State lawmakers have formed a working group to study whether the state’s building and fire-safety regulations are keeping pace with emerging construction methods.
The working group was formed after concerns raised about projects proposed by modular housing developer Vessel Technologies.
State Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan (D-Bethel); Rep. Kerry Wood (D-Rocky Hill), co-chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee; and Rep. Antonio Felipe (D-Bridgeport), co-chair of the Housing Committee, announced the Working Group on Emerging Construction Methods and Life Safety, which held its inaugural meeting Wednesday at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
The founders said the group will bring together state and local officials, fire and building code experts, insurers, builders and developers to examine how the state reviews projects using nontraditional construction methods.
The effort grew out of legislation co-sponsored by Allie-Brennan, Wood and others during the 2026 session after concerns were raised about a Vessel affordable housing proposal in Bethel.
In testimony presented during a March 3 public hearing on the bill, Allie-Brennan said local officials and residents in Bethel raised questions about fire-rated assemblies, means of egress and the amount of information available during the site-plan review process.
He also cited state documents showing questions about testing documentation and whether some proprietary or prefabricated assemblies could comply with safety codes without modification.
The resulting legislation, House Bill 5376, would have allowed municipalities to deny or return as incomplete certain affordable housing applications using nonstandard, prefabricated or proprietary construction assemblies if developers did not provide a preliminary life-safety report. The bill did not pass.
Similar concerns were raised in West Hartford, where Vessel has sought to build a 120-unit apartment development at 29 Highland St.
West Hartford Town Planner Todd Dumais denied Vessel’s application in January, citing, among other issues, unresolved health and safety concerns involving the company’s construction system. Town and state officials had raised questions involving corridors, stairwells, open-floor designs and other fire-safety issues.
Vessel has disputed West Hartford’s conclusions, arguing that detailed construction documents needed for a comprehensive code review are normally developed after zoning approval. The company appealed the town’s denial and submitted a revised application, which West Hartford also rejected in February.
Vessel has encountered resistance elsewhere in Connecticut, although some of its disputed projects have ultimately moved forward.
In Newtown, the developer appealed the Planning and Zoning Commission’s February 2025 rejection of a proposed 136-unit apartment development near Newtown High School. The two sides eventually reached a settlement that reduced the project to 120 units, including 36 deed-restricted affordable apartments, and required Vessel to provide $350,000 for sidewalk and trail improvements.
A state Superior Court judge approved the settlement in July, ending the legal dispute and clearing the way for the project to proceed through the remaining permitting process.
The new working group will examine how building and life-safety responsibilities are divided between state and local authorities and whether regulatory or legislative changes are needed.
It is expected to meet monthly through the end of 2026 and issue recommendations ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
