Committee hears bill to align municipal housing reports with U.S. Census categories
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Summary
Lawmakers and municipal representatives heard testimony supporting LD 2079, which would revise Maine's municipal housing reporting categories to match U.S. Census unit types, extend the reporting deadline from January to March, and encourage smaller towns to submit data with regional council assistance.
Representative Tracy Geer, the bill sponsor, opened the hearing on LD 2079, saying the bill updates the municipal housing data categories and a reporting process the Legislature established last session to better track statewide housing production. "That work produced a recommended online form, changes to the categorization of the types of housing units, and a deadline that accommodates end of year data collection," Geer said.
State housing staff and regional partners told the committee the change is intended to reduce municipal burden by aligning state reporting with existing U.S. Census building‑permit unit types. Hillary Gove of the Maine Office of Community Affairs said the office supports the bill and plans to publish aggregated results on a state housing data portal after analysis. "Aligning the state's data collection process with how municipalities already collect data makes the process easier for municipalities," Gove said.
The Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) described a pilot project used to test a simplified online form. Rick Harbison of GPCOG said pilot participants recommended keeping questions straightforward and that the new categories mirror the Census, making it easier for municipalities to comply.
The Maine Municipal Association's legislative policy committee backed the bill as a way to "right‑size" reporting requirements. Tanya Emery said the committee supports scaling back the more onerous elements of the prior law, particularly detailed affordability categories that local officials found difficult to assemble.
Committee members pressed witnesses on two recurring concerns: which municipalities participated in pilots and how the state will protect potentially sensitive information. MOCA and regional council witnesses said many larger communities already report to the Census; MOCA and GPCOG will provide the committee with copies of the Census form and the state reporting form for the work session. MOCA told lawmakers the portal will present analyzed, public information but that the agency will avoid publishing protected data.
The hearing closed after members requested the pilot forms and additional documentation for the work session. Committee staff will compile the requested materials for committee consideration at a later date.
The public hearing for LD 2079 is closed; the committee has asked MOCA, GPCOG and the Maine Municipal Association to deliver sample reporting forms and additional pilot participation information at the work session.
