Capitol Update

On Wednesday, the House and Senate both passed legislation to suspend Connecticut’s 25 cent per gallon gas tax, which would begin on April 1st and end on June 30th. This comes weeks after House and Senate Republicans made an appeal for immediate relief at the pumps for our residents. Included in this bill is free bus service during the same period, as well as tax-free week from April 10-16 for clothing and footwear valued at $100 and under. Unfortunately, this bill does nothing for consumers and businesses who use diesel fuel. Adding diesel to the tax suspension would have been very helpful for our farmers, and for the trucking industry as a whole.

Also on Wednesday, legislative Democrats held a press conference with the Farm Bureau, calling to suspend the Highway Usage Tax for transport of agricultural products. This mirrors an amendment that Republicans introduced last year.  When this tax takes in effect January 2023, the highway usage tax would add even more impacts to trucking industry and the cost increases would once again be on Connecticut consumers.  I am pleased as to how the same majority that passed this bill just 9 months ago, that opposed every sensible Republican amendment to the bill, are now advocating to reducing the impact of this tax. I, along with my Republican colleagues voted against this legislation, and continue to seek the repeal of this onerous tax.