Fairfield Deserves Facts — Not Misinformation — About HB 8002

There has been a great deal of misinformation circulating about HB 8002, the housing legislation recently passed by the General Assembly. Senator Tony Hwang has publicly criticized the bill, framing it as a “mandate” from Hartford and suggesting that it strips towns of local authority. These claims are simply not supported by the text of the bill or the facts.

Let’s be clear: HB 8002 is not a mandate. It does not force any town to change its zoning, adopt new densities, or accept state control over land use. Towns that wish to participate may opt into new planning and infrastructure resources; towns that do not participate see no change to their existing funding, authority, or zoning powers.

Nor does HB 8002 eliminate 8-30g moratoriums. The moratorium process remains fully intact and available to every municipality. Any suggestion otherwise is false.

What the bill does is give towns more tools—not fewer—to plan responsibly. It strengthens the role of our regional Councils of Governments (COGs), which are made up entirely of local leaders, including our own First Selectman, mayors, planners, and engineers. These are the people who know our communities best. HB 8002 requires them to incorporate environmental constraints, transportation capacity, drinking water protections, and infrastructure limitations into new housing strategies. In other words, it roots planning in real-world conditions—not one-size-fits-all mandates.

Unfortunately, in Fairfield, we have watched a familiar pattern take shape. Whenever the topic of housing arises—even moderate, locally guided planning—some choose to respond with fear rather than facts. The reality is that Fairfield’s Town Plan & Zoning Commission has been controlled by Republicans for years, and during that time the town has repeatedly postponed long-term housing planning and made minimal progress toward affordable housing goals. Now, Senator Hwang—who has not supported a major affordable housing bill in Hartford in over a decade—is using HB 8002 as a political talking point, capitalizing on public frustration with 8-30g rather than helping towns gain the tools needed to manage it.

Fairfield deserves better than that. We deserve honest explanations of what legislation actually does, and constructive solutions that protect local character while addressing real housing needs. HB 8002 provides those tools. Misrepresenting the bill only keeps Fairfield from planning smartly and staying ahead of predatory 8-30g proposals.

Housing policy is too important to reduce to political football. Our community deserves facts—and leaders willing to rely on them.