Committee advances HB 308 to clarify Office of Homeless Services leadership and reporting

Representative Okerlund introduced House Bill 308, which modifies statutory language governing the Office of Homeless Services to clarify that the state homeless coordinator will serve as the executive director, to reduce duplicative reporting requirements, and to realign some administrative responsibilities with partner organizations.

Nick Coleman, interim coordinator for homeless services, summarized the changes: "It really clarifies the responsibilities of the coordinator to be the executive director of the Office of Homeless Services and to really place them within that structure so that they're directly connected to the staff and the work of the office." He said the bill trims duplicative reporting while preserving federally required reporting and yields staff‑time cost savings.

Committee members broadly supported the cleanup and encouraged aligning this work with longer‑term planning, including work on vulnerable populations tied to the Olympics. Representative Okerlund moved the bill out of committee with a favorable recommendation; the motion passed unanimously by voice vote.