Veto of accessible housing requirements sustained

An attempt to override the governor’s veto of a bill intended to meet the housing needs of Nebraskans with disabilities failed April 17.

Under LB839, sponsored by Bellevue Sen. Victor Rountree, cities would have been required to report on the number of accessible multifamily housing units within city limits.

The bill also includes provisions of Rountree’s LB840. They would have prohibited the state Department of Economic Development from approving a multifamily rental unit project for assistance from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund unless at least 5% of the project’s units are accessible for people with mobility impairments and, at least 2% are accessible for those with hearing or vision impairments.

LB839 passed April 10 on a vote of 34-15. Gov. Jim Pillen vetoed the bill April 16.

In his veto letter, Pillen said requiring housing developers to build an “arbitrary” percentage of accessible dwelling units would force them to forgo state assistance or spend additional funds to build units that might go unrented or be rented to those without physical impairments.

Rountree filed a motion to override the governor’s veto. The bill’s requirements match those for federal housing programs already used by most Nebraska housing developers, he said, meaning LB839 would create no additional regulatory burden.

The motion failed on a vote of 19-28. Thirty votes were needed.