Bill > HB2552

This bill mandates that local governments, which include municipalities and counties, must act on development applications, plans, or site inspections submitted by developers within specific timeframes, either approving them, identifying deficiencies in writing within 30 business days, or requesting additional information. If a local government fails to act within these deadlines, the submission is automatically approved. Furthermore, local governments are limited to issuing only two written reports of deficiencies, and if unresolved after the second report, they must either deny the application with justification and refund half the fees or conditionally approve it. The bill also requires that any changes to contracts between local governments and contractors or developers must be in writing, and importantly, if an independent inspector, a registered professional engineer, determines a contractor or developer has completed all contracted work, the local government must release their required bond (which can be a bond, letter of credit, or similar assurance) within 120 business days or provide written reasons for not doing so, specifying the incomplete work. These provisions are intended to streamline the development process and ensure timely action from local governments.