Establishing an affordable housing task force

This bill establishes an affordable housing task force to study state and local regulations that contribute to the cost of affordable housing and to examine the corresponding public benefit of such regulations relative to their impact on housing costs. The bill requires the task force to examine zoning and land use regulations, state and local building codes, permitting and approval processes, and state and local funding mechanisms affecting the development and availability of affordable housing. The bill establishes the membership of the task force, which includes representatives from state agencies, housing developers, local government officials from cities and counties of varying population sizes, members of the general assembly, a director of a city’s or county’s planning and zoning department, and members from a housing nonprofit organization, housing lending organization, and economic development group. The bill requires the members to be chosen to reflect geographic diversity. The bill requires the task force to submit a written report to the general assembly and the governor by December 1, 2026, detailing the task force’s findings and recommendations, including any proposed statutory or administrative changes intended to reduce regulatory barriers to affordable housing while preserving public health and safety.