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Committee backs bill requiring recovery homes to notify nearby neighbors
Summary
The committee voted 10–3 to recommend HB 98, which would require residential treatment centers and recovery homes to provide basic contact information to neighbors within 300 feet within 30 days of opening; sponsors described the change as a low‑burden transparency measure, while some members pressed for enforcement mechanisms.
Representative Jake Fitisemanu introduced HB 98 as a "good neighbor" measure that would require residential treatment centers, recovery homes and similar facilities to provide contact information (business name, brief description, phone and email) to neighbors within a 300‑foot radius either 30 days before opening or within 30 days after opening.
"This is something we came up with really, as a good neighbor bill so that neighbors within the immediate vicinity of these businesses have somebody that they can call or that they can email when they do have questions," Fitisemanu said.
Committee members generally praised the intent but raised enforcement questions. Representative Tuscher (Tesher) asked what the penalty would be if an operator failed to provide the notice; the sponsor said the draft contains no explicit penalty and described the requirement as a voluntary, non‑punitive disclosure measure. Committee members noted that license and permitting processes and existing DHHS compliance procedures remain in place for operators and that civil or regulatory remedies under licensing statutes could apply if an operator fails to comply with licensing requirements.
Representative Burton moved that the committee favorably recommend HB 98. The committee conducted a roll call vote and passed the bill 10–3. Recorded 'no' votes were Representative Tesher/Tuscher, Representative White and Representative Kyle. The measure will move forward to the House calendar for further consideration.
Why this matters: proponents said the bill can reduce unnecessary police calls and improve neighborhood communications by making it clear who operates a nearby facility and how to reach them. Opponents cautioned that without a clear enforcement mechanism the requirement could be ineffective for neighbors who discover a facility only after it opens.
