Planning and Development Committee opens 2026 session, raises multiple concepts for hearing

The Planning and Development Committee convened its organizational meeting at 10:32 a.m. Friday and reviewed housekeeping rules for a hybrid proceeding, including muted Zoom microphones and a disabled chat function. The chair said roll-call votes would be held open until 2:00 p.m.

The committee introduced staff and counsel, including new clerk Christian Chilarski and assistants Michael Heyman and Carlos Seo, and thanked legislative attorneys and policy staff who will support the short, roughly 60‑day session. The chair also announced Representative Irene Haines will serve as the committee's ranking member this year in place of Representative Joe Zullo.

The chair read a list of concepts the committee proposed to raise for public hearing, covering topics such as municipal blight enforcement, publication of legal notices, municipal tax and assessment matters, tobacco- and vape-retailer location restrictions, accessory dwelling unit sewer connections, certain coastal site plan review rules, and technical statute revisions. A motion to raise a block of items (1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 16) was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote.

Separately, the committee conducted roll-call votes on four concepts (see related articles). The chair closed by scheduling the next Planning and Development meeting for Friday, Feb. 13 at 10:30 a.m. and recessed the hearing.

The committee left votes open until 2 p.m. for members participating in simultaneous briefings and followed up after recess to confirm individual roll-call tallies.