The Senate on final reading rejected Senate Bill 2225, a measure to fund a $25 million program intended to subsidize infrastructure costs for new housing developments (curb and gutter, water, sewer) to lower the price of new homes, particularly in smaller communities.

Senator Sickler, the Senate conference sponsor, said the bill had evolved in conference and that the House insisted on a $25 million program primarily targeted to communities under 20,000 population. He said the Senate's original conference position focused on a $5 million slum‑and‑blight remediation program but negotiations with the House did not produce agreement.

Opponents argued the proposal duplicated existing housing programs and would add another housing program in a different agency. Senator Dwyer urged a no vote, citing overlap with the Housing Finance Agency's existing programs. Supporters from rural districts said the initiative would lower upfront infrastructure costs that often block developers from building in small communities and described it as a workforce and economic development tool.

Vote

The Senate failed the bill on final passage. The final tally reported on the floor was 20 yea, 26 nay; the measure did not pass.