Affordable housing plan receives final approval, DeSantis appeals

With approval Friday from the Florida House, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo's $711 million effort to make housing more affordable for working Floridians is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The House voted 103-6 to approve a bill (SB 102) that was nicknamed the "Local Law to Live". The bill would provide incentives for private investment in affordable housing and encourage mixed-use development in struggling commercial areas, while blocking local rent control and preventing local government laws on zoning, density and building heights under certain circumstances.

In a statement, Pacidomo, R-Naples, said the measure is meant to end "affordable housing stereotypes" while creating options needed by the workforce. She also pointed to continued population growth and demand for housing.

"Obviously the broad appeal of the free state of Florida has impacted our population and our housing needs," Pasidomo said.

House sponsor Demi Busata Cabrera, R-Coral Gables, said "innovative concepts" in the proposal would allow Floridians to live close to where they work.

"As our state continues to grow, we need to make sure Floridians can live near good jobs, schools and hospitals and other centers of their communities that fit their household budgets, no matter their stage of life or their income," said Busata Cabrera.

The Senate unanimously passed the measure on March 8, meaning it is now ready to go to DeSantis.

Among other things, the bill will create tax exemptions for developments that will set aside at least 70 affordable housing units and expedite permits and development orders for affordable housing projects.

Some Democrats expressed concern about parts of the bill that would ban rent controls and impose certain local government priorities.

Rep. Anna Askemany, D-Orlando, pointed to Orange County voters last year who approved a referendum for rent control legislation because of a lack of affordable housing and rising rents.

"I do feel that parts of the bill are going to do a lot of good. It won't be immediate. It will take time," said Askamani, who voted against the measure. "But my constituents are asking for immediate relief. They are looking for tenant protections."

Orange County's rent control plan did not go into effect because of a legal challenge by industry groups Florida Realtors and the Florida Association of Condominiums.

Rep. Ashley Gantt, D-Miami, said local government primacy in the bill would limit public involvement in some South Florida communities facing development pressures.

“Overtown, Alpharetta, Liberty City, these areas of systemic disadvantage and discrimination are now areas of interest for development because they are above sea level. And provisions in this bill remove the authority of the local government to deal with the special issues for these communities," said Gant. "In particular, the removal of the notice to the public and the hearing process is of particular concern to me and my constituents, because in these discussions our community has the opportunity to voice how we want our neighborhood to look."

For other Democrats, those concerns have been raised by increased funding for housing and rent assistance.
"I'm part of a non-profit that builds an affordable housing community," said Rep. Alison Tant, D-Tallahassee. "What I learned in this process, apart from the huge need that everyone has for housing, is that it is really hard to get dollars for affordable housing."

The bill would provide money for a series of programs, including $252 million for the state's Veteran Housing Initiatives Partnership, or SHIP program, $150 million a year for the State Housing Incentive Loan, or SAIL, and an additional $100 million for the program. The Hometown Heroes program, designed to help teachers, health care workers and police officers buy homes.

The state budget for the current year includes 362.7 million dollars for affordable housing.