Senate Bill No. 361 allows municipal planning and zoning commissions in Connecticut to adopt regulations permitting developers to pay a fee in lieu of constructing and maintaining public sidewalks, under specific conditions. This provision is applicable regardless of any conflicting special acts that may govern land use in certain municipalities. The bill stipulates that such a fee can only be accepted if the commission determines that constructing the sidewalk is unnecessary or impractical for the proposed development. Additionally, the regulations must include a formula or schedule for determining the fee amount, and they may restrict the areas where this option is available.

The fees collected under this bill must be deposited into a dedicated fund, which can only be used for the construction and maintenance of public sidewalks, ensuring that the funds are not diverted for operating expenses or included in the municipality's general fund. The bill also specifies that any income generated from the fund's deposits will accrue to the fund itself. This legislation is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, and aims to provide municipalities with a flexible approach to sidewalk requirements while generating potential revenue for sidewalk projects.