May 28, 2025

State Rep. Aniskovich Defends Local Control, Votes NO On HB 5002

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Hartford, CT – Yesterday, on the House floor, State Representative Chris Aniskovich (R–Clinton, Westbrook & Killingworth) stood firmly against HB 5002, the omnibus housing bill that would strip local towns of their zoning authority and impose one-size-fits-all mandates from Hartford.

“This proposal represents an unprecedented power grab by the state,” Rep. Aniskovich declared. “Small towns like Clinton, Westbrook, and Killingworth cherish their ability to plan for growth in ways that reflect our unique character and environmental concerns. Local leaders, not bureaucrats in Hartford, should be making housing decisions for their own communities.”

Key elements driving Rep. Aniskovich’s “no” vote include:

25% Fair Share Housing Mandate
Under HB 5002, each municipality would be expected to meet 25% of the affordable housing units recommended by a statewide “fair share” study. This rigid, top-down quota disregards local planning efforts and fails to consider the unique challenges faced by individual towns.
Withholding of STEAP and Other State Funding
Under HB 5002, municipalities that fail to meet the state’s uniform housing targets would see critical grants, such as those from the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), pulled or reduced. Penalizing towns by cutting off infrastructure and community-development funds is neither a smart policy nor beneficial; rather than encouraging collaboration, it punishes local leaders who are already grappling with budget constraints, environmental safeguards, and school-capacity limits, and it risks stalling essential projects that support economic growth and public welfare.
Developer Attorney’s Fees Giveaway
HB 5002 allows developers to recover legal costs from towns whenever a court approves most of their proposals, even if local officials raise legitimate health, safety, or infrastructure concerns. This provision could deter municipalities from exercising due diligence in reviewing development projects.

“This legislation presumes our towns don’t care about affordable housing, which is simply false,” Aniskovich continued. “Clinton, Westbrook, and Killingworth have each advanced responsible plans that reflect our local priorities. Issues like high construction costs, rising interest rates, environmental protections, and school capacity all factor into housing supply. Mandating housing quotas without addressing these realities won’t solve our challenges; it will only punish towns that are doing their part.”

Rep. Aniskovich reaffirmed his commitment to housing solutions that are crafted by local leaders, protect property rights, and respect the home-rule tradition of Connecticut’s small towns. He voted “no,” urging his colleagues to empower communities to make their own housing decisions rather than steamrolling them.