The proposed bill, Substitute House Bill No. 6249, seeks to amend the Connecticut Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) by introducing a new subsection (c) to Section 22a-19. This amendment allows parties involved in judicial reviews of residential building permit applications to request an expedited hearing within thirty days of filing. During this hearing, intervening parties must demonstrate a prima facie case that the alleged unreasonable pollution is reasonably likely to occur. If they fail to make this showing, the court is required to dismiss the matter. The bill defines "residential building permit application" as any application related to the construction or renovation of a structure containing one or more dwelling units.

The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and does not anticipate any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities, as the changes are primarily procedural. It maintains existing requirements for parties seeking to intervene in these proceedings, which include filing a verified pleading with specific factual allegations. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the judicial review process for residential building permits while ensuring that claims of environmental harm are substantiated before proceeding.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill:
ENV Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 680: