Hartford, CT — Governor Ned Lamont’s veto of H.B. 5002 closes the 2025 legislative session without delivering any of the systemic reforms that Connecticut urgently needs to address our worsening housing crisis. With the Governor’s decision, our state misses a critical opportunity to ease the burden for hundreds of thousands of families facing unaffordable rent, young people locked out of homeownership, and employers working to attract and retain workers in communities where housing is increasingly out of reach.
“H.B. 5002 represented a meaningful step toward making Connecticut a place where everyone can afford to live and thrive,” said Chelsea Ross, Executive Director at Partnership for Strong Communities. “By rejecting this legislation, the Governor has passed on a significant opportunity to lead on one of the most urgent issues facing our state.”
The bill aimed to implement long-overdue reforms to zoning, affordability standards, and housing supply. H.B. 5002 included well-vetted policies like Work Live Ride that were negotiated through the legislative process. The bill’s failure to become law signals a major setback for efforts to create a more inclusive and economically vibrant Connecticut.
“We hear from families every day who are being priced out of their communities,” Ross added. “Without action, our housing crisis will only deepen—hurting not just renters and first-time homebuyers, but the entire state’s economy. The impact of this veto is clear: Connecticut’s urgent housing needs remain unmet.”
Connecticut lawmakers, community leaders, housing advocates, policy experts, and others have put forward a wide-ranging set of solutions to move the state toward a future of housing abundance. The Partnership for Strong Communities urges the Governor and legislature to come back to the table—together—with urgency and shared responsibility for bold, lasting reforms that meet the scale of this moment. We implore them to prioritize policies that improve families’ housing security now, especially expansion of just cause eviction protections. We stand ready to work with all leaders committed to ensuring that everyone in our state has a safe, stable, affordable place to call home.