As April draws to a close, several states are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of their legislative calendars.

Texas House Gets in The Game

After passage in the State Senate several weeks ago, two bills are scheduled to be heard soon in the lower chamber:

• SB 840: Allowing multifamily and mixed-use developments. (Passed the State Senate, Committee Hearing Scheduled)
• SB 15: Starter Homes and Townhomes are an allowed use. (Passed State Senate, House Committee Hearing Scheduled)

Two States Cross the Finish Line

Georgia and Kentucky wrapped up their legislative work since Housing Affordability Institute’s last monthly update, with both states leaving without passing their housing policy proposals.

• Kentucky: SB 59, a bill streamlining approvals for faith-based groups seeking to build housing on their land passed the Senate only to stall out in the lower chamber.
• Georgia: HB 812, a building code reform bill was introduced and not heard in committee.

Starter Homes Stall

In Minnesota and Arizona, the multiyear efforts to pass starter home legislation appear to have stalled.

• Arizona: The Arizona State Legislature wraps up this week and the Starter Home Act is in a precarious position as proponents hope to get the bill to Gov. Hobbs’s desk by Friday’s adjournment.  
• Minnesota: Lawmakers came back from a week-long Easter-Passover break this past Monday. Prior to the Legislature’s break, the slate of housing policy reform bills failed to make their committee deadlines.