Substitute House Bill No. 7112 aims to tackle housing and homelessness issues in Connecticut by establishing a roundtable group and a task force focused on affordable housing initiatives. The roundtable will study the feasibility of creating an Affordable Housing Real Estate Investment Trust to acquire housing units for long-term affordability and is required to report its findings by January 1, 2026. The task force will explore a housing opportunity tax credit for landlords who rent to formerly incarcerated individuals, providing a credit equal to 25% of the rental income. The bill also introduces significant amendments to Section 7-246 of the general statutes, allowing municipalities to designate their legislative bodies or create new boards as water pollution control authorities, enhancing their ability to manage water pollution and support housing development.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions that prohibit municipalities from imposing certain zoning restrictions, such as requiring lot sizes greater than one acre for residential construction and installing "hostile architecture" in public spaces. It mandates the collection of data on LGBTQ+ youth in state care and establishes various pilot programs, including one for portable showers and laundry facilities for the homeless and another for direct rental assistance to eligible households. The bill appropriates funds for these initiatives and authorizes new general obligation bonds for affordable housing projects, with a total bond issuance cap increased from $800 million to $1.075 billion. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance housing accessibility and support for vulnerable populations while promoting community investment in housing infrastructure.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-246, 8-2, 8-345, 32-285a
HSG Joint Favorable Substitute: 7-246, 8-2, 32-285a
File No. 274: 7-246, 8-2, 32-285a