Committee restores title and advances bill clarifying affordable-housing assessment rules

Senator Fricks presented an amendment to House Bill 4305 that would clarify that private management and development companies working with nonprofit affordable-housing providers will not jeopardize tax-exempt status, and would require consistent assessment practices for affordable housing across all counties.

Fricks said the amendment "restores the title" and described the measure as an attempt to create an "equal playing field" for assessment of affordable housing following court decisions in a small number of counties. Committee members discussed prior court cases, with Fricks referencing decisions around 2011 and 2012 as relevant precedents, and asked whether additional case citations could be provided.

The committee carried the amendment and then took a roll-call vote on the bill; the recorded tally in the transcript was 6 ayes and 5 nays. The chair declared the bill passed as admitted, and Fricks thanked committee members before adjournment.