Housing Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-393
AN ACT CONCERNING ROOM TEMPERATURES IN INSTITUTIONS OF
Title: HIGHER EDUCATION AND DWELLING UNITS.
Vote Date: 3/11/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 2/18/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Sen. Cathy Osten, 19th District
REASONS FOR BILL:
Temperatures in Connecticut have risen over the past century, leading to an increase in the
number and severity of heat waves. Landlords and institutions of higher learning are not
currently required to allow residents to use personal air conditioning devices.
SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE:
Adds Section 2, which requires any residential building with more than 25 units to install or
permit a tenant to install equipment to maintain an indoor temperature less than 85 degrees
Fahrenheit.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
None Stated.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Sen. Cathy Osten, 19th District- SUPPORTS stating that students at Eastern Connecticut
State University were not allowed to use personal AC units in dorm rooms, despite the heat.
Laura Bozzi, PhD- Director of Programs at the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health-
SUPPORTS- stating that the bill is a critical step towards implementing the recommendations
of the Governor's Council on Climate Change. Connecticut has experienced a 3-degree
Fahrenheit increase in temperature since the end of the 19th century- in 1950 the state
experienced 3 heat wave days annually, in 2050 we are expected to experience 44 annually.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
The following OPPOSE the bill, stating that it does not consider the high costs landlords
would face to retrofit the existing systems within older buildings, as well as presenting a fire
hazard for the building and tenants:
Caroline Raynis
Paul Januszewski- LECOKY Properties LLC
Trevor Dorian
The following OPPOSE the bill, stating that state should not interfere with setting building
temperatures:
Robert Jackson
John Souza- President, CT Coalition of Property Owners
Carl Lupinacci- Greater Bridgeport Property Owners Association
The following OPPOSES the bill:
Terry L. Waller
Reported by: Gabriel Turco Date: 3/16/21
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