Substitute House Bill No. 5521, also known as Public Act No. 26-129, introduces new regulations concerning the use of sterile cultivars and the application of beneficially reclaimed materials as fill in Connecticut. The bill requires the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station to report by January 15, 2027, on the safety of sterile cultivars and Japanese barberry, including legislative recommendations. It revises the definition of "beneficially reclaimed materials" to encompass various soil and recycled materials while excluding hazardous substances. The bill establishes a pilot program allowing the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to authorize the use of these materials as fill, eliminating the previous requirement for municipal approvals before application submission. Instead, applicants must demonstrate compliance with local zoning and environmental regulations, and the application process includes a nonrefundable fee of $25,000.

In addition to environmental regulations, the bill addresses housing development by allowing municipalities to create conservation and traffic mitigation districts that can mandate off-street parking for smaller residential developments. It establishes a majority leaders' roundtable group on affordable housing, which will report until January 1, 2026, and creates a Council on Housing Development to review housing regulations and plans. The council will include state officials and representatives appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate and the speaker of the House, replacing previous appointment methods. The council is tasked with convening by January 1, 2026, and must submit a report by January 1, 2027, detailing its recommendations and guidelines, reflecting a commitment to balancing housing growth with conservation and infrastructure support.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 22-26gg
Public Act No. 26-129: 2-139