When House Bill 5002 passed the General Assembly last Tuesday, it was celebrated as an important step in addressing the state’s oft-discussed housing crisis. However, advocates may have been counting their chickens before they hatched.

The bill has been sitting on Gov. Ned Lamont’s desk for more than a week, with advocates holding their breath, as Lamont has expressed some hesitancy over the bill’s version of fair-share legislation known as “Towns Take the Lead.”

In remarks made at his news briefing marking the end of the legislative session last Thursday, Lamont said it was important to get more housing in the state and that regulation slows down the construction process. While he noted that he was sympathetic to the bill, he said he would have to take a look at it.

Housing Bill Still Awaits Governor’s Signature, Jamil Ragland, CT News Junkie, June 10, 2025, available here