Connecticut Resiliency Planning and Climate Resilience Bill Summary

• Establishes Resiliency Improvement Districts: Municipalities can create special districts with district master plans designed to reduce climate change risks (sea level rise, flooding, extreme heat, drought) while supporting economic development, housing, and environmental infrastructure projects.

• Tax Increment Financing for Resilience Projects: Allows municipalities to capture increased property tax revenues from district improvements to fund ongoing resilience projects, with requirements for affordable housing preservation and displacement mitigation.

• Municipal Powers and Financing Tools: Grants municipalities authority to issue bonds, establish benefit assessments, enter into property tax agreements, and receive grants for resilience infrastructure including natural features restoration, clean energy, and flood mitigation.

• Enhanced Planning and Climate Adaptation Requirements: Requires municipal plans of conservation and development to include climate change vulnerability assessments, hazard mitigation strategies, and consideration of sea level rise scenarios; mandates regional and state planning updates incorporate climate projections.

• Building Code and Infrastructure Resilience Standards: Updates state building codes to require climate-resilient construction standards, establishes water supply and sewage system review processes to address climate impacts, and allocates funding for resilient infrastructure improvements through 2025.