A bill passed in the state House to help cities address property blight has also now been approved by a state Senate panel. The Urban Affairs and Housing Committee approved House Bill 775, which allows municipalities to create a vacant property registration and impose a registration fee. The measure only applies to properties that are unoccupied, with certain exceptions. Those include property owners with economic hardships, owners who are on active military service, properties in probate situations and in cases where active repair work is ongoing.
