AN ACT EXPANDING THE DEFINITION OF MUNICIPALITY FOR PURPOSES OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAND USE APPEALS PROCEDURE.

HB 5042 amends a state law to include villages within the definition of "municipality" for the affordable housing land use appeals procedure. This means villages, which were previously excluded, will now be eligible to use the same process as cities and towns when challenging land use decisions affecting affordable housing projects. The bill does not change the appeals procedure itself but expands its application to cover villages. As a result, villages will have the same legal pathway as municipalities to address barriers to affordable housing development.