HOUSING – States findings of the Legislature and provides for the establishment of an interim committee to study state and local land use regulations and the impact on housing supply.

68th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

Authorizes a bipartisan interim committee to study state/local land-use rules and their impact on housing supply; aims to cut costs and delays and boost affordable housing.

Reported delivered to the Secretary of State on 03/11/25

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Purpose and intent

SCR 103 creates a short-term, legislatively‑authorized study to evaluate how state and local land‑use regulations affect housing affordability and availability in Idaho. The resolution seeks to identify regulatory changes, process improvements, and other practical actions that could reduce building costs and approval delays while preserving local control and regulatory integrity.

Key provisions

Authorizes the Legislative Council to appoint a bipartisan interim committee composed of:

3 members of the Idaho House (2 majority party, 1 minority party) and
3 members of the Idaho Senate (2 majority party, 1 minority party).

Directs the committee to undertake a comprehensive study of state and local land‑use regulations, including:

Review of city comprehensive plans and zoning codes (with attention to alignment with Idaho Code sections 67‑6502(a) and 67‑6508(a)), and
Review of regulatory processes such as conditional use permits.

Committee objectives: identify opportunities to reduce regulatory building costs and waiting times and to provide greater flexibility for housing development.

Nonlegislative (advisory) members: cochairs may appoint representatives from relevant professional and industry groups (e.g., Idaho AIA, American Planning Association chapter, ASLA, DEQ, Association of Idaho Cities, Association of Counties, Associated General Contractors, REALTORS®, Home Builders Association, local governments, etc.). Advisory members are nonvoting and receive no legislative per diem/mileage.

Legislative Services Office (LSO) will provide staff support.

Reporting: the committee must report findings, recommendations (including whether to reauthorize the committee), and any proposed legislation to the Second Regular Session of the Sixty‑eighth Idaho Legislature.

Who is affected

State and local governments, city and county planners, permitting and regulatory staff

Builders, developers, contractors, architects, planners, home‑building and real estate industry groups

Idaho residents and workers seeking affordable housing (indirectly, through potential increases in housing supply and reduced costs)

Fiscal and procedural notes

Fiscal note: no additional impact on the state General Fund; legislator travel and staff support to be funded from existing legislative appropriations (per the submitted fiscal statement).

Legislative action: passed by both chambers and reported/delivered to the Secretary of State on March 11, 2025. The committee’s final products are due to the Legislature at the Second Regular Session of the Sixty‑eighth Idaho Legislature (per the resolution).

Potential impact

If the committee issues recommendations that are enacted, changes could streamline permitting, adjust zoning/plan alignment, and reduce some regulatory costs and delays — potentially increasing housing production and affordability. Recommendations may preserve local control while proposing state or local statutory or administrative changes.

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