The Nevada Legislature and Gov. Joe Lombardo overcame politics to strike at the core of our housing affordability crisis and it looks as if we are several steps closer to have supply meet the needs of Nevada.

The 2023 legislative session and two subsequent special sessions have concluded, and we are heartened by the comprehensive housing policies that passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. These wins are the result of collaboration, open and meaningful dialogue across the housing ecosystem  —  including tenants, affordable housing developers, tenant advocates, supportive service providers, Realtors, businesses, health care, builders, finance partners, legislators and local government partners.

Because Nevada has one of the largest deficits in the nation in terms of availability of homes that are affordable to those of the lowest incomes, affordable housing policy has increasingly drawn the attention that it rightfully should. In 2023 alone, legislators on both sides of the aisle  put forward more than 50 bills that had something to do with housing.

While not all of the solutions became law, there were some real victories in this recent legislative session. We’d like to point out four Nevada Housing Coalition priority bills that will impact all Nevadans, regardless of location, regardless of income. The following bills will catalyze housing for Nevadans who are at-risk and/or experiencing homelessness and increase resources while decreasing the time and cost of subsidized and market rate homes.

AB62 modernized and aligned the property tax exemption for affordable housing. Because rent is comprised of two major components — debt (or cost to build) and operating expense — a tax break to help lower operating costs is critical to our affordable housing efforts.

AB448 closed a major loophole in the real property transfer tax that could bring several million dollars to affordable housing development.

AB213 will help speed up the processes needed to get housing solutions from concept to completion, reducing overall risk and cost, and track the true need across our state to inform the community and our policymakers as we plan to meet our housing needs for our future.

AB310 created Nevada’s first Supportive Housing Development Fund to provide for the development of badly needed supportive housing units for our neighbors who are at-risk and/or experiencing homelessness , and will help the state gather data to show the cost effectiveness of this solution and understand our true need for these homes in our communities.

These new housing laws are just the start. In order to solve a housing supply shortage that is decades in the making, we must keep housing top of mind for all of our elected officials and make sure we are demanding streamlining and efficiencies, and that we are prioritizing and coordinating our current and new funding. Reach out to your local, state and federal representatives to let them know that the housing work has just begun and you want Nevada to keep thinking outside the box until we have housing that is affordable for all.

Christine Hess is the executive director of the Nevada Housing Coalition, a statewide, member-based, nonprofit working to promote and advance affordable housing for all Nevadans through education, advocacy and collaboration.