Quick update on some changes to some of the bills we are following.

HB256 – Municipal and County Zoning Amendments – was substituted in committee to make it apply to counties as well as municipalities – this bill is about regulation of short term rentals

HB355 – Critical Infrastructure Materials Amendments – there is a substitute version of this bill now available – the link I provided is the comparison of the original bill with the substitute version.  The bill makes more clear the rights such mines have to continue their current operations and expand them to adjacent land, increase their production, and so on.  See that language starting at about line 105. As before, the only way for a local government to curtail any expansion is to make a finding of imminent threat to public health, safety or welfare, and to document “clear and convincing evidence” for that finding.  The bill has been assigned to a committee, but no hearing has been scheduled yet.

HB368 – Local Land Use Amendments – this bill has been substituted in Rules, and the substitute makes a lot of technical and drafting style changes, nothing really substantial in new policy or procedures – the link is to the comparison of the substitute with the original bill.  The bill has been assigned to committee for hearing, but has not yet been scheduled.  Our understanding is that there are some more changes coming (not unusual for a bill this big).

SB104 – Boundary Line Amendments – this bill was substituted in committee, was voted out favorably by the committee, and is awaiting action on the senate floor.  No substantial changes, mostly just technical and style changes.  I’ve heard from some planners who like what this bill does.