AN ACT CONCERNING FEES IN LIEU OF SIDEWALK REQUIREMENTS.

SB 361 allows local governments to permit new development projects to pay a fee instead of constructing public sidewalks, but only if the municipality's planning commission determines sidewalk construction is unnecessary or impractical for that specific project. The fee amount must be set by municipal regulations, require both developer consent and commission approval, and cannot be applied universally across the municipality. All collected fees must go into a dedicated fund used exclusively for sidewalk construction or maintenance, not general city expenses or operating costs. This applies to all new developments requiring sidewalk compliance under local zoning rules, effective October 1, 2026.