Conference committee backs pilot to speed county permitting, sunsets program in 2030

The conference committee voted to pass a CD1 that establishes a pilot program allowing mayors of counties with populations under 500,000 to implement targeted staffing, pay incentives and interdepartmental performance goals to speed permitting.

Senate chair described the measure as authorizing "increased pay for search and permitting positions and requires county personnel departments to prioritize hiring or permitting positions as part of the pilot program," and said participating counties must submit quarterly reports and that the pilot would sunset on "06/30/2030." The managers said RAM and PIN approvals were in place before taking the vote.

The committee recorded affirmative voice votes from both senate and house managers to adopt the recommendation. Supporters framed the pilot as a way to improve permitting speed, accountability and quality through staffing and measurable goals; opponents did not register a roll-call opposition on the record during this session. The CD1 language, as described by managers, includes a built-in reporting requirement to county councils and the legislature to allow oversight during the pilot period.

The measure now moves forward with the CD1 language and the stated sunset date; managers said implementation details and reporting cadence would be handled by the participating county agencies and oversight offices.