89R7677 JAM-D     By: Goodwin H.B. No. 1810       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of the workforce housing program by   the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter K, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 2306.2595 to read as follows:          Sec. 2306.2595.  WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM. (a) In this   section:                (1)  "Fund" means the workforce housing fund.                (2)  "Program" means the workforce housing program.          (b)  The department shall establish the workforce housing   program to provide financial assistance to participating   municipalities to facilitate the construction and rehabilitation   of eligible workforce housing developments in those   municipalities. Financial assistance may be awarded from the fund   described by Subsection (e) to eligible developments in the form of   grants or low-interest loans for the purposes described by this   section and must be prorated, to the extent practicable, according   to the size of the participating municipality.          (c)  To be eligible for financial assistance awarded by a   participating municipality under the program, a workforce housing   development must:                (1)  consist of new construction or a substantial   rehabilitation of an existing facility;                (2)  reserve a specified percentage of the units in the   development for occupancy of individuals and families earning:                      (A)  not less than 30 percent of the area median   income, adjusted for family size; and                      (B)  not more than 120 percent of the area median   income, adjusted for family size; and                (3)  maintain the affordability requirements described   by Subdivision (2) for a period of not less than 20 years following   the date of receipt of financial assistance under this section.          (d)  The department shall adopt rules to implement the   program, including rules that:                (1)  provide criteria for determining which   municipalities may participate in the program;                (2)  specify the percentage of units that a workforce   housing development must reserve to satisfy the affordability   requirements under Subsection (c)(2), to demonstrate eligibility   for financial assistance under the program; and                (3)  provide a scoring system to be used by a   municipality to prioritize developments that are eligible for   financial assistance under the program.          (e)  The workforce housing fund is a special account in the   state treasury. The fund consists of:                (1)  money appropriated to the board for a purpose of   the fund;                (2)  repayment of principal and interest from loans   made from the fund;                (3)  money the board transfers to the fund from any   available source;                (4)  depository interest allocable to the fund and   other investment returns on money in the fund;                (5)  money from gifts, grants, or donations to the   fund; and                (6)  any other fees or sources of revenue that the   legislature may dedicate for deposit to the fund.          (f)  Financial assistance provided from the fund to an   eligible workforce housing development must be spent by the   recipient on the development not later than 36 months after the date   the assistance is received.          (g)  Money provided from the fund that is not spent as   required by Subsection (f) must be returned to the department and   deposited to the credit of the fund.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.