Governor Lamont Statement on Final Legislative Approval of Bill Encouraging the Development of New Housing and Addressing Housing Affordability

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Ned Lamont released the following statement in response to today's final legislative approval of House Bill 8002, An Act Concerning Housing Growth:

"Connecticut's housing shortage is among the most severe in the country. It is driving up costs for working families, deterring businesses from investing or growing, and worsening homelessness. Simply put, the status quo is unsustainable," Governor Lamont said. "While we have made significant steps forward in recent years to increase our housing stock, we need to do more to address this urgent need. As I've said many times before, we will not be able to reach these housing targets without the support and collaboration of municipalities that can help execute these plans, including through investments in infrastructure. Over these last several months, I've consulted with state lawmakers, municipal leaders, housing advocates, and nonprofit partners to craft policies that will have a real-world impact and implement the tools we need to succeed in building more housing. This comprehensive proposal takes strong steps toward addressing this crisis and will help Connecticut reach these goals. I appreciate the collaborative input of everyone involved, particularly Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, as well as all those lawmakers who voted in favor of this legislation. I look forward to signing it into law."

House Bill 8002 was developed by Governor Lamont's office and legislative leaders with the input and cooperation of housing advocacy group and bipartisan municipal leaders and their representative organizations, including the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), the Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST), and the state's regional councils of governments.

The bill was approved in the Connecticut House of Representatives on Wednesday and in the Connecticut State Senate today. Governor Lamont will sign the bill when it is transmitted to his desk.