Lawmakers say housing provisions survived changes; critics say reforms lack guarantees for affordability

At the forum, lawmakers described how housing measures evolved across chambers and what remained by session end.

Representative Pierce criticized much of the House’s approach to housing affordability, saying many proposals primarily required local governments to study planning and zoning changes rather than guaranteeing cheaper housing.

"There’s nothing in the bill that required the home builder to actually pass the savings along to the person or even build workforce housing," Pierce said, arguing that removing local rules without enforceable affordability requirements could produce larger, more expensive units rather than workforce housing.

Senator Yoder highlighted a local win: changes in House Bill 1001 that allow the Bloomington Housing Authority to purchase a poorly maintained apartment complex — an outcome she said required working with bill authors to remove language she viewed as targeting Bloomington specifically.

Both legislators acknowledged further work is needed during the interim to develop enforceable tools for creating affordable and workforce housing. They pointed to models used in other states (mentioned: Vermont and Kentucky approaches) and said they will study options and continue dialogue with local governments and housing stakeholders.

Audience poll results placed housing affordability and zoning among the top interim priorities, behind healthcare.