This bill amends section 81-1239 of the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska to establish a grant program aimed at studying prefabricated housing in the state. The Middle Income Workforce Housing Investment Fund is created to provide funding for this initiative, which may include revenue transferred at the direction of the Legislature, grants, private contributions, and other sources. The Department of Economic Development is tasked with administering the fund and is required to establish a subaccount for affordable housing activities. Additionally, the bill specifies that if a nonprofit organization fails to engage in a qualified activity within 24 months of receiving grant funding, they must return the funds to the department.

The bill also outlines the criteria for applicants seeking the grant to conduct the study on prefabricated housing, which includes demonstrating expertise, commitment to deliverables, and stakeholder engagement capabilities. The study will cover various aspects of prefabricated housing, including zoning regulations, state and local regulations, necessary infrastructure, capital availability, and incentives for stakeholders. Furthermore, the bill expresses the Legislature's intent to appropriate $500,000 from the Middle Income Workforce Housing Investment Fund for the grant program. The original section 81-1239 is repealed as part of this legislative update.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 81-1239