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HB05281 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

AN ACT CONCERNING PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Planning and Development Committee
Last action
2026-05-06
Official status
Senate Calendar Number 559
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is October 1, 2026, which differs from the legislative passage dates shown in metadata.

Clarifying Publication Rules for Planning Commission Decisions

This law updates the rule requiring planning commissions to publish all official actions or decisions in a local newspaper within fifteen days.

What This Bill Does

  • Replaces Section 8-28 of the general statutes with new language effective October 1, 2026.
  • Requires notice of all official actions or decisions by a planning commission to be published in a newspaper.
  • Specifies that the rule applies not only to subdivision plan approvals but to other actions as well.
  • Sets a deadline for publication within fifteen days after the action or decision is made.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local planning commissions
  • Newspapers with substantial circulation in specific municipalities

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not define what counts as 'substantial circulation' for a newspaper.
  • The text states that appeals must follow Section 8-8 but does not detail the appeal process itself.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly

    House Adopted House Amendment Schedule A 6187

  2. 2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly

    House Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A

  3. 2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly

    Transmitted Pursuant To Joint Rule 17

  4. 2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate

  5. 2026-05-06 Connecticut General Assembly

    Senate Calendar Number 559

  6. 2026-03-18 LCO

    Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office

  7. 2026-03-18 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House

  8. 2026-03-18 Connecticut General Assembly

    House Calendar Number 62

  9. 2026-03-18 LCO

    File Number 57

  10. 2026-03-12 LCO

    Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/17/26 5:00 PM

  11. 2026-03-09 LCO

    Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office

  12. 2026-03-06 PD

    Joint Favorable

  13. 2026-02-20 Connecticut General Assembly

    Public Hearing 02/27

  14. 2026-02-19 Connecticut General Assembly

    Referred to Joint Committee on Planning and Development

Official Summary Text

To clarify certain publication requirements of actions or decisions of a planning commission.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
House of Representatives
HB5281 / File No. 57 1

General Assembly File No. 57
February Session, 2026 House Bill No. 5281

House of Representatives, March 18, 2026

The Committee on Planning and Development reported
through REP. KAVROS DEGRAW of the 17th Dist.,
Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the
bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 8 -28 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 2
Notice of all official actions or decisions of a planning commission, 3
not limited to those relating to the approval or denial of subdivision 4
plans, shall be published in a newspaper having a substantial circulation 5
in the municipality [within] not later than fifteen days after such action 6
or decision. Any appeal from an action or decision of a planning 7
commission shall be taken pursuant to the provisions of section 8-8. 8
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 8-28

PD Joint Favorable

HB5281 File No. 57

HB5281 / File No. 57 2

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: None
Explanation
The bill makes a technical change that does not result in a fiscal
impact.
The Out Years
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None

HB5281 File No. 57

HB5281 / File No. 57 3

OLR Bill Analysis
HB 5281

AN ACT CONCERNING PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

SUMMARY
This bill makes a technical change in a law on legal notices published
by local planning commissions.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2026
COMMITTEE ACTION
Planning and Development Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 18 Nay 2 (03/06/2026)