HB 679 Summary: Neighborhood Improvement Districts

• Renames the "Safe Neighborhoods Act" to the "Neighborhoods Improvement Act" and revises legislative findings to broaden focus beyond crime prevention to include neighborhood improvement and revitalization.

• Authorizes municipalities and counties to create neighborhood improvement districts through standard ordinances rather than planning ordinances, establishing four district types: local government, property owners' association, special, and community redevelopment districts.

• Establishes referendum requirements for districts to exercise powers including borrowing money, issuing bonds, levying ad valorem taxes (up to 2 mills annually), and collecting special assessments (capped at $500 per parcel per year).

• Requires all neighborhood improvement districts to prepare and adopt a comprehensive neighborhood improvement plan covering demographics, crime analysis, land use, crime prevention strategies, and evaluation guidelines.

• Repeals several outdated Safe Neighborhoods Program provisions and updates conforming references in related statutes regarding brownfield redevelopment, criminal fines, and forfeited property disposition.