House Bill No. 7004, also known as Public Act No. 25-169, introduces significant changes to the process by which municipalities in Connecticut can challenge certain permit approvals. The bill repeals and replaces Section 7-148cc of the general statutes, allowing two or more municipalities to jointly perform functions through interlocal agreements, regardless of existing statutes or local laws. Additionally, it amends Section 22a-20b, enabling any elector or voter in municipalities with a population of sixteen thousand or fewer, as determined by the most recent decennial census, to petition for a town referendum to reverse any permit approval or denial made by the commissioner under specific conditions.

The bill specifies that the reversal of a permit approval or denial will be determined by an affirmative vote from the electorate, which will override the commissioner's decision. This change aims to enhance local governance and empower residents in smaller municipalities to have a direct say in permit-related decisions that affect their communities. However, it is important to note that the Governor vetoed the bill on July 8, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-148cc
PD Joint Favorable: 7-148cc
File No. 238: 7-148cc
Public Act No. 25-169: 7-148cc