CT Lawmakers Debate Modular, Prefab Housing Bills

0:00It's March 30th. I'm Cory with the story, and this is Hardford News today, your AI-powered local news. Connecticut lawmakers are eyeing two bills this spring to tackle the state's housing crunch while tweaking the controversial 830G affordable housing law. That law lets developers bypass local zoning if they dedicate 30% of units to low income folks for 40 years, but only towns can block it. Over real safety issues, one bill pushes modular single-family homes to cut costs, the other tightens rules on prefab apartment buildings. House Bill 5395 offers towns credits toward their 10% affordable housing goal, one credit for every four modular homes, or apartments they greenlight. Backers say it sparks more building in rural spots and suburbs, especially since traditional construction hits sky-high prices for anything small, but traditional builders and housing advocates push back hard. Contractors claim it favors out-of-state modular factories over local jobs,

1:01while advocates worry the credits go for mid-income units, not truly. Low-cost ones locked in for decades. Meanwhile, House Bill 5376 targets outfits like vessel technologies with their speedy prefab panels and edgy designs popping up. Steady-wide, it lets towns demand upfront life safety reports and pay for consultants on non-standard builds before approving 830G plans, addressing fire. Code headaches in places like West Hartford. Lawmakers must weigh faster, cheaper housing against real safety checks, as these bills head to votes amid ongoing projects and a deepening shortage.