Bill > HB1137

This bill, titled the "Bring Back Main Street Act," mandates that the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) conduct a study on "Residential-in-Commercial-Zone" (RICZ) laws, which are state laws requiring local governments to permit multifamily residential or mixed-use developments in certain commercially zoned areas. The study will compare RICZ laws in other states, assess their impact on urban communities, local infrastructure, economic development, and housing production, and provide recommendations on appropriate regulations for such developments, including aspects like parking, density, and the types of commercial areas suitable for these projects, with a report due by December 1, 2026. The bill also specifies that it will take effect on June 1, 2026, and will be automatically repealed after one year, on May 31, 2027.