Substitute Senate Bill No. 1252 aims to create "priority housing development zones" within municipalities in Connecticut to promote the development of multifamily housing. Effective July 1, 2025, the bill defines key terms and sets criteria for zoning commissions to adopt regulations for these zones, which must allow multifamily housing as of right and meet specific density requirements—four units per acre for single-family detached housing and ten units per acre for multifamily housing. The bill also allows zoning commissions to modify or waive dimensional standards to achieve desired densities and integrates nonresidential uses within these zones. Municipalities must request a letter of eligibility from the Commissioner of Housing to establish these zones, and the commissioner will issue certificates of affordable housing completion based on compliance with the bill's criteria.

Key changes in the bill include the reduction of the Housing Unit Equivalent (HUE) points required for municipalities to qualify for a moratorium on affordable housing land use appeals, from 75 to 65 points. The bill also introduces new HUE values based on household income levels for various housing types and establishes minimum density requirements for priority zones. Additionally, it modifies existing legal language to clarify the process for municipalities to notify the housing commissioner of any changes to the priority zones and includes provisions for the establishment of new historic districts within these zones. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline affordable housing development while potentially increasing costs for municipalities in planning but offering savings in legal expenses related to housing appeals.