House Bill 448

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] OFFICE OF HOUSING PLANNING AND PRODUCTION CREATED--ADMINISTRATIVELY ATTACHED--POWERS AND DUTIES.--

          A. As used in this section, "housing" means real property and infrastructure that is residential housing, including rental housing, the housing portion of a mixed-use commercial and housing project and commercial property that is repurposed for residential housing.

          B. The "office of housing planning and production" is created and is administratively attached to the department of finance and administration. The department shall provide administrative services for the office.

          C. The purpose of the office of housing planning and production is to:

                (1) reduce housing costs;

                (2) increase statewide housing availability, including housing for low-income and homeless households;

                (3) maximize resources to address statewide housing needs;

                (4) address the underlying factors that are impacting housing costs and limited supply;

                (5) grow local programs and capacity to address housing needs and further fair housing;

                (6) identify state resources for housing; and

                (7) track housing progress through goal setting and data.

          D. The director of the office of housing planning and production shall be appointed by the governor. Subject to appropriations, the director may employ technical and clerical assistants as necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the office.

          E. The office of housing planning and production shall:

                (1) develop a statewide strategy to build collaborative partnerships among state agencies and local stakeholders in addressing housing and homelessness, aligning programs and identifying resources;

                (2) provide technical assistance to local governments, Indian nations, tribes and pueblos and regional entities to improve housing regulation, further fair housing, increase housing development capacity and housing funding, grow local and statewide capacity for homelessness services and prevention and promote public-private housing partnerships;

                (3) align resources across state agencies and the private sector to identify new programs to increase capacity in housing finance and housing development and to grow the construction and trades workforces;

                (4) address the underlying factors that impact housing costs and availability, regardless of income, by, at a minimum:

                     (a) analyzing regulatory frameworks surrounding land use and zoning, building codes, permitting and inspection processes and utility and road connections;

                     (b) analyzing construction costs associated with workforce shortages and supply chain constraints; and

                     (c) promoting new approaches to housing, including modular, manufactured and tiny homes and new construction technologies;

                (5) coordinate across state agencies and local stakeholders to address homelessness;

                (6) collect and report housing and land use data and outcomes at least annually to the legislative finance committee; provided that the data and outcomes shall describe housing development activities, programs and investments in regions of the state and statewide to:

                     (a) evaluate needs and progress toward housing goals;

                     (b) identify geographic gaps in housing availability and services;

                     (c) assess the relative health of local and regional housing markets; and

                     (d) evaluate the impacts of state, regional and local housing programs;

                (7) collect and report data at least annually to describe and monitor the housing market in regions of the state and statewide and establish housing production goals across income levels;

                (8) evaluate housing data to identify:

                     (a) geographic gaps in housing availability and whether the gaps are the result of increased or decreased economic activity;

                     (b) duplications within state agencies of service and finance efforts; and

                     (c) adequate progress of local governments toward housing production and fair housing goals;

                (9) analyze housing and economic development investments and initiatives, measure impacts of state, regional and local housing programs, monitor state and local efforts, support local efforts to meet defined housing goals, make necessary policy changes and investments to achieve housing goals and make findings publicly available;

                (10) create a framework for local governments to set goals for meeting housing needs across income levels;

                (11) grow local ability to meet housing needs by:

                     (a) working with local governments on land use and zoning, permit, inspection and building codes;

                     (b) supporting capacity building at the local and regional level for new housing programs; and

                     (c) using goal setting frameworks and land use outcome data to create accountability to solve problems locally;

                (12) identify ways that existing programs and capacities can address housing needs;

                (13) provide support to state agencies undertaking housing and housing-adjacent activities; and

                (14) perform nonduplicative duties assigned by the governor or the legislature to ensure that the state meets or exceeds the state's housing goals.