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A bill has been introduced in the North Carolina House of Representatives to create a new state-level housing department.

NCNewsline.com reported Rep. Diamond Staton-Williams’ House Bill 925 is proposing the creation of the North Carolina Department of Housing and Community Development, a cabinet-level agency. The new agency would encompass a division of operations, a division of community development, a division of housing and a policy and legislation office.

According to the legislation introduced by Staton-Williams, a Democrat, the new agency would seek to “partner with communities to develop the economic potential of communities and residents; provide training and certification for building officials, and to invest in housing and community development projects in this state to assist low- to moderate-income residents.”

The new agency would be led by a secretary of the Department of Housing and Community Development, and a nine-member Board of Housing and Community Development would “advise the secretary and to assist in the mission of the Department.” The advisory board would consist of five members appointed by the governor, two appointed by the Senate leader and two by the House speaker; each member would serve a two-year term.

The bill also seeks the finance the new agency with $30 million in recurring funds starting with the 2024-25 fiscal year.

A similar bill was introduced last year in North Carolina’s Senate, but the chamber’s Republican leaders never referred it to a substantive committee for review.

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