Bill > HB2340

This bill encourages municipalities, which are local government entities like cities and towns, to undertake several actions related to housing as part of their comprehensive planning process, which is a long-term strategy for community development. Specifically, municipalities are encouraged to conduct an inventory of their existing housing stock, detailing the number, types, age, and location of housing units, along with vacancy rates, prices, rents, and construction activity. They are also encouraged to assess current and future housing needs by considering population trends, household demographics, income levels, and identifying any discrepancies between housing costs and incomes. Finally, municipalities are encouraged to create and adopt a "pattern book" for medium-density housing, which would provide guidance on building processes, design options like floor plans and elevations, and a clear description of how to obtain building permits for these types of homes.