Issues Fund Dollars to Give Boost to Oregon, Washington and Arizona Projects

The State & Local Government Affairs Committee allocated funds from NAHB’s State & Local Issues Fund to projects in Oregon, Washington and Arizona. The projects include two state legislative initiatives and a challenge to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services critical habitat designation.

The projects, overseen by builders associations in suburban Seattle, Oregon and southern Arizona, are prototypes to be shared with builders associations across the nation.

Reforming Construction Defect Resolution in Oregon
Following the wave of construction defect reform bills being advanced throughout the country, the Oregon Building Industry Association is working to pass its own version of “notice and opportunity to repair” legislation.

Although similar to bills passed last session in Washington, Arizona and California, the Oregon legislation goes a step further by including a provision to allow the state Construction Contractors Board to release contractors and subcontractors from construction defect claims if their work on the home is not related to the alleged defect.

The Oregon BIA is part of an extensive coalition working to pass the legislation, and the BIA will use NAHB’s contribution to hire a pro-builder construction defect attorney to assist staff in advocating for the bill.

As of March 3, 2003, the House Business, Labor and Consumer Affairs Committee is considering the legislation.

Notice and Right to Cure: Washington’s Phase Two
The Master Builders Association of King & Snohomish Counties received funding to help advance condominium-specific construction defect legislation. The proposed legislation would allow consumers to resolve disputes using an arbitration process, and complements the notice and right to cure bill signed into law by Governor Gary Locke last spring.

The MBA’s action plan, with funding from NAHB, involves drafting the legislation and hiring two public relations firms to help develop and implement a legislative and communications plan.

As of March 3, 2003, a substitute bill has been passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Arizona Challenges FWS Designation
The Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA) received funding to challenge the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services’ (FWS) decision to designate 1.2 million acres of land as critical habitat for the endangered pygmy owl. SAHBA contends that this designation is based on questionable science and that it will significantly reduce the amount of developable land available to builders in southern Arizona.

Issues Fund dollars will help the local HBA hire a biological consulting firm to analyze and discredit the information used by FWS to make the designation.

Can the Issues Fund Help Your Association?
NAHB’s State & Local Issues Fund was created in 1996 to provide financial assistance to help state and local associations address nationally significant, precedent-setting legislative, regulatory or ballot challenges. Since its inception, the fund has distributed more than $1.2 million to nearly 90 projects.

The next funding applications will be considered at NAHB's Spring Board of Directors Meeting in Washington D.C., and the deadline for application submission is April 4, 2003. 

Click here for information on the State & Local Issues Fund, including application materials. Or learn more by contacting Marie Zenner at (800) 368-5242 x8279. [ return to top ]