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 to manage finances, property, and contracts. It establishes new training requirements for inland wetlands agency members and staff, mandating a comprehensive training program starting January 1, 2026, with ongoing training every four years. Additionally, the bill addresses property assessment corrections, allowing assessors to issue certificates of correction and extending the timeframe for municipalities to adopt ordinances related to these corrections.

The bill also includes amendments to property tax laws, requiring assessors to notify individuals of assessment increases and allowing appeals with provisions for tax payments made "under protest." A task force is established to study the impact of corporate acquisitions on housing affordability, and new provisions for transparency in land use applications are introduced. Furthermore, the bill promotes affordable housing initiatives by defining "inclusionary zoning" and streamlining regulations for common interest communities, including protections for solar power installations. Unit owners are required to obtain liability insurance and maintain their roofs, while associations can opt out of certain provisions by a board vote. The bill also modifies definitions related to the capital region and allows for equal apportionment of maintenance costs in the Millstone Ridge Tax District.

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