New London Lawmaker Pushes Housing Reform Bill

NEW LONDON, CT — A major housing reform bill is advancing in the Connecticut Senate after passing the Housing Committee last week.

Senate Bill 12, led by State Sen. Martha Marx (D-New London), seeks to address the state’s housing crisis by expanding affordable housing, incentivizing construction, and increasing rental assistance programs.

“When we have a variety of problems to fix, we need a variety of solutions,” Marx said in a statement. “This bill looks to increase our housing stock and help people squeezed by high prices in a tight market.”

Key provisions include funding for 700 new rental assistance certificates, easing zoning restrictions to allow housing on commercial land, and creating a working group to study barriers to starter homes. It also extends a pilot program reducing mortgage rates for first-time homebuyers with student debt.

Connecticut currently has the fewest available housing units in the nation and is short 135,000 affordable units. Half of residents spend at least 30% of their income on housing.

Senate Bill 12 now heads to the Senate floor for further debate.