HB 4332 Summary

• Allows cities with population 7,500+ (or 3,300+ in counties with 1,500,000+ population) to establish administrative hearings bureaus to adjudicate blight violations under designated charter or ordinances.

• Hearing officers must be licensed attorneys with 5+ years experience and must complete formal training on procedures, ordinance subjects, evidence rules, and impartiality before conducting proceedings.

• Bureaus may impose civil fines up to $10,000, plus $10 justice system assessment per violation, and may accept admissions of responsibility; decisions and orders may be appealed to circuit court within 28 days with bond requirement.

• Prohibits proceedings against foreclosing governmental units and land bank authorities; allows cities to waive fines for first-time blight ordinance offenders at owner-occupied dwellings if violation is corrected.

• Creates criminal penalties for non-payment of $1,000+ fines (first: state civil infraction up to $500; second: misdemeanor up to 93 days/fine; third+: misdemeanor up to 1 year) and for failure to correct violations within 30 days (misdemeanor up to 90 days or $500 fine); exempts government-sponsored enterprises, financial institutions, mortgage servicers, and principal residence owners from these penalties.