Committee resists adding private-run student housing to capital bill, suggests appropriations path

The House Corrections and Institutions Committee on Wednesday debated a $1 million request to advance student and family housing design but stopped short of placing the item in the capital bill, citing concerns about precedent and whether public money should underwrite projects operated by private entities.

Committee members said the committee has previously moved similar requests out of the capital bill and into cash or appropriations to avoid creating an open-ended precedent. "I had a problem with that," a committee member said when asked about directing capital dollars to a privately run project. Several members expressed worry that moving forward in the capital bill would create expectations for many other non-state entities to seek similar funding.

Supporters told the committee the project would address a statewide housing shortage and could be an effective use of funds if handled through the right channel. The chair summarized the discussion as leaning toward not placing the project in the capital bill and instead suggesting that the proponents pursue the request through appropriations or the formal budget-request process.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the project; members asked staff to help redirect the request to appropriations and requested more information on who would operate the housing and how the funds would be administered before any future endorsement.