HARTFORD, Conn. — The State Senate approved a wide-ranging housing bill along party lines, 24-10 with all Democrats approving it and all Republicans in opposition, during a special session on Friday morning.
House Bill 8002 requires all Connecticut municipalities to “create housing growth plans, changes minimum off-street parking requirements, expands fair rent commissions and incentivizes towns to take steps to allow more housing, among other measures,” according to an article in the Connecticut Mirror.
The bill was created in response to Gov. Ned Lamont’s veto of House Bill 5002, which critics argued took away local control of housing in an effort to expand affordable housing, as well as the total of available housing units, throughout the state. Many town leaders, Republicans and some Democrats spoke against it.
Bill 8002 includes changes meant to quell some of those concerns, but Republicans have criticized the measures and the process. The governor still must decide whether to sign or veto the bill.
The Sun will follow up on this story with more information about the bill and interviews of local officials.
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