Continues work to increase supply of affordable, attainable housing

HELENA, MT – Joining members of his Housing Task Force at the Montana State Capitol, Governor Greg Gianforte on Aug 21st, praised the diverse, bipartisan group for its continued work to increase the supply of affordable, attainable workforce housing in Montana.

On Wednesday, the governor’s Housing Task Force presented its third round of recommendations, focusing on researching housing development projects and developing case studies to identify solutions state agencies and local governments could consider implementing.

“During historic inflation and skyrocketing interest rates, owning a home has become increasing difficult for Montanans over the last decade,” Gov. Gianforte said. “The Housing Task Force has a proven track record of delivering innovative ideas to increase housing supply. I am grateful to Director Chris Dorrington and Task Force members for once again delivering a set of recommendations agency leaders and local officials can consider to address housing challenges.”

Spearheading state efforts to resolve the housing supply shortage, the governor launched a diverse, bipartisan Housing Task Force in July 2022. The governor’s task force produced two reports last year that identified problems at the root of the state’s housing shortage and provided solutions that could be implemented administratively or through changes to law.

In the third report of the Task Force, members provided 23 recommendations, including proposals to streamline procedures to construct housing, to clarify roles and responsibilities between building codes and fire marshals, and to set reasonable limits on local impact fees, which can increase housing costs.

The task force’s recommendations in 2022 provided a roadmap for lawmakers ahead of the 2023 legislative session, leading to a successful housing agenda that some have dubbed the “Montana Miracle.” In June 2023, the governor extended the task force through 2025.

During the meeting, members of the task force highlighted the importance of bipartisanship and industry collaboration to the success Montana has seen to address the shortage.

As a member of the task force, Rep. Danny Tenenbaum, D-Missoula, added, “I think these recommendations will really help teachers to live in the school districts where they work, the nurses to live near the hospitals and medical centers where they work, and the firefighters to live in the communities that they serve and protect. There are so many states that have tried these types of reforms and failed. I am so proud and excited that Montana has risen above those pitfalls. This is a bipartisan movement, and I am excited to see the legislature follow through next year.”