Senate Bill No. 1266 mandates that municipalities establishing a fair rent commission (FRC) must make the commission's bylaws publicly accessible on their official websites and ensure that all hearings conducted by the commission are open to the public. This legislation applies to all towns, cities, or boroughs, particularly emphasizing those with populations of 25,000 or more, which are required to create such commissions. The bill also reinforces that FRCs are subject to the Freedom of Information Act, which generally requires public meetings, including hearings, to be accessible to the public.

The bill repeals and replaces Section 7-148b of the general statutes, with new provisions that include the requirement for public access to FRC bylaws and hearings. Specifically, it inserts language stating that "All hearings conducted pursuant to this section shall be open to the public" and mandates that any town, city, or borough that creates a fair rent commission must make the bylaws publicly available on their website. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025. The fiscal impact of this bill is noted to be negligible, as municipalities are expected to have the resources to comply with these new requirements.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-148b
HSG Joint Favorable Substitute: 7-148b
File No. 72: 7-148b