Substitute Senate Bill No. 1529, also known as Public Act No. 25-175, introduces several amendments to existing laws concerning municipal referenda, educational governance, and property tax exemptions. The bill allows voters in municipalities with populations of 16,000 or fewer to petition for a town referendum to reverse permit approvals or denials by the commissioner, effective September 30, 2025. It also modifies the rate increases for contracted services with the Department of Developmental Services, specifying a three and three-tenths percent increase, plus an additional three percent for residential service providers, effective July 1, 2027, and January 1, 2028. Furthermore, the bill updates provisions related to the Commissioner of Education's network of schools, establishing that no new schools may be selected for the network starting July 1, 2025, while existing schools can continue their participation for an additional year or two.

Additionally, the bill allows local boards of education to deposit unexpended funds into a nonlapsing account, with a cap of two percent of the total budgeted appropriation for education, and mandates annual reporting to the Department of Education. It also addresses property tax exemptions, allowing individuals in specific towns to retroactively file for exemptions for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024, provided they meet certain conditions. The towns of Newington and Trumbull are permitted to defer property revaluations scheduled for October 1, 2025, until the following year, subject to legislative approval. The bill repeals certain sections of Public Act 25-93 to streamline the legislative framework, with most provisions taking effect on July 1, 2025, while the deferral provisions are effective immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Public Act No. 25-175: 10-248a