Committee clears recodification of housing incentive statutes, sponsor says no policy change

Senator Harper presented SB 39 to the House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee on Feb. 17 as a recodification and cleanup of housing incentive statutes. He said the bill moves various housing incentive provisions into one code section for clarity and ease of future amendment, and that the intent is not to change policy.

"This is clearly just a recodification. There's no policy change," Senator Harper said, adding stakeholders were given opportunities to review the reorganization and one minor policy provision removed during committee consideration.

Committee members asked whether the recodification conflicts with other legislative housing restructuring efforts. The sponsor responded that staff and the other bill sponsor coordinated and that he found no conflicts so far. Lawmakers also sought clarification about language dealing with property tax increment distribution for Convention Center Reinvestment Zones, and the sponsor said the language simply clarifies that those incremental funds are not municipal revenue but funds distributed under existing county processes.

Representative Jack moved to favorably recommend SB 39; the committee voted 6–1 to advance the bill to the full House. The committee also noted two other bills were pulled from the agenda and adjourned early.