Rep. Nicole Lowen

Clarifies that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who meet an intermediate care facility or nursing facility level of care shall not be denied residency in a licensed community care foster family home solely because of their disability or enrollment in a specific medicaid waiver program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the Department of Education to permit the participation of eligible homeschooled students in public high school extracurricular activities, subject to certain requirements and limitations.

Requires home schooled students to participate in certain annual in person tests at the public school that the student would otherwise be required to attend.

Clarifies the employment status of certain delivery drivers under state laws related to workers' compensation, wage and hour, temporary disability insurance, family leave, tax classification of business relationships, and unemployment insurance by establishing conditions under which delivery drivers are deemed employees of the business operating the delivery program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes a Geothermal, Carbon Sequestration, and Underground Water Resource Characterization Program via slim hole bores and a related statewide environmental assessment. Appropriates funds for the program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summaryHB 2401 authorizes the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to provide loans or grants to eligible individuals seeking to purchase rental properties. This directly affects potential new landlords or investors who may struggle to secure traditional financing for acquiring rental units. The bill's key mechanism allows the fund to offer financial assistance for the purchase of rental housing, rather than solely for repairs or maintenance. As a newly introduced bill (pending committee referral), it has not yet been voted on or enacted.

Authorizes the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to approve the establishment of regional shoreline mitigation districts to facilitate regional coordination by shoreline property owners to address coastal erosion. Requires the preparation of a regional coastal erosion and sediment management plan for each regional shoreline mitigation district. Establishes procedures for the review of state and county permits associated with regional shoreline mitigation districts. Establishes the support and integration of regional coastline erosion and sediment management planning as a policy under the coastal zone management program. Appropriates moneys and establishes 1.0 FTE temporary position.

Authorizes the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, to establish the Shade and Fruit Tree Program to support educational activities and encourage propagation of native shade trees and fruit trees for planting in Department of Education schools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the Board of Education to adopt a policy that bans the use of phones and related devices by students during school hours, except for instructional purposes, to begin in the 2027-2028 school year.

Establishes specific deadlines within the facilitated application process to obtain a permit and requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish certain resources and processes to help streamline permit applications. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to select projects to participate in the facilitated application process. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)