Senate Bill 771 aims to enhance multifamily housing development in Wisconsin by establishing a Multifamily Housing Innovation Council within the Department of Safety and Professional Services. This council will consist of various experts, including a building inspector, a professional firefighter, a fire chief, and others with relevant expertise. The council is tasked with creating a guidebook that outlines design and construction recommendations for multifamily dwellings served by a single stairway, ensuring compliance with safety standards set by the National Fire Protection Association. Additionally, the council will develop a model ordinance to facilitate the construction of multifamily housing on commercially zoned land and will provide recommendations for potential changes to the commercial building code.

The bill also allows local governments to enact ordinances permitting multifamily dwellings of up to six stories to be served by a single stairway, provided these ordinances align with the guidebook developed by the council. The council is required to meet monthly until the guidebook and model ordinance are completed, after which it will convene annually to review and update these documents as necessary. This initiative is expected to impact the cost and availability of housing in the state, prompting the Department of Administration to prepare a report on the potential fiscal implications.