Substitute House Bill No. 6957, also known as Public Act No. 25-73, introduces significant changes to municipal governance and training requirements for inland wetlands agencies. The bill allows towns to designate themselves as cities through charter amendments, enhancing their authority over finances, property management, and contract execution. It establishes new training requirements for inland wetlands agency members, mandating completion of a training program developed by the commissioner starting January 1, 2026, with existing members required to complete it by January 1, 2027, and every four years thereafter. The bill also revises the process for issuing certificates of correction for property assessed in error, extending the correction period to four years if a municipality adopts the appropriate ordinance, and updates provisions for correcting clerical errors in tax assessments.

Additionally, the bill aims to promote affordable housing and streamline regulations for common interest communities. It introduces new definitions for "inclusionary zoning," allowing the use of housing trust funds for affordable housing initiatives while prohibiting their use for property acquisition via eminent domain. The bill establishes protections for single-family detached units regarding solar power installations, requiring associations to respond to applications within specified timeframes and ensuring compliance with community regulations. Unit owners are mandated to obtain liability insurance, cover installation costs, and maintain their roofs, with associations allowed to opt out of certain provisions by a board vote. The bill also repeals existing statutes related to solar installations and modifies definitions, with various provisions set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and July 1, 2025, for specific sections.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-101
PD Joint Favorable Substitute: 7-101
File No. 354: 7-101
File No. 906: 7-194, 12-60, 12-129, 8-2i, 47-257
Public Act No. 25-73: 7-194, 12-60, 12-129, 8-2i, 47-257