Bill would make large Nebraska cities report how many multifamily units meet federal accessibility standards

Senator Victor Rountree introduced LB839 to require certain cities to report the number of multifamily housing units constructed since March 13, 1991 and to indicate how many meet the accessibility standards of the Federal Fair Housing Act. He said the measure responds to LR86 findings about gaps between accessible housing supply and community need.

Supporters including Kathy Hall (co-chair, Olmstead Advisory Committee) and Diane Dellair (Disability Rights Nebraska) argued the state lacks reliable data about accessible units and that adding accessibility to the existing Municipal Density and Missing Middle Housing Report would help target policy solutions and honor Olmstead principles of community integration. Diane Dellair noted that FHAct accessibility requirements apply to most multifamily buildings constructed after the 1991 effective date.

Opponents, represented by Blair Macdonald for Greater Nebraska Cities, said the proposed 35-year look-back would impose heavy administrative burdens on cities because records are often not digitized and may be stored across multiple systems, and urged a shorter retroactive window or beginning reporting from the effective date. The League of Nebraska Municipalities recommended a shorter look-back (the League suggested three years) and offered to work with the sponsor on a practicable implementation timeline.

Committee members pressed on definitions (which multifamily types would count), the feasibility of retroactive data collection, and whether the 1991 date is the appropriate start. Senators and stakeholders agreed to continue negotiations on look-back periods and technical assistance; no formal vote occurred.