HB 184-AIDEA FINANCE WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOP.  8:27:02 AM CO-CHAIR MEARS announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 184, "An Act relating to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority; and relating to workforce housing development projects." 8:27:22 AM REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, gave a recap of the bill. She said Alaska's housing crisis continues to contribute to the outmigration of Alaskan individuals and families, which in turn, contributes to the workforce shortage and highlights the need for multi-unit worker housing. The bill seeks to expand the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA's) purpose in statute. Section 1 adds to the purpose of AIDEA to create additional employment by providing various means of financing and facilitating the financing of construction of new workforce housing facilities containing five or more dwelling units. AIDEA has shown support for the bill despite not engaging in financing workforce housing for some time. 8:28:56 AM REPRESENTATIVE HALL moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 184, labeled 34-LS0855\A.1, Walsh, 5/9/25, which read: Page 1, lines 1 - 2: Delete "the Alaska Industrial Development and  Export Authority; and relating to" Insert "financing by the Alaska Industrial  Development and Export Authority for" Co-CHAIR MEARS objected for purposes of discussion, 8:29:02 AM REPRESENTATIVE HALL explained that Amendment 1 proposes a title change to tighten the purpose of the bill. It would make clear that the bill is about the financing of workforce housing loans with AIDEA. CO-CHAIR MEARS removed her objection. There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 8:29:44 AM REPRESENTATIVE HALL moved to adopt Amendment 2 to HB 184, labeled 34-LS0855\A.2, Walsh/ 5/8/25, which read: Page 6, line 28, through page 7, line 1: Delete all material. CO-CHAIR MEARS objected for purposes of discussion. 8:29:52 AM REPRESENTATIVE HALL explained that Amendment 2 deletes Section 5, which provides the definition that sets financial limits as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (USHUD). The change was requested because the definition of workforce housing was seen as an unecessary barrier, as the monitoring of tenants' income could deter developers from applying for the program. Furthermore, there's no need to put restrictions on affordable housing, because when a typical market rate apartment building is constructed, it's already providing affordable housing. CO-CHAIR MEARS removed her objection. There being no further objection, Amendment 2 was adopted. 8:31:25 AM CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT moved to report HB 184, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 184(CRA) was reported out of the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.