement of 50% of the fund has to be distributed by loan in order to give the board flexibility and give it out in grants as opposed to loans,” and added provisions aimed at preventing municipalities from adopting ordinances that would bar a shelter from operating year-round on private property.
Representative Cutler (whose district includes Midvale) strongly opposed the bill on local-control and public-safety grounds, recounting the long local history of a particular Midvale shelter and saying state mandates on year-round operation could put local elected officials in a difficult position. Cutler urged defeat or further study in the interim. Representative Eliason and others defended the substitute as a necessary bridge to expand shelter capacity and as a property-rights protection for private property owners who wish to host shelters.
The House voted on the fifth substitute to SB 169; the measure passed the House as amended by a vote of 62 yea to 10 nay and will be returned to the Senate for further consideration.
Actions and next steps: The fifth substitute to SB 169 was adopted and the House passed the bill by recorded vote; sponsor indicated continued negotiation with Midvale and county officials.
