HB 5505 Connecticut House · 2026 Regular Session

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

This bill requires municipalities to issue permits before any large commercial warehouse can be used to house or shelter people for more than 24 hours. To get a permit, applicants must prove the facility meets strict standards, including providing sanitary facilities, clean water, proper sleeping arrangements, temperature control, and enough personal storage space for each person. The law also mandates that each individual housed in the warehouse has at least 200 square feet of space and that the building complies with state health and safety codes. Local governments can choose to ban this type of use entirely, and permits can be revoked if the facility fails to meet requirements.

Issues: ✗ Housing

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 5, 2026 Last action Apr 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → PD Joint Favorable Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was renamed from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' after receiving a favorable joint substitute vote, indicating it has been amended to address committee concerns. The most significant policy change is the replacement of the word 'opt out' with 'prohibit' in the section allowing municipalities to block warehouse housing permits, clarifying that cities must actively ban permits rather than simply choosing not to issue them. Additionally, the bill now explicitly exempts warehouses used as temporary warming or cooling shelters and those already operating as housing before the law took effect, expanding the scope of allowed uses.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was expanded to include temporary warming or cooling shelters and pre-existing housing operations, while the mechanism for municipalities to block permits was clarified from a passive 'opt out' to an active 'prohibit'.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the language for municipalities blocking warehouse housing from 'opt out' to 'prohibit', clarifying that cities must actively ban permits rather than simply refusing to issue them.

ELIGIBILITY

Added exemptions for warehouses used as temporary warming or cooling shelters and those already operating as housing or shelter before the effective date of the bill.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill title from 'Raised Bill' to 'Substitute Bill' and changed the header from 'Statement of Purpose' to 'Statement of Legislative Commissioners' to reflect the legislative process.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Planning and Development

lower

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors