As presented during TAAHP’s Legislative Agenda Review Webcast, TAAHP members and partners have been collaborating over the past year to propose six housing bills for the 88th Texas Legislative Session. To date, three of TAAHP’s bills have been filed.
TAAHP would like to thank Rep. Jetton, Rep. Goldman, Sen. Perry and Rep. Cortez for sponsoring these bills, and looks forward to working with them more throughout the session. TAAHP members will be called upon to provide expert testimony in support of these bills or submit written testimony at upcoming legislative hearings in order to support the efforts of the bill sponsors.
HB 2071: Enhancing Transparency and Effectiveness of the Public Facility Corporations (PFCs)
Author: Rep. Jetton
Relating to certain public facilities used to provide affordable housing.
Public Facility Corporations are an essential economic development financing tool that allows local authorities to apply their respective tax exemptions to promote the development and acquisition of high-quality workforce housing. Although this tool has successfully increased the supply of housing across Texas, there are growing concerns that the program, in its current form, creates opportunities that violate its original intent. This bill seeks to align public benefits with the private sector incentives received by improving transparency and clarifying affordability requirements.
HB 1058 & SB 325: Establish a Texas Housing Tax Credit Program
Authors: Rep. Goldman & Sen. Perry
Relating to a franchise or insurance premium tax credit for certain housing developments.
Texas, like other states, is in the midst of a housing crisis exacerbated by supply chain problems and inflation. Over 20 states have created state HTC programs to supplement the federal HTC programs for new construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable housing developments. TAAHP supports the creation of a state tax credit program as an added resource for affordable housing developments.
HB 1757: Limit the Applicability of Resolutions of No Objections (RONO) for 4% HTC Developments
Author: Cortez
Relating to the requirements for applications for low-income housing tax credits for certain developments financed through the private activity bond program.
Currently, applicants seeking to develop and build under the 4% HTC program are required to obtain a Resolution of No Objection (RONO) for any proposed developments from the local governing body. Failure to receive a RONO renders the proposed development ineligible for credits with no opportunity to appeal, thereby eliminating the development. The public hearing and resolution consideration requirements often create a politically charged environment making it difficult for local governments to support these developments. Further, some local governments also choose not to place RONO requests on agendas for consideration. This bill would retain the RONO requirement only for major metropolitan governments but remove it for all others.
If you have any questions about TAAHP’s legislation or advocacy efforts, please email whitney@taahp.org.