Substitute Senate Bill No. 1252 seeks to facilitate the development of multifamily housing in Connecticut by establishing "priority housing development zones" within municipalities. Effective July 1, 2025, the bill defines key terms and outlines the criteria for creating these zones, which must cover at least 10% of the municipality's developable land and allow for specific minimum densities of housing development as-of-right. Zoning commissions are granted the authority to adopt regulations that support these developments, and municipalities can request letters of eligibility from the Commissioner of Housing to establish these zones. The bill also modifies the requirements for municipalities to obtain certificates of affordable housing completion, allowing for a reduced number of housing unit-equivalent points and streamlining the application process.

Additionally, the bill introduces amendments to existing laws regarding affordable housing and moratorium eligibility. It lowers the threshold for municipalities adopting approved priority zones to qualify for a temporary suspension of the affordable housing land use appeals procedure from 2% to 1.75% of the housing stock. The bill also replaces a previous subsection regarding the certificate of affordable housing completion, ensuring that the commissioner must review applications within ninety days, with provisions for provisional approval if no action is taken. Furthermore, it establishes new Housing Unit Evaluation (HUE) values based on household income levels in resident-owned mobile manufactured home parks and includes a bonus HUE value for certain rental family units. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the regulatory process and enhance affordable housing opportunities in Connecticut.