House passes omnibus housing bill after committee amendments

The House voted Wednesday to propose amendments to and pass S.328, an omnibus housing bill that the General and Housing Committee described as the sessionomnibus housing package.

Representative Charlton, speaking for the General and Housing Committee, walked members through the billsection by section. Key provisions include requirements for the Secretary of State to provide public information resources for homeowners associations and other common interest communities; creation of a Service Supported Housing Advisory Council to align Medicaid-funded developmental disability services with housing supports; expansion of the state's credit facility (the "10% for Vermont" program) to 12.5% to support housing finance; an off-site construction accelerator pilot to aid bulk purchasing of off-site constructed housing; codification of the Vermont Rental Housing Improvement Program (VHIP); and municipal plan requirements to analyze regulatory and physical constraints to housing.

Member from Woodstock (Representative Kimball) summarized the Ways and Means amendment, which (1) redesignates leadership of the off-site construction pilot to the state treasurer and shortens the reporting deadline, (2) moves the VHFA Rental Housing Revolving Loan Program into statute and adjusts income thresholds to allow use of low-income housing tax credits, and (3) clarifies that special assessment bonds are not property taxes. Ways and Means noted the treasurer provision could reduce general fund interest income modestly (estimated around $600,000 annually) as the credit facility expands.

The Appropriations Committee added language designating per diem compensation for the Service Supported Housing Advisory Council from the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living base budget and recommended striking a fiscal-year 2024 one-time appropriation drafted earlier because it was already included in the budget. Committees reported favorable votes (General and Housing 10-1-0; Ways and Means 11-0-0; Appropriations 11-0-0). The House ordered third reading, placed S.328 in all remaining stages of passage, passed it in concurrence with the proposal of amendment by voice vote, and moved to message its action to the Senate.