House Bill No. 7144 seeks to amend the distribution of funds from the Regional Planning Incentive Account to regional councils of governments in Connecticut by repealing Section 4-66k of the general statutes. The bill introduces a new funding structure effective July 1, 2025, which establishes a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund dedicated to supporting regional planning organizations and grants for regional election advisors. For fiscal years 2024 and 2025, regional councils will receive a total of seven million dollars, allocated based on a formula that includes both a base payment and a per capita payment derived from the latest federal census data.

Starting in fiscal year 2026, the bill increases the annual regional services grant for each council by an additional four hundred thousand dollars, specifically earmarked for funding three positions, including a regional building inspector to aid in housing development. Regional councils will be required to submit annual proposals detailing their intended use of these funds to improve service delivery and efficiency. The overall fiscal impact of the bill is projected to be $3.6 million annually beginning in FY 2026, with no anticipated impact on municipalities. The bill is also linked to SB 1186, which proposes adjustments to the per-capita portion of the regional services grant based on consumer price index changes.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 4-66k
PD Joint Favorable: 4-66k
File No. 623: 4-66k