15-05-2025
New Idaho legislative committee aims to identify barriers – and solutions
The Idaho Legislatures Land Use and Housing Study Committee conducts its first meeting May 14 at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise. (Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun)
The Idaho Legislature's Interim Land Use and Housing Study Committee began discussing housing inventory, prices, building codes, permitting and zoning at its first meeting held Wednesday at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise.
Sen. Ali Rabe, D-Boise, pushed for the creation of the housing study committee during the recent 2025 legislative session by co-sponsoring Senate Concurrent Resolution 103.
'Housing is one of the most important topics Idahoans across the state recognized as something they want to see addressed,' Rabe said.
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The purpose of the committee is to undertake a study of state and local land use regulations and how they impact the housing supply.
In addition to the study, the committee can make recommendations to the Idaho Legislature during the 2026 legislative session.
Committee members did not make any recommendations on Wednesday. Instead, members received briefings on affordable housing issues in the Gem State.
The committee identified some of the barriers and problems, including high costs of mortgages and rent, a low inventory of housing that doesn't meet demand, vacation homes and short-term rentals, infrastructure needs like water and sewer, emergency services and more.
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Committee may discuss economic incentives, zoning changes or streamlining permits as potential solutions to Idaho's housing affordability crisis [/subhed]
Without affordable housing available, more Idahoans are living on public lands, living in unsafe spaces that aren't designed to be homes or moving elsewhere, housing and development experts told the committee Wednesday.
Without getting into specific proposals, committee members began discussing potential solutions to discuss at future meetings, including economic and tax incentives, streamlining approval and permitting processes, zoning or density changes, infrastructure upgrades and the potential use of a local option tax or resort tax to incentivize housing construction.
After adjourning Wednesday, the housing study committee plans to meet three more times around the state before the 2026 legislative session begins in January.
Future meeting dates include June 27 in Idaho Falls, Aug. 14 in Sandpoint and Sept. 26 in Boise.
Sen. Jim Woodward, R-Sagle, committee co-chair
Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur d'Alene, co-chair
Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d'Alene
Sen. Ali Rabe, D-Boise
Rep. Kyle Harris, R-Lewiston
Rep. Todd Achilles, D-Boise
Ad hoc (non legislative) members of the Land Use and Housing Study Committee Jason Blais, City of Boise
Bobbi Jo Meuleman, Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce
Ken Burgess, Idaho Home N=Builders Association
Max Pond, Idaho REALTORS
Star Mayor Trevor Chadwick, Association of Idaho Cities
Caleb Roope, Pacific Co.
Andy Erstad, American Institute of Architects
Sean Schupack, Idaho Association of General Contractors
Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm
Jonathan Spendlove, American Planning Association
Jerri Henry, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
Valley County Commissioner Sherry Maupin, Idaho Association of Counties
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