HB 1202: Strategy to Reduce & Prevent Homelessness

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

The act requires the department of local affairs, as part of its SMART Act hearing in January of 2027, to submit and present a proposal for the development of a statewide strategy on homelessness prevention and resolution. The proposal must include a plan that sets forth a timeline, an estimated budget, and a process for developing and implementing a statewide strategy on homelessness prevention and resolution. The proposal must set forth the following components that must be included in the statewide strategy on homelessness prevention and resolution:Identification of gaps and barriers that impede access to operational services for individuals experiencing homelessness;Identification of state agency-provided housing resources, including utilization rates;Recommendations for collaboration between state and local partners to facilitate homelessness response;Recommendations for funding and policies that could be implemented at the state level to support homelessness prevention and resolution;Recommendations proposed in coordination with continuum of care organizations to improve the implementation of the homeless management information system, data reporting, and coordinated entry systems; and Updates on regional navigation campuses.     When developing the proposal, the department shall seek and incorporate feedback from a diverse array of stakeholders.     The act creates a new type of special district, a multijurisdictional homelessness response authority (authority), which may be created when any combination of local governments enter into an intergovernmental agreement with one another to establish an authority. An authority must:Be used by the contracting local governments to reduce and prevent homelessness; andHave boundaries that contain the entirety of all the contracting local governments, but nothing more.     An authority has several discretionary powers that relate to its ability to coordinate and plan with departments and organizations to reduce and prevent homelessness, including the power to provide for the levy of sales or sales and use taxes by the contracting local governments. If the intergovernmental agreement that creates an authority provides for the levy of a sales or sales and use tax by the contracting local governments within the boundaries of the authority:Each contracting local government shall submit to its registered electors a ballot question that relates to the tax and that requires any new tax revenue approved through the ballot question to be used solely for the planning, coordination, and implementation of regional strategies to reduce and prevent homelessness;The intergovernmental agreement must provide for a case in which the electors in some but not all of the contracting local governments approve the collection of the sales or sales and use tax at the general election; andThe intergovernmental agreement must provide that all or part of the taxes levied are distributed to the authority.     An authority may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purposes of planning, coordinating, and implementing regional strategies to reduce and prevent homelessness, may issue revenue or general obligation bonds, and may pledge its revenue and revenue-raising powers for the payment of such bonds.     The act allows a county to designate a portion of documentary filing fees, which are collected for filing documents associated with the grant or conveyance of real property, to be transferred to the county government or a housing authority for the purpose of developing, preserving, or acquiring affordable housing that:Is within the jurisdiction of the county government or housing authority;Is aligned with demonstrated community needs; andWill be available to individuals experiencing homelessness.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 25

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. June 2, 2026Governor Signed
2. May 19, 2026Signed by the Speaker of the House
3. May 19, 2026Signed by the President of the Senate
4. May 19, 2026Sent to the Governor
5. April 17, 2026Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
6. April 16, 2026Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments
7. April 14, 2026Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/16/2026 - No Amendments
8. April 13, 2026Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/14/2026 - No Amendments
9. April 10, 2026Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/13/2026 - No Amendments
10. April 7, 2026Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
11. March 12, 2026Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
12. March 9, 2026House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

Showing 12 most recent of 15 actions. Full history