May 31, 2025

A Heavy-handed Approach to Housing is Not the Way to Address Our Affordable Housing Needs

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In the last full week of the 2025 legislative session, House Republicans spent over twelve hours debating HB-5002, a 92-page omnibus housing bill that it takes an overarching and heavy-handed approach to governing Connecticut’s affordable housing.

When the initial bill was voted on in the Housing Committee it consisted of 10 lines and a grand total of 91 words. When voted on in the House of Representatives, the final bill expanded to 92 pages. Within this bill are several mandates, but the most egregious piece is it seeks to handcuff and silence the ability of our local boards and commissions to determine what is best for our towns.

The bills outrageous 25% “Municipal Fair Share Allocation” mandate would require Enfield to build 1,021 more affordable housing units and 714 for East Windsor without taking into consideration whether or not this is feasible. Additionally it gets rid of minimum mandatory parking requirements allowing developers to build up to 24 units without parking considerations. Under the bill, developers can convert commercial properties to residential “as a right.” This change essentially foregoes the whole public hearing process and ultimately nullifies the voices on our local boards and commissions from weighing in on these projects as long as the development conforms to local zoning regulations.

These are just a few of the issues I have with this bill and why I voted in opposition to it. Those who supported this bill will tell you it will improve our housing supply, reduce costs, and lower costs is trying to fool you. The Majority Party in Hartford is once again taking the stance that they know what’s best in our towns and cities over those who are here every single day.

Simply stated, this is a horribly crafted piece of legislation. House Republicans were not alone in its opposition, as 18 House Democrats also joined us in voting no on it. Anyone who tries to spin the positives of supporting this type of proposal is pulling the wool over your eyes.

I encourage you to do your own research and see how bad it is for yourself.
https://cga.ct.gov/2025/BA/PDF/2025HB-05002-R01-BA.PDF

To see how your representative voted use the website link below.
https://cga.ct.gov/2025/VOTE/H/PDF/2025HV-00196-R00HB05002-HV.PDF