Two bills aimed at creating low-income housing are alive and continue to move through the Legislature.

REET exemption for sales for low-income housing

HB 1643 is a straightforward bill that exempts the sale of property to qualifying nonprofits and governments for use as low-income housing from real estate excise taxation. A similar proposal passed in 2020 but did not include cities; however, the bill was vetoed by the Governor at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as state budget implications were unclear. The bill is back this year and includes local governments.

Linking housing to Apple Health

HB 1866 is an important bill that would establish the Apple Health and Homes Program. The new program would provide a permanent supportive housing benefit and a community support services benefit to persons who meet eligibility criteria related to income, medical risk factors, and barriers to finding stable housing. The bill essentially builds upon the “Medicaid waiver” that the state secured several years back to evaluate using Medicaid funds to provide housing services as a component of health care. The House operating budget funds part of the anticipated significant housing investments created through this program.