Housing

Unlawful detainer; bifurcation of case; contested rent and damages. Provides that, at an initial hearing on an unlawful detainer, if the defendant contests the amount of rent and damages alleged to be due and owing to the plaintiff, the court shall not bifurcate the unlawful detainer case. Under current law, at the initial hearing, upon request of the plaintiff, the court is required to bifurcate the unlawful detainer case and set a continuance date no later than 120 days from the date of the initial hearing to determine final rent and damages.

High load facilities; impact assessments. Prohibits a governing body or board of zoning appeals from issuing final approval for any special exception, special use permit, variance, rezoning application, or other land disturbing permit, including building permits and erosion and sediment control permits, for a high load facility, defined in the bill, until the applicant submits a finding of no impact or minimal impact issued by the State Corporation Commission. The bill provides that upon request by the owner or operator of a high load facility, the Commission will assess whether the high load facility will have a material adverse impact upon the incumbent electric utility's ability to (i) to maintain electric grid reliability, (ii) avoid exceeding available generation or transmission capacity constraints, or (iii) meet certain statutory requirements.

Individual income tax; first-time homebuyer tax credit. Creates a one-time, nonrefundable individual income tax credit in taxable years 2026 through 2030 for expenses incurred by a first-time homebuyer for the purchase of direct ownership in residential real property in an amount equal to five percent of the purchase price value of such property detailed on the purchase agreement up to $10,000. The bill requires that any credits be repaid in the event that the residential real property for which first-time homebuyer expenses were incurred and such credit was claimed is sold within three years from the purchase date of such property.