Planning and Development

This bill establishes new requirements and oversight for justices of the peace in Connecticut, affecting those appointed to the position and the Secretary of the State. It mandates that newly appointed justices complete a training manual within 30 days and prohibits them from performing fraudulent marriages or using their title for commercial endorsements. The Secretary of the State gains authority to investigate misconduct and can issue warnings, reprimands, or revoke appointments for negligence, fraud, or unlawful actions. Additionally, the bill creates a process for filling vacancies in municipalities that increase the number of justices, allowing political parties to nominate candidates for these positions.

HB 5282 requires state agencies to align major projects costing over $1 million (up from $200,000) with Connecticut's State Plan of Conservation and Development. This affects all state agencies using state or federal funds for property acquisition, development, or public transportation projects exceeding the threshold. The bill mandates agencies to submit conformity notices to the secretary and establishes an annual inflation adjustment for the $1 million threshold using the Producer Price Index. Municipalities must also reference the state plan in new conservation and development plans adopted after 2026.

SB 362 requires Connecticut towns to submit digital property files to regional councils or the Office of Policy and Management by September 1, 2027, and annually thereafter. These files must include property identifiers, sizes, addresses, land/building values, and construction years. Regional councils must then report towns failing to submit files to state officials. The bill also updates requirements for municipalities to submit assessed valuations for state grants by April 1 each year, with a $250 penalty for non-compliance and appeal processes for disputed valuations.

This bill allows municipal employees to serve on municipal boards of finance under specific conditions, provided they are not directly supervised by the board. It modifies existing state statutes to permit employees who earn less than $10,000 annually, those with legislative body membership, or those authorized by local charter or ordinance to hold these positions. The legislation also updates rules for planning commissions, allowing municipalities to include municipal employees as members if they have adopted the appropriate local authorization. These changes take effect on October 1, 2026, and aim to clarify eligibility requirements without creating new government positions or altering fiscal responsibilities.

This bill updates how Connecticut distributes state funds to municipalities for capital improvements and economic assistance. It requires the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to issue grants to towns by June 30 each year if those towns have used or plan to use all previously received funds, and mandates annual reporting by municipalities on how they spent those grants. The legislation also establishes a small town economic assistance program with a $1 million annual cap per municipality, excludes economically distressed communities from eligibility, and allows certain towns to opt into this program instead of other financial assistance. Additionally, it requires the secretary to publicly post school funding allocations and expands the secretary's authority to identify state-owned real property for potential tax assessment purposes.