Louisiana House Bill HR103

Louisiana 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/2/22
• Refer: 5/3/22
• Report Pass: 5/12/22
• Passed: 5/23/22

Caption

Urges and requests the La. Housing Corporation to consider emergency preparedness and disaster resiliency characteristics when implementing design criteria for housing developments competing for funding in programs administered by the corporation and to explore sources of federal funds to retrofit existing buildings with these same design criteria

Impact

The bill aims to influence how housing projects are developed and funded through the Louisiana Housing Corporation, impacting state laws related to building codes and standards for low-income housing. By implementing disaster resilience measures, the bill could lead to architectural changes in developments throughout the state, focusing on features that enhance safety and sustainability. This venture is crucial, considering Louisiana's history with devastating storms and the need to protect its most vulnerable populations.

Summary

House Resolution 103 urges the Louisiana Housing Corporation to incorporate emergency preparedness and disaster resiliency characteristics into the design criteria for housing developments seeking funding. The resolution emphasizes the vulnerability of low- and moderate-income housing tenants during disasters such as hurricanes and floods, as they often lack the capacity to evacuate or mitigate property damage. It advocates for these considerations to become integral to funding decisions to enhance tenant safety and property durability.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HR 103 appears to be positive, with widespread support indicated by the unanimous vote in favor of the resolution. Lawmakers seem to agree on the importance of improving disaster readiness, which is essential to safeguarding residents' well-being. While specific points of contention were not heavily highlighted, the push for state-wide implementation suggests a collaborative approach among legislators. They recognize the immediate need for effective housing strategies to tackle the potential impacts of future disasters.

Contention

An underlying contention that may arise from HR 103 involves the allocation of funds and resources for retrofitting existing housing to meet new resilience standards. There may be debates on how these changes will be funded, given the financial constraints often faced by housing projects. Additionally, stakeholders might express concerns over balancing the added costs of compliance with potential delays in funding and project implementations, particularly for housing that provides critical support to low-income families.