Housing (Community Development)

This bill amends a 1995 agreement regarding a 10-acre state-owned parcel in Middletown that was previously sold to the Shiloh Baptist Community Development Corporation. The legislation clarifies that the land must be used for moderate-income housing and public recreational facilities by June 30, 2029, while explicitly prohibiting its use for religious teaching or practice. If the corporation fails to begin construction by the deadline or does not comply with federal nondiscrimination requirements, the property will revert to state ownership. The bill also ensures that any existing mortgage debt remains enforceable even if the land reverts to the state.

SB 272 modifies municipal blight enforcement by removing the requirement for municipalities to provide written notice and a remediation period for properties with three or more blight violations within a 12-month timeframe. It directly affects property owners in municipalities that enforce blight regulations, particularly those with repeated violations. The bill specifies that for such repeat cases, enforcement actions (including civil penalties) can occur immediately without prior notice or opportunity to fix issues. Penalties include daily fines ranging from $150 to $1,000 for residential properties and per-square-foot charges for larger residential or commercial properties, depending on violation history and property size. This change streamlines enforcement for persistent blight issues but maintains the core definitions and standards for blight regulation.

SB 33 establishes the "Learn Here, Live Here" program, requiring the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to create it with an annual budget of up to $5 million. The program targets individuals with an annual federal adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less. Key provisions include setting a funding cap of $5 million per year and restricting eligibility to low-income residents based on income thresholds. This bill directly affects qualifying low-income residents seeking housing support within the state.

SB 241 authorizes Connecticut to issue up to $5 million in state bonds to fund the Waterbury Land Bank Authority. The funds will be used by the Department of Economic and Community Development to provide grants for acquiring, maintaining, remediating, or developing real property in Waterbury. The bill creates a dedicated funding mechanism with the state pledging full credit for bond repayment, maturing within 20 years. This directly affects Waterbury residents and local property projects through targeted land bank activities.

HB 5394 updates Connecticut's relocation assistance rules for people displaced from homes due to government actions like redevelopment or code enforcement. It sets a $4,000 limit for payments to help displaced homeowners cover rent for up to four years or a down payment on a new safe, decent home (with a $2,000 matching requirement for larger down payments). Landlords become financially responsible for relocation costs if tenants are displaced due to local code enforcement, and towns/cities can place liens on landlords' property to recover these payments. This bill directly affects displaced homeowners, tenants, landlords, and municipalities managing relocation programs, replacing outdated provisions with clearer payment standards effective October 2026.