Housing Affordability Modifications

Home ownership promotion zone funds can now be used for environmental remediation costs, water exaction costs, and street lighting costs, in addition to existing project and systems improvement costs.

A new subordinate shared appreciation loan program was created to assist first-time homebuyers with up to $150,000 in non-interest bearing loans, administered by the Department of Workforce Services.

Counties must comply with land use regulations for all pending and new applications, preventing retroactive changes after an application is submitted.

First-time homebuyer assistance funds can now be used for down payments, closing costs, or interest rate reductions, with a maximum of $20,000 per recipient.

New definitions were added for 'attainable home' and 'qualified project' to clarify affordable housing standards and developer commitments.

The new shared appreciation loan program will only accept applications after September 1, 2025.

New Section 10-9a-804 allows legislative bodies to settle land use litigation with property owners through consent agreements without needing to present matters to a planning commission.

Section 10-9a-1005 was amended to clarify that home ownership promotion zone funds can be used for water exaction, street lighting, and environmental remediation costs, with administrative costs capped at 3% of total funds.

Section 35A-8-504.6 creates a new subordinate shared appreciation loan program administered by the Department of Workforce Services to assist borrowers with construction liability insurance for condominium projects.

Section 17-27a-1205 was amended to mirror the changes in Section 10-9a-1005, allowing counties to use home ownership promotion zone funds for the same infrastructure purposes as municipalities.

Section 63H-8-501 was amended to update definitions related to first-time homebuyers and qualifying residential units, including purchase price limits and occupancy requirements.

Section 17-27a-508 was amended to require counties to comply with land use provisions for all pending and new applications beginning May 7, 2025, limiting counties' ability to change requirements after permit issuance.

Header updated from '2nd Sub.' to '3rd Sub.' and amendment timestamp changed from 03:09 PM to 08:52 PM, indicating procedural progression without substantive policy changes.

Expanded the list of allowable uses for home ownership promotion zone funds to explicitly include water exaction, street lighting, and environmental remediation costs for both municipalities and counties.

Created a new subordinate shared appreciation loan program administered by the Department of Workforce Services to assist borrowers with construction liability insurance for condominium projects.

Added requirement that counties must comply with land use provisions for all pending and new land use applications, preventing retroactive changes to approved applications.

Modified first-time homebuyer assistance program to allow use of funds for down payments, closing costs, or interest rate reductions, with a maximum assistance of $20,000.

Added effective date of May 7, 2025, and set a deadline of September 1, 2025 for accepting applications for the new shared appreciation loan program.

Strengthened land use protections by clarifying that counties cannot impose new requirements on applicants after submission and must process applications based on regulations in effect at the time of application.

New density overlay and bonus provisions allow municipalities and counties to approve more housing units per acre in exchange for affordable housing commitments like owner-occupancy restrictions or deed restrictions.

Mandatory annual moderate income housing reports are required for specified municipalities and counties, with penalties including funding ineligibility and daily fees for noncompliance.

The First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program now allows private financial institutions to offer qualifying mortgage loans, expanding access beyond just Utah Housing Corporation loans.

New consent agreement process allows legislative bodies to settle land use litigation through public meetings without requiring planning commission review.

Home ownership promotion zone funds can now be used for water exaction, street lighting, and environmental remediation costs, expanding allowable uses beyond project and systems improvements.

New definitions for 'density overlay,' 'density bonus-eligible area,' 'affordable housing density,' and 'owner-occupier' clarify requirements for increased housing development.

Moderate income housing reporting requirements begin January 1, 2027, with new affordable housing density data requirements starting that date.

New Section 10-9a-804 allows legislative bodies to settle land use litigation through consent agreements without presenting matters to planning commissions

New Section 35A-8-504.6 creates a subordinate shared appreciation loan program administered by the Department of Workforce Services to assist borrowers with construction liability insurance and other purposes

Section 10-9a-1005 clarifies that counties retain 60% of tax increment from home ownership promotion zones while municipalities receive the same percentage from their zones

Section 63H-8-501 updates definition of qualifying residential unit purchase price limit to $450,000 and clarifies owner-occupancy requirements

Section 17-27a-508 adds requirement that counties must comply with land use provisions for pending and new applications beginning May 7, 2025

Section 35A-8-505 renumbered and reorganized to properly reference the new subordinate shared appreciation loan program

New Section 35A-8-504.6(10) prohibits accepting program applications after September 1, 2025

Home ownership promotion zone funds can now be used for environmental remediation costs and administrative costs up to 3% of total funds for both counties and municipalities.

New subordinate shared appreciation mortgage loan program created to provide non-interest bearing loans up to $150,000 for first-time homebuyers.

Counties must comply with new land use application rules beginning May 7, 2025, preventing them from imposing new requirements on approved applications.

First-time homebuyer assistance program maximum funding increased to $20,000 per recipient, with funds usable for down payments, closing costs, or interest rate reductions.

Land use applications are now protected from new county requirements after submission, and counties cannot unreasonably withhold occupancy certificates if health and safety requirements are met.

New definitions added for 'attainable home' and 'qualified project' to establish standards for affordable housing developments.

House sponsor name changed from LONG TITLE to Stephen L. Whyte, and some formatting corrections made throughout the bill text.