Committee advances bill easing occupancy limits for unrelated roommates

The Housing & Community Development Committee on the motion advanced House Bill 2109, which would prevent arbitrary limits on unrelated roommates unless a jurisdiction can point to true health and safety reasons. Rep. Khan, the bill’s sponsor, told the committee the measure — which he called the “Golden Girls bill” — “removes unnecessary regulations that restrict who can live together” and would expand affordable housing options for people sharing rent.

Supporters said the change would help people struggling with rent by allowing more flexible household arrangements. “This is a bill that’s gonna help with folks that are struggling to afford rent,” Rep. Khan said, adding that the bill aims to respect health and safety standards while eliminating restrictions based solely on familial relationships.

Opponents raised concerns about unintended consequences in single-family neighborhoods. Rep. Schaeffer said eliminating unrelated-occupancy limits could allow large numbers of unrelated residents to occupy single-family homes, creating parking, noise and character impacts. He described reading county health rules that, as he interpreted them, might permit a very high number of occupants based on square footage and asked how the bill would prevent de facto rooming houses or fraternity-style congregations.

Rep. Khan and committee staff responded that the bill targets only relationship-based limits and preserves health and safety standards that would cap dangerous overcrowding; they also said the language can be tightened on the House floor to address fraternity or organized-group concerns. Staff noted a committee amendment (A02848) clarifying which construction codes apply under the uniform construction code and said that amendment was adopted before the final vote.

The committee reported the bill as passed in committee with a recorded tally of 19–7. The measure will now proceed to the full House for further consideration.