CT SB00012

Establishes a working group to study barriers to building starter homes, examining zoning restrictions, subdivision requirements, building codes, and common interest community regulations, with a report due by January 1, 2026

Authorizes $50 million in state bonds for a four-year pilot program to fund affordable housing construction projects that use union labor, project labor agreements, and apprenticeship programs, with housing required to remain affordable for at least 40 years

Increases school building project grants by 5-20% for municipalities meeting affordable housing thresholds of 6-10% or higher under section 8-30g

Requires all municipalities to establish fair rent commissions by January 1, 2028, and mandates that zoning regulations allow commercial-to-residential building conversions as of right with decisions within 65 days

Appropriates $4.2 million for 425 additional rental assistance certificates for elderly/disabled persons and $4.5 million for 275 certificates for Head Start families, and creates a mortgage rate reduction pilot program of up to 1.125% for first-time homebuyers with student loan debt