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Choice Act (HB 400) cleared by committee after technical date fixes; creates tiered incentives for municipalities that expand housing choices
Summary
HB 400, a package offering points-based incentives for municipalities that adopt specified zoning and density policies, passed the committee after members adopted date corrections; supporters say it encourages infrastructure-sensitive density while ACCG cautioned about capacity limits and equity.
Representative Frey presented HB 400, a multi‑part package—branded the Choice Act—designed to give municipalities a menu of zoning and land‑use policy options and award priority points for state funding applications based on how many the locality adopts.
Frey told the committee the policy rewards towns and counties that remove barriers to housing supply: as jurisdictions adopt more policies (tier 1–4), they gain more points toward state grants and complementary programs. He described the measure as a market‑oriented tool to increase housing doors and reduce upward pressure on prices.
ACCG testified in opposition, warning the measure could disadvantage counties lacking infrastructure or the political will to adopt the policies. GMA and several builders supported the bill, saying it provides a method for balancing infrastructure cost and development incentives.
Representative Fleming offered technical amendments shifting several statutory dates into 2027; the committee adopted those edits and voted the bill out of committee.
What happens next: HB 400 will continue through the House process with the amended dates; authors and local officials signaled readiness for further technical discussions about infrastructure protections, financing and equitable distribution of state resources.
