Committee advances concept to allow short-term tax abatements for deed-restricted housing

The Planning and Development Committee on Feb. 20 voted to raise as a concept an act authorizing agreements for short-term tax abatements for deed-restricted housing, moving the idea toward a public hearing. Senator Grama moved to raise the concept and Representative Winter seconded; the clerk then conducted a roll call and the Chair announced the ayes had it. Votes on concept items were held open until 2:00 p.m.

The measure is intended to let municipalities enter into short-term tax-abatement agreements tied to deed-restricted housing, though several members asked whether towns already possess that authority. Representative Zazowski asked directly, “Is this something that the towns could legally do already?” The Chair said the committee would confirm current municipal authority in screening and “we're gonna hear it, and we'll find out for sure and move from there.”

Clerks conducted a roll call during which multiple members recorded yes votes; the Chair said the committee will hold the votes open until midafternoon and bring the bill to public hearing. The committee scheduled a public hearing for Friday, Feb. 27 at 10:30 a.m.

The committee did not yet adopt statutory language; members framed the item as a concept to be fleshed out at hearing. The next steps are committee review at the public hearing and drafting of bill language that will clarify whether the authority supplements or codifies existing municipal powers.