2016 HBRA Legislative Agenda The residential construction industry in Connecticut continues to face a very slow market for new single family homes and a regulatory and tax environment that depresses new home construction. Despite being burdened by numerous specific issues, however, we are not at this time proposing corrective legislation in 2016. Rather, we anticipate – unfortunately – that we will have to mount extensive defensive efforts to defeat legislation that would make it even worse for the housing industry. These defensive efforts may have to be applied to the following possible legislation: • A repeat of labor bills that will add more costs to businesses and make it more difficult or expensive to hire employees; • Mandated radon mitigation construction practices in all new homes; • Mandated fire sprinkler installation in all new 1&2 family homes; • Home improvement contractor licensing that will not help consumers; WE CAN HELP TURN THINGS AROUND! But we need gov’t to recognize that CT’s business regulations, land use approval processes and tax & fee policies severely constrain new home production. 18 | HBRA of Fairfield County |February 2016 • Changes to how storm water is regulated on construction sites or gravel and stone mining operations; • Municipally-sought changes to the land use performance bond/financial guarantee improvements we obtained in 2012; and • Adverse tax changes. These and potentially many more bills that add more regulations, fees and taxes and make it harder to survive as small business people in Connecticut should never get out of the gate. Yet, history guides us. We know many bad business bills will have public hearings, and many will be passed by committees. For some, it will be a fight to the end of the session, sending yet another message to the business community that CT is not a friendly place to establish or continue a business. In short, it’s difficult to go on offense when you can’t get your defense off the field. Our basic message to legislators is, please stop trying to fix things, stop getting in our way. Let builders build CT’s economy, communities and better lives for all. Pay attention to the economic and job growth benefits of building homes and set the conditions that allow us to build freely without interference and with only reasonable regulations and codes. Contact Bill Ethier at bethier@hbact.org
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