S1080 – Local Government Land Regulation

• Counties and municipalities must specify minimum application requirements in writing, confirm receipt of development permit applications within 5 business days, and act on complete applications within 120 days (no public hearing required) or 180 days (public hearing required), with "substantive change" defined as a 15% or more change in density, intensity, or square footage restarting the clock.

• Local governments that miss review and decision deadlines must refund applicants escalating portions of application fees—10% for late completeness reviews, 50% for decisions up to 30 days late, and 100% for decisions more than 30 days past the deadline—unless delays are caused by the applicant, agreed-upon extensions, or force majeure.

• Impact fee increases exceeding statutory phase-in limits now require a unanimous vote of the governing body (previously two-thirds), must be implemented in 2 to 4 equal annual increments, and are prohibited if the local government has not increased the fee within the past 5 years. The retroactive applicability to January 1, 2021 is deleted, effective January 1, 2026.

• School districts are prohibited from collecting alternative fees in lieu of impact fees for educational facilities unless the fees meet existing impact fee requirements, with the district bearing the burden of proof by a preponderance of evidence in any legal challenge.

• Comprehensive plan amendments not adopted at the second public hearing must be formally adopted within 180 days or are deemed withdrawn, and the transmittal deadline after final adoption is extended from 10 to 30 working days.