Monday, March 15th – Public Hearings

I just wanted you to know that there are several important public hearings next week, including Monday hearings in the Judiciary Committee, Public Health Committee, Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee and the Planning and Development Committee. Some of the proposals are listed below, and the full list of upcoming hearings and events is updated daily in The CGA Bulletin.

Two proposals that could impact property taxes will be heard by the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee during a public hearing on Monday, March 15^th via Zoom.

SB 171 – An Act Establishing a State-Wide Tax on Real Property – will establish a 1 mil state wide property tax on commercial and residential property, provided that the first 300,000 in assessed value is exempt.

SB 172 – An Act Establishing A State-Wide Assessment to Encourage Affordable Housing in the State – will establish a state wide assessment on commercial and residential property based on the percentage of affordable housing developments located in the municipality. The bill exempts the first 300,000 in assessed value from the assessment

To Testify

The public hearing can be viewed via YouTube Live. In addition, the public hearing may be recorded and broadcast live on CT-N.com. Individuals who wish to testify via Zoom must register using the On-line Testimony Registration Form.  Registration will close on Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 3:00 P.M. The registration form must contain the name of the person who will be testifying, and a unique email address must be provided for each person registered to speak. If you do not have internet access, you may provide testimony via telephone by calling the Phone Registrant Line at (860) 240-0462 and leaving your contact information. Please email written testimony in Word or PDF format to FINtestimony@cga.ct.gov.

Local control over property zoning is another important issue that is coming into focus this session, and this session there are several proposals that may affect local zoning control. There are proposals that will essentially create a “one size fits all” zoning mandate from Hartford, require changes to zoning density around transportation-oriented development, and require developers to set aside larger percentages of development as affordable. Other proposals would establish a zoning “bill of rights” to solidify control firmly with local officials, and there’s also a Constitutional Amendment proposal would mandate the state stay out of these local issues.

The Planning and Development Committee will be discussing these issues during a public hearing on Monday, March 15th starting at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.

Those proposals include:

SB 1024 – An Act Concerning Zoning Authority, certain Design Guidelines, Qualifications of Certain Land Use Officials and Certain Sewage Disposal Systems

HB 6107 – An Act Concerning The Reorganization of the Zoning Enabling Act and the Promotions of Municipal Compliance

HB 6611 – An Act Concerning A Needs Assessment and Other Policies Regarding Affordable Housing and Development

HB 6613 – An Act Concerning Accessory Apartments, Middle Housing and Multifamily Housing

SB 1027 – An Act Concerning Accessory Dwelling Units and Zoning Regulations

To Testify

The public hearing can be viewed via YouTube Live. In addition, the public hearing may be recorded and broadcast live on CT-N.com. Individuals who wish to testify via Zoom must register using the On-line Testimony Registration Form. Registration will close on Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 3:00 P.M. The registration form must contain the name of the person who will be testifying, and a unique email address must be provided for each person registered to speak. If you do not have internet access, you may provide testimony via telephone by calling the Phone Registrant Line at (203) 350-3769 and leaving your contact information. Please email written testimony to pdtestimony@cga.ct.gov in Word or PDF format.