Page 1 April 10, 2024 HB 24-1313 Legislative Council Staff Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature Revised Fiscal Note (replaces fiscal note dated March 4, 2024) Drafting Number: Prime Sponsors: LLS 24-0288 Rep. Woodrow; Jodeh Sen. Hansen; Winter F. Date: Bill Status: Fiscal Analyst: April 10, 2024 House Appropriations Josh Abram | 303-866-3561 Louis Pino | 303-866-3556 Bill Topic: HOUSING IN TRANSIT-ORIENTED COMMUNITIES Summary of Fiscal Impact: ☒ State Revenue ☒ State Expenditure ☒ State Transfer ☒ TABOR Refund ☒ Local Government ☒ Statutory Public Entity The bill requires that certain local governments plan and implement housing density goals approved by the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) and creates a grant program and other technical assistance to support these efforts. Noncompliant local governments forfeit their state allocation of funding from the Highway Users Tax Fund. The bill also increases the amount of affordable housing tax credits issued by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and creates a new state income tax credit for taxpayers that invest in qualified low-income housing projects located in a transit-oriented community. Beginning FY 2024-25, the bill reduces state income tax revenue, transfers money between cash funds and the General Fund, and increases expenditures by the state and affected local governments. Beginning FY 2025-26, the bill may also decrease local government revenue and divert funds from the Highway Users Tax Fund. Appropriation Summary: For FY 2024-25, the bill requires an appropriation of $183,138 to the Colorado Energy Office. The other funds affected by the bill are continuously appropriated. See State Appropriations section. Fiscal Note Status: The revised fiscal note reflects the introduced bill, as amended by the House Finance Committee.. Table 1 State Fiscal Impacts Under HB 24-1313 Budget Year FY 2024-25 Out Year FY 2025-26 Out Year FY 2026-27 Out Year FY 2027-28* Revenue 1 General Fund ($2.6 million) ($21.9 million) ($49.1 million) ($59.8 million) Total Revenue ($2.6 million) ($21.9 million) (49.1 million) (59.8 million) Expenditures General Fund $183,138 $83,138 - - Cash Funds $8,924,688 $8,797,295 - - Centrally Appropriated $127,895 $144,358 - - Total Expenditures $9,235,721 $9,024,791 - - Total FTE 6.6 FTE 7.5 FTE - - Page 2 April 10, 2024 HB 24-1313 Table 1 State Fiscal Impacts Under HB 24-1313 (Cont.) Budget Year FY 2024-25 Out Year FY 2025-26 Out Year FY 2026-27 Out Year FY 2027-28* Transfers and Diversions General Fund $35 million $35 million $35 million $35 million Housing Development Grant Fund ($35 million) ($35 million) ($35 million) ($35 million) General Fund ($35 million) - - - Transit Communities Cash Fund $35 million - - - Highway Users Tax Fund 2 - decrease - - HUT Account 2 - increase - -- Net Transfer / Diversion $0 $0 $0 $0 Other Budget Impacts TABOR Refunds ($2.6 million) ($21.9 million) not estimated not estimated General Fund Reserve $27,471 $12,471 - - 1 The bill is projected to decrease General Fund revenue over a 15-year period from FY 2024-25 through FY 2038-39. Peak revenue loss is expected in FY 2027-28. See State Revenue section and Figure 1 for more information. 2 The bill potentially diverts allocations of HUTF funding from local governments to the Transit-oriented Communities Highway Users Tax Account in the Transit-oriented Communities Infrastructure Fund. See State Transfers and Diversions Section. Summary of Legislation The bill identifies local governments that must create, report, and implement a housing opportunity goal to increase housing inventory, or forfeit allocations of Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF) revenue from the state. The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) in collaboration with the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), must provide broad technical assistance to affected local governments, and administer a grant program to assist with planning, compliance, and infrastructure projects. The bill also increases the amount of affordable housing tax credits that can be issued by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) and creates a new state income tax credit for taxpayers that invest in qualified low-income housing project located in a transit-oriented community. Transit-oriented communities. The bill affects any municipality with a population of at least 4,000 residents that lies within a metropolitan planning organization (MPO). The bill also affects county governments whose jurisdictions include a specific portion of a transit station area or transit corridor. Housing opportunity goal report. The bill requires that transit-oriented communities submit a housing opportunity goal report to DOLA. A preliminary report is due by January 2025 and another by December 2026. Progress reports are required every three years. The housing opportunity goal report must: calculate a housing opportunity goal to determine a target average zoned housing density; include data, methodology and maps used to calculate the goal; Page 3 April 10, 2024 HB 24-1313 identify zoning districts that may qualify as transit centers or neighborhood centers; adopt affordability strategies, displacement mitigation strategies, and implementation plans; and, if applicable, provide an analysis that there are insufficient water supplies to provide the needed domestic service necessary to meet the goal. DOLA must either approve the report or provide direction for amending and resubmitting the report. If a transit-oriented community fails to create the housing opportunity goal report or if DOLA does not approve the report by December 2027, or if progress reports are not submitted and approved, DOLA must designate the community as non-qualified. DOLA may seek an injunction from a district court requiring the transit-oriented community to comply. Nonqualified transit-oriented communities. Beginning December 2026, DOLA must report nonqualified transit-oriented communities to the State Treasurer each month, and the treasurer must transfer HUTF money that would otherwise be allocated to the nonqualified transit-oriented community to the newly created Transit-oriented Communities Highway Users Tax Account. If the community becomes qualified with DOLA within 180 days, the treasurer must pay back any amount withheld during that period. Money in the account may only be awarded for specified allowable grant purposes. Transit and neighborhood centers. The bill establishes multiple criteria for transit-oriented communities to designate areas as transit centers and neighborhood centers, with these designations subject to approval by DOLA. Among other requirements, transit centers must net housing density requirements, have an administrative process for multifamily development on specific parcels, and be located within a transit area. DOLA may establish other criteria communities must use to designate transit and neighborhood centers. DOLA technical assistance. By July 31, 2024, DOLA must consult with MPOs and transit agencies to publish a map designating transit areas to be used in calculating local governments’ housing opportunity goals. By December 1, 2024, DOLA must publish models and guidance to assist local governments in meeting their goals, and calculating the appropriate housing density for transit-oriented communities. By June 30, 2025, DOLA must develop a menu of standard affordability strategies and long-term and alternative affordability strategies for communities to adopt and include in their housing opportunity goal reports. DOLA must also provide guidance and a methodology for local governments to conduct displacement risk assessments, and develop a menu of displacement mitigation strategies. Grant program. The bill creates the Transit-oriented Communities Infrastructure Grant Program in DOLA to assist local governments with planning, community engagement, and infrastructure projects for the benefit of regulated affordable housing, transit centers and neighborhood centers. Funding. The bill creates the Transit-oriented Communities Infrastructure Fund in the state treasury (the fund), and the Highway Users Tax Account within the fund (the HUT account). In FY 2024-25, the treasurer must transfer $35 million from the General Fund to the fund. Beginning in FY 2025-26, HUTF money that would otherwise be allocated to a local government Page 4 April 10, 2024 HB 24-1313 that has been designated a nonqualified transit-oriented community is diverted to the HUT account in the fund. Money in the fund is continuously appropriated to DOLA. The department may spend up to six percent of money in the fund and up to six percent of money in the HUT account for administrative expenses to provide technical assistance, enforce the reporting requirements, and administer the grant program. Other transfers. Under current law, a portion of the additional state revenue collected as a result of a sales and use tax vendor fee change under HB 19-1245 is transferred from the General Fund to the Housing Development Grant Cash Fund in DOLA. Starting in FY 2020-21, the amount transferred was reduced by about $985,000 annually. Beginning in FY 2024-25, this bill further reduces the amount of the annual transfer by $35 million. As a result, a total of $35,985,335 is retained annually in the General Fund, instead of being transferred to the Housing Development Grant Cash Fund. Affordable housing tax credit. The bill increases the amounts that CHFA can allocate for the state affordable housing income tax credits. The additional amount CHFA can allocate for the following tax years are: $8.3 million in credits for 2024 ($49.8 million over the tax period); $6.3 million in credits for 2025 ($37.8 million over the tax period); $6.3 million in credits for 2026 ($37.8 million over the tax period); $5.7 million in credits for 2027 ($34.2 million over the tax period); $5.0 million in credits for 2028 ($30.0 million over the tax period); $5.0 million in credits for 2029 ($30.0 million over the tax period); $5.0 million in credits for 2030 ($30 million over the tax period); and $5.0 million in credits for 2031 ($30 million over the tax period). Affordable housing tax credits can currently be claimed by taxpayers for each of six tax years, which results in at least $279.6 million in additional tax credits that can be allocated by CHFA over eight years under the bill. For these additional credits only, the bill allows a qualified taxpayer to claim 70 percent of the credit in the first year of the credit period, and six percent in each of the second through the sixth year of the tax period. Under current law, the taxpayer must claim the credit in equal proportions over a six-year tax period. Transit-oriented communities tax credit. The bill creates a state income tax credit for a taxpayer that owns interest, direct or indirect, in qualified low-income housing project located in a transit-oriented community. The amount CHFA can allocate to qualified taxpayers for the following tax years are: $8.6 million in credits for 2025 ($43 million over the tax period); $7.2 million in credits for 2026 ($36 million over the tax period); $5.6 million in credits for 2027 ($28 million over the tax period); $5.0 million in credits for 2028 ($25 million over the tax period); and $3.6 million in credits for 2029 ($18 million over the tax period); Page 5 April 10, 2024 HB 24-1313 The credit amounts allocated can be claimed by taxpayers for each of the five tax years. This results in a total of at least $150.0 million in transit-oriented communities tax credits that can be allocated by CHFA over five years. For these credits only, the bill allows a qualified taxpayer to claim 70 percent of the credit in the first year of the credit period, eight percent in years two and three, and seven percent in years four and five of the credit period. The transit-oriented communities tax credit can be applied to either a taxpayer’s state income tax (individual and corporate) or their insurance premiums tax liability, but not both. The credit may be applied to reduce the insurance premium tax paid by any entity that is not liable for Colorado income taxes. A taxpayer cannot claim the transit-oriented communities tax credit until the qualified low-income housing project located in a transit-oriented community is placed in service. Finally, the credit is nonrefundable but any unused portion can be carried forward for three subsequent tax years. In general, the bill requires CHFA to determine eligibility and allocate credits in accordance with the standards and requirements they apply for the Colorado’s Affordable Housing Tax Credit Program. Assumptions The fiscal note assumes that CHFA will allocate additional credits immediately when allowed under the bill. The fiscal note assumes 15 percent of qualified projects are placed in service within one year of CHFA approval, and 85 percent are put into service within two years. Developers may be allocated the value of the credit, but the actual tax credit can only be claimed with the Department of Revenue once the project is placed in service and is renting affordable units. The timing of projects placed in service depends on a number of factors including construction and permitting timelines. If allocations and development timelines differ from the assumptions in this analysis, General Fund revenue impacts may differ from these estimates. State Revenue The bill authorizes a total of at least $429.6 million in state affordable housing and transit- oriented communities’ credits that CHFA may allocate between calendar years 2024 through 2031. As shown in Figure 1 and Table 2, it is estimated that the total revenue impact from the credits will be phased in over 15 years, beginning in FY 2024-25. General Fund revenue will be reduced by at least $2.6 million in FY 2024-25 (half-year impact), and at least $21.9 million in FY 2025-26, with larger impacts in subsequent years that then taper off over time. The bill decreases income tax revenue, which is subject to TABOR. Page 6 April 10, 2024 HB 24-1313 Figure 1 Total General Fund Revenue Reductions Under HB 24-1313* Dollars in Millions Table 2 Total General Fund Revenue Reduction Under HB 24-1313* $- $10 $20 $30 $40 $50 $60 $70 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 FY 2027-28 FY 2028-29 FY 2029-30 FY 2030-31 FY 2031-32 FY 2032-33 FY 2033-34 FY 2034-35 FY 2035-36 FY 2036-37 FY 2037-38 FY 2038-39 Fiscal Year Affordable Housing Tax Credit Transit-Oriented Communities Credit Total General Fund Revenue Reduction FY 2024-25 ($2.6 million) - ($2.6 million) FY 2025-26 ($19.6 million) ($2.3 million) ($21.9 million) FY 2026-27 ($31.9 million) ($17.2 million) ($49.1 million) FY 2027-28 ($30.7 million) ($29.1 million) ($59.8 million) FY 2028-29 ($31.5 million) ($27.1 million) ($58.6 million) FY 2029-30 ($31.1 million) ($25.5 million) ($56.6 million) FY 2030-31 ($31.5 million) ($22.7 million) ($54.2 million) FY 2031-32 ($31.7 million) ($13.9 million) ($45.5 million) FY 2032-33 ($29.3 million) ($6.2 million) ($35.5 million) FY 2033-34 ($18.2 million) ($3.8 million) ($22.0 million) FY 2034-35 ($7.9 million) ($1.9 million) ($9.8 million) FY 2035-36 ($6.0 million) ($0.5 million) ($6.6 million) FY 2036-37 ($4.2 million) - ($4.2 million) FY 2037-38 ($2.4 million) - ($2.4 million) FY 2038-39 ($0.8 million) - ($0.8 million) Total ($279.6 million) ($150.0 million) ($429.6 million) * Revenue impacts shown are the minimum reductions and do not include credits above the annual aggregate cap allocated for counties impacted by natural disasters Page 7 April 10, 2024 HB 24-1313 State Transfers and Diversions The bill requires multiple transfers and diversions, as outlined below. Reduce an existing transfer from the General Fund. Beginning in FY 2024-25, the bill reduces a current law transfer from the General Fund to the Housing Development Grant Cash Fund by $35 million. New transfer from the General Fund. In FY 2024-25, the bill transfers $35 million from the General Fund to the Transit-oriented Communities Infrastructure Fund. Diversion of HUTF Funding. In FY 2025-26, the bill diverts allocations of HUTF funding from local governments that are nonqualified transit-oriented communities to the Transit-oriented Communities Highway Users Tax Account in the Transit-oriented Communities Infrastructure Fund. The amount diverted will depend on the number and location of nonqualified TOCs and the diverted allocation amounts, and cannot be estimated in advance. State Expenditures The bill increases state expenditures by about $9.2 million in FY 2024-25 and $9.0 million in FY 2025-26 and ongoing. Expenditures are in DOLA, CDOT, and the CEO, paid from a combination of cash funds and General Fund. Workload may also increase in the Departments of Law and Regulatory Agencies and the Judicial Department. Expenditures are shown in Table 3 and detailed below. Page 8 April 10, 2024 HB 24-1313 Table 3 Expenditures Under HB 24-1313 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26 Department of Local Affairs Personal Services $360,130 $422,785 Operating Expenses $6,144 $7,296 Capital Outlay Costs $40,020 - Local Government Information System Upgrade $70,000 $5,000 Consultant Services $163,450 $83,940 Infrastructure Grants $8,200,000 $8,200,000 Centrally Appropriated Costs 1 $90,241 $106,705 FTE – Personal Services 4.8 FTE 5.7 FTE DOLA Subtotal $8,929,985 $8,825,726 Department of Transportation Personal Services $76,994 $76,994 Operating Expenses $1,280 $1,280 Capital Outlay Costs $6,670 - Centrally Appropriated Costs 1 $20,097 $20,097 FTE – Personal Services 1.0 FTE 1.0 FTE CDOT Subtotal $105,041 $98,370 Colorado Energy Office Personal Services $80,584 $80,584 Operating Expenses $1,024 $1,024 Consultant $100,000 - Technical Mapping Services $1,530 $1,530 Centrally Appropriated Costs 1 $17,557 $17,557 FTE – Personal Services 0.8 FTE 0.8 FTE CEO Subtotal $200,695 $100,695 Total $9,235,721 $9,024,791 Total FTE 6.6 FTE 7.5 FTE 3 Centrally appropriated costs are not included in the bill's appropriation. Page 9 April 10, 2024 HB 24-1313 Department of Local Affairs DOLA will have costs to provide technical assistance and oversee implementation of the bill’s transit-oriented community goals, and to manage a new grant program, as outlined below. Staff. DOLA requires 4.7 FTE in FY 2024-25 and 5.7 FTE in FY 2025-26 in the Division of Local Government and the Division of Housing, including a manager, program assistant, technical assistance planner and statistical analyst, to implement the reporting and compliance requirements and provide other technical assistance to transit-oriented communities. These staff also include contracting and communication specialists to assist with the grant program. Personal services include standard operating and capital outlay costs. Local government information system upgrade. The Office of Information Technology will provide upgrades to the Local Government Information System to receive and host new document types and reports submitted by transit-oriented communities to the department. Consultant services. DOLA requires consultant services to create and refine models, advise staff on complex technical issues related to compliance and grant program awards, and to assist with evaluations and feedback on housing opportunity goal reports. Infrastructure grants. The Transit-oriented Communities Infrastructure Fund will have $35 million deposited into the fund in FY 2024-25. Assuming this funding is available for four years, through FY 2027-28, approximately $2.2 million will be spent for administrative purposes, leaving about $32.8 million to provide in grants to qualified transit-oriented communities. Assuming this amount is distributed evenly across 4 years equals about $8.2 million in grants annually, beginning FY 2024-25. Colorado Department of Transportation CDOT requires 1.0 FTE Analyst V to assist DOLA with consulting services, planning and oversight, and participate in outreach and training when implementing the reporting and compliance requirements. Colorado Energy Office The Colorado Energy Office will require the equivalent of 0.8 FTE at the analyst level to coordinate with CDOT and DOLA, including assistance with document review, technical assistance, grant application review, and other implementation activities. The fiscal note assumes that CEO will have a lead role in developing technical analysis and mapping for the transit areas map with DOLA and CDOT, which requires the purchase of consultant services to help create appropriate models and provide guidance and technical mapping services. Other State Agencies The Department of Law will have an increase in workload to provide legal services to partner agencies implementing the act, and to represent DOLA in regulatory actions if TOCs are noncompliant. The bill also increases workload in the Judicial Department if regulatory actions Page 10 April 10, 2024 HB 24-1313 are taken. This fiscal note assumes that regulatory actions will be rare, and that any increased work for the departments does not require appropriations. The Department of Revenue administers the current Colorado Affordable Housing Credit and the Department of Personnel and Administration processes paper tax documents. This bill increases the amount of credits that may be claimed by taxpayers, which will result in ongoing workload impacts that can be accomplished within existing appropriations Centrally Appropriated Costs Pursuant to a Joint Budget Committee policy, certain costs associated with this bill are addressed through the annual budget process and centrally appropriated in the Long Bill or supplemental appropriations bills, rather than in this bill. These costs, which include employee insurance and supplemental employee retirement payments, are shown in Table 3. Other Budget Impacts TABOR refunds. The bill is expected to decrease the amount of state revenue required to be refunded to taxpayers by the amounts shown in Table 1. This estimate assumes the March 2023 LCS revenue forecast. A forecast of state revenue subject to TABOR is not available beyond FY 2025-26. Because TABOR refunds are paid from the General Fund, decreased General Fund revenue will lower the TABOR refund obligation, but result in no net change to the amount of General Fund otherwise available to spend or save. General Fund reserve. Under current law, an amount equal to 15 percent of General Fund appropriations must be set aside in the General Fund statutory reserve. Based on this fiscal note, the bill is expected to increase the amount of General Fund held in reserve by the amounts shown in Table 1, decreasing the amount of General Fund available for other purposes. Local Government Affected jurisdictions will have increased costs to analyze existing transit areas and calculate the required housing opportunity goal, review and update local codes and ordinance, report progress and demonstrate compliance with DOLA, and apply for and manage grants. Affected local governments that do not provide reports or otherwise adopt required strategies and implement a housing opportunity goal will forfeit transportation funding allocated from the HUTF. Statutory Public Entity Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) will have an increase in administrative expenses to issue additional affordable housing tax credits to qualified taxpayers. Page 11 April 10, 2024 HB 24-1313 Effective Date The bill takes effect upon signature of the Governor, or upon becoming law without his signature. State Appropriations For FY 2024-25, the bill requires a General Fund appropriation of $183,138 to the Colorado Energy Office, and 0.8 FTE. Expenditures in the Department of Local Affairs are paid from the Transit-oriented Communities Infrastructure Fund and expenditures in the Colorado Department of Transportation are paid from the State Highway Fund. These funds are continuously appropriated to their respective departments, and no additional appropriations are required in this bill. State and Local Government Contacts CHFA Counties Law Local Affairs Municipalities Energy Office Revenue Transportation The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit the General Assembly website.