The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5376, aims to establish a working group tasked with studying the feasibility of creating a streamlined state court appeals process for individuals aggrieved by decisions made by historic district commissions. The working group will consist of various appointed members from the General Assembly and the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development or their designee. The group is required to submit a report detailing its findings and recommendations by January 1, 2027, after which it will be dissolved.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 8-30g of the general statutes by adding a new subsection (n), which allows commissions to deny or return affordable housing applications that utilize nonstandard construction methods if the applicant does not provide a preliminary life safety report. This report must be prepared by a licensed professional engineer or fire protection engineer and must confirm that the proposed design complies with the State Building Code and State Fire Safety Code. The commission may also require a third-party peer review of the report at the applicant's expense. The new provisions will take effect on October 1, 2026.