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House creates task force to study affordability and systemic barriers
Summary
Lawmakers approved HB 5163 to establish a formal task force (expanding last year’s working group) to study affordability, systemic barriers, and measures to track outcomes across state systems; membership includes committee leaders and agency designees.
The House passed HB 5163 to establish a task force that will study methods and programs to improve affordability for children, families and young professionals. Representative Perez described the measure as converting last year's working group into a formal task force with broader, bipartisan membership and subject‑matter experts from multiple agencies.
The adopted amendment (LCO 3872) added Senate members and broader committee leadership to the task force membership. Sponsors said the group will develop outcome tracking for economic measures such as income, job retention and home ownership, and study systemic barriers tied to geography, service access and costs that affect affordability.
Representative Master Francesco asked the sponsor to explain the difference between the new task force and last year’s working group; the sponsor said the task force is a formal legislative body that will report back with recommendations for legislative action.
The bill passed unanimously in committee and passed on the House floor after adoption of the amendment. Supporters framed the task force as an early step to provide evidence to guide future legislation addressing Connecticut’s affordability challenges.
Next steps: the task force will begin meeting under the membership and timing set by the enacted language, and report findings back to the Legislature for consideration.
