Substitute House Bill No. 6249 amends the Connecticut Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) by introducing a new subsection (c) to Section 22a-19, effective October 1, 2025. This new provision 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 does not alter existing requirements for parties seeking to intervene, who must still file a verified pleading with specific factual allegations. The changes are primarily procedural and are not expected to incur costs for the state or municipalities. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the judicial review process for residential building permits while maintaining the public's trust in environmental resources.

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