HOUSE BILL 571

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Rebecca Dow and Andrea Romero and Jonathan A. Henry

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO LAND USE; DESIGNATING MUNICIPALITIES THAT ADOPT VOLUNTARY PLANNING AND ZONING STRATEGIES DESIGNED TO INCREASE NEW MEXICO'S HOUSING INVENTORY; PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO MUNICIPALITIES; ENUMERATING DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Building Housing Communities Act".

     SECTION 2. [NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Building Housing Communities Act:

          A. "department" means the department of finance and administration; and

          B. "municipality" means an incorporated city, town, village or county, whether incorporated under general act, special act or constitutional provision.

     SECTION 3. [NEW MATERIAL] BUILDING REQUIREMENTS FOR REDUCING REGULATORY BARRIERS TO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.--

          A. The department shall establish a program to grant an award certificate to a municipality that has adopted or established one or more department-approved strategies to increase housing affordability and accessibility. The award certificate shall designate a municipality a "building New Mexico community".

          B. The department shall promulgate by rule feasible and effective strategies to achieve increased housing affordability and accessibility. Such strategies shall include a variety of options, recognizing:

                (1) the difference in needs and strategies between urban and rural jurisdictions;

                (2) best practices implemented in New Mexico and used by other local and state governments;

                (3) land use and zoning policies that can promote or act as a barrier to the development of affordable and accessible housing;

                (4) strategies that support the development and rehabilitation of housing;

                (5) strategies that reduce the complexity of jurisdictional review;

                (6) strategies that reduce the cost of construction; and

                (7) strategies that increase the types of housing units permitted across jurisdictional boundaries.

     SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2027.

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