Connecticut 2026 Session Status: In Committee 4 D cosponsors

HB 5505 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF CERTAIN COMMERCIAL WAREHOUSES FOR THE HOUSING OR SHELTER OF PERSONS.

Last action — FILE NO. 337

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced March 05, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 22% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    4 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (4 D).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

191 added · 69 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Bill HB 5505, the title has been updated to reflect the committee's recommendation for the bill to pass, and additional explanatory notes have been added at the beginning of the document. These changes help clarify the bill's purpose and provide context for lawmakers as they discuss its implications. Importantly, there are no expected financial impacts on the state, and any municipal effects have not been specified. These updates aim to streamline the legislative process and ensure transparency for all involved.

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Previous
Latest
General Assembly Raised Bill No.
House of Representatives General Assembly File No.
5505 February Session, 2026 LCO No.
337 February Session, 2026 Substitute House Bill No.
2463 Referred to Committee on PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT Introduced by:
5505 House of Representatives, April 1, 2026 The Committee on Planning and Development reported through REP.
(PD) AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF CERTAIN COMMERCIAL WAREHOUSES FOR THE HOUSING OR SHELTER OF PERSONS.
KAVROS DEGRAW of the 17th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF CERTAIN COMMERCIAL WAREHOUSES FOR THE HOUSING OR SHELTER OF PERSONS.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of any municipal charter, ordinance, regulation or resolution, any special act or any provision of the general statutes, no person shall use, operate or permit the use of a commercial warehouse to house or provide shelter to any individual for a period exceeding twenty-four hours without first obtaining a permit from the municipality in which such warehouse is located.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of any municipal charter, ordinance, regulation or resolution, any special act or any provision of the general statutes, no person shall use, operate or permit the use of a commercial warehouse to house or provide shelter to any individual for a period exceeding twenty-four hours without first obtaining a permit sHB5505 / File No.
(2) Any such municipality shall hold a public hearing on any permit LCO No.
337 1 sHB5505 File No.
2463 1 of 4 Raised Bill No.5505 application submitted pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection and approve or deny the application not later than one hundred eighty business days after the submission of such application.
337 from the municipality in which such warehouse is located.
Any such permit applicant shall deliver notice of the permit application, by certified or registered mail, to each person appearing of record as an owner of propertythatabutsthepropertyuponwhichthecommercialwarehouse proposed for use or operation as housing or shelter is located.
A municipality shall designate an officer or board of the municipality to review any permit application and issue any such permit pursuant to the provisions of this section.
(2) The officer or board designated by the municipality shall hold a public hearing on any permit application submitted pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection and approve or deny the application not later than one hundred eighty business days after the submission of such application.
Any such permit applicant shall deliver notice of the permit application, by certified or registered mail, to each person appearing of record as an owner of property that abuts the property upon which the commercial warehouse proposed for use or operation as housing or shelter is located.
(c) No municipality shall issue a permit pursuant to this section unless the applicant demonstrates that each individual to be housed or sheltered in the commercial warehouse shall have continuous access to:
(c) No officer or board designated by the municipality pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall issue a permit pursuant to this section unless the applicant demonstrates that each individual to be housed or sheltered in the commercial warehouse shall have continuous access to:
(d) No commercial warehouse shall be used or operated as housing or a shelter pursuant to this section unless such commercial warehouse:
(d) No commercial warehouse shall be used or operated as housing or shelter pursuant to this section unless such commercial warehouse:
(1) Complies with the requirements of the State Building Code, Fire Prevention Code, Fire Safety Code and Public Health Code applicable to public lodging accommodations;
sHB5505 / File No.
337 2 sHB5505 File No.
337 (1) Complies with the requirements of the State Building Code, Fire Prevention Code, Fire Safety Code and Public Health Code applicable to public lodging accommodations;
LCO No.
(e) Following the issuance of a permit pursuant to this section, the municipality may require that the permit holder provide written evidence of compliance with this section as long as the commercial warehouse remains in use or operation as housing or shelter.
2463 2 of 4 Raised Bill No.5505 (e) Following the issuance of a permit pursuant to this section, the municipality may require that the permit holder provide written evidence of compliance with this section as long as the commercial warehouse remains in use or operation as housing or shelter.
(f) A municipality may revoke or suspend a permit issued pursuant to this section if the permit holder violates any provision of this section.
(f) The officer or board designated by the municipality pursuant to subsection (b) of this section may revoke or suspend a permit issued pursuant to this section if the permit holder violates any provision of this section.
(g) A municipality may, by vote of its legislative body or, in a municipality where the legislative body is a town meeting, by vote of the board of selectmen, opt out of the provisions of this section regarding authorization for the use of a commercial warehouse as housing or shelter.
(g) A municipality may, by vote of its legislative body or, in a municipality where the legislative body is a town meeting, by vote of the board of selectmen, prohibit the issuance of permits for the use or operation of a commercial warehouse as housing or shelter.
(h) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the use or operation of a commercial warehouse as housing or shelter (1) in connection with a declaration of an emergency or a major disaster by the Governor pursuant to title 28 of the general statutes, or (2) if such warehouse has been converted into a residential property pursuant to section 8-2t of the general statutes.
(h) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the use or operation of a commercial warehouse as housing or shelter (1) in connection with a declaration of an emergency or a major disaster by the Governor pursuant to title 28 of the general statutes, (2) for use as a temporary warming or cooling shelter, (3) if such warehouse has been converted into a residential property pursuant to section 8-2t of the general statutes, or (4) if such commercial warehouse was in use as housing or shelter on or before the effective date of this section.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
sHB5505 / File No.
Section 1 from passage New section Statement of Purpose:
337 3 sHB5505 File No.
To require municipal approval before using a commercial warehouse for the housing or shelter of persons.
337 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
LCO No.
Section 1 from passage New section Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
2463 3 of 4 Raised Bill No.
In Subsec.
5505 [Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.
(g), "the issuance of" was added after "prohibit", for clarity.
Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] LCO No.
PD Joint Favorable Subst.
2463 4 of 4
sHB5505 / File No.
337 4 sHB5505 File No.
337 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.
In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.
Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
None Municipal Impact:
Municipalities Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ All Municipalities Potential Potential Potential Revenue Gain All Municipalities Potential Potential Potential Cost Explanation The bill requires anyone planning to use a commercial warehouse to provide shelter or housing that meets certain requirements to obtain a municipal permit and hold a public hearing.
This results in a potential revenue gain to municipalities beginning in FY 27 to the extent more municipal permits are issued and fees are collected.
The bill also results in a potential cost to municipalities beginning in FY 27 associated with holding a public hearing.
The bill allows municipalities to opt out of requiring these permits via a vote.
This eliminates any potential revenue gain to municipalities to the extent they vote to opt out.
Show all 88 changed rows (48 more)
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Latest
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to the number of permits issued and public hearings held.
sHB5505 / File No.
337 5 sHB5505 File No.
337 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 5505 AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF CERTAIN COMMERCIAL WAREHOUSES FOR THE HOUSING OR SHELTER OF PERSONS.
SUMMARY With certain exceptions, this bill requires anyone who plans to use a commercial warehouse for over 24 hours to provide shelter or housing for people to first get a municipal permit.
Before issuing a permit, municipalities must hold a public hearing and ensure certain health and safety requirements will be met.
But municipalities, by vote of the legislative body or selectmen, can opt to prohibit issuing these permits.
The bill specifically exempts the following housing or sheltering activities from its provisions, including the permitting process:
1.
continuing to use a warehouse for housing or shelter if it is being used for that purpose when the bill takes effect, 2.
providing housing or shelter after the governor declares an emergency or major disaster, 3.
temporarily providing a warming or cooling shelter, or 4.
converting commercial buildings into dwellings under a local option zoning regulation that makes the municipality eligible for greyfield revitalization program grants.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Upon passage COVERED ENTITIES, STRUCTURES, AND USES Regardless of conflicting state laws and local laws and resolutions, the bill prohibits anyone from using a commercial warehouse for more than 24 hours to house or shelter people, unless a local permit is sHB5505 / File No.
337 6 sHB5505 File No.
337 obtained first or the use is exempt (see above).
The bill applies broadly to individuals, legal or business entities, and government agencies and entities subject to state law.
The permitting requirement applies to anyone who wants to use, operate, or permit the use of (“use”) a commercial warehouse for housing or sheltering purposes.
(Presumably, only one permit is required for each covered warehouse.) Under the bill, “commercial warehouses” are buildings or structures that are over 25,000 square feet and were primarily designed, or previously used, for importing, storing, or distributing commercial goods.
LOCAL PERMIT REQUIRED The bill requires anyone covered by the permitting requirement to obtainapermitfromthemunicipalitybeforestartingtouse awarehouse for housing or sheltering purposes.
Each municipality is responsible for designating the individual or board with responsibility for reviewing applications and issuing permits.
As part of the permitting process, the designated officer or board must hold a public hearing.
Additionally, within three business days of submitting the application, the applicant must notify each owner of property bordering the warehouse about it by certified or registered mail.
The permitting authority has 180 business days to make a decision after the permit application’s submission.
Required Health and Safety Assurances A permit cannot be issued unless the applicant demonstrates that anyone housed or sheltered in the warehouse will have continuous access to:
1.
adequate space to maintain health and safety;
2.
sanitary restroom and shower facilities and potable drinking water;
sHB5505 / File No.
337 7 sHB5505 File No.
337 3.
sleeping accommodations (including a bed, cot, or elevated sleeping surface with clean bedding);
4.
sufficient heating and cooling to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature;
and 5.
sufficient storage to secure personal belongings.
Additionally, the bill requires that these warehouses:
1.
comply with the state’s building, fire prevention, fire safety, and public health codes as they apply to public lodging accommodations;
and 2.
have at least 200 square feet of indoor space for each person housed or sheltered.
Verification, Inspections, and Permit Revocation Municipalities may require anyone with such a permit to submit written evidence that the use continues to comply with the bill’s health and safety requirements.
Municipalities (including their code enforcement employees) may verify this by inspecting the warehouse.
The bill allows the local permitting authority to revoke or suspend a permit if the permittee violates the bill’s requirements.
COMMITTEE ACTION Planning and Development Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 13 Nay 8 (03/13/2026) sHB5505 / File No.
337 8
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 337

  2. HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 256

  3. FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDAR

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/31/26

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable Substitute

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0311

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Planning and Development

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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4 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 183 not signed on

Sponsors (4)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (183)

183 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 183 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

public-safety housing
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 5505?
HB 5505 is sponsored by Martha Marx (Democratic), John Santanella (Democratic), MD Rahman (Democratic), and Saud Anwar (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 5505?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced March 05, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 5505?
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