General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5365 seeks to amend the affordable housing appeals procedure by revising the duration and conditions of moratoriums on affordable housing applications. The bill repeals and replaces subsection (l) of section 8-30g, establishing that a moratorium can last for four years, or five years for municipalities with over 20,000 dwelling units that have previously qualified for a moratorium. It clarifies that certain affordable housing applications, particularly those for assisted housing with a high percentage of low-income units, are exempt from the moratorium. Additionally, the bill allows for the counting of eligible units completed before or during a moratorium towards future moratorium eligibility, thereby streamlining the process for municipalities to comply with affordable housing requirements.

The legislation also introduces new criteria for the issuance of certificates of affordable housing project completion, which are based on the creation of housing unit-equivalent points. It modifies the point allocation system by increasing points for ownership and rental units for families with incomes at or below various thresholds, while adding new categories for family units earning less than 20% of the median income. The bill includes provisions for deed-restricted accessory apartments and introduces new criteria for mobile manufactured homes and set-aside developments, while deleting certain existing point allocations. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, with the goal of enhancing incentives for the development of affordable housing options in the state.