Legislative Update
The week, I had an article posted in the Grandy Drummer concerning the upcoming legislative session that begins on February 9th which is linked below. Please give it read to learn how your voice can be heard:
The state legislature convenes for the short, second session of the 2021-2022 term from Feb. 9 through May 4. According to Article III of the state constitution, even year sessions are for “budgetary, revenue and financial matters, bills and resolutions raised by committees of the general assembly and those matters certified in writing by the speaker of the house of representatives and president pro tempore of the senate to be of an emergency nature.”
One of the first items of business will be deciding what comes next regarding COVID-19 public policy. The governor’s current public health and civil preparedness emergency declaration expires on Feb. 15. Portions of 10 executive orders remain in effect. These orders cover regulation of early childhood and education settings, emergency procurement statutes, eviction procedures, masking requirements, and immunization information access. Orders also dictate vaccine and booster requirements for those employed by long-term care facilities, the state, schools, and childcare facilities. The legislature could do any single or a combination of all three of these courses of action as the next step: extend the current emergency declaration; pass select executive orders into law; or approve a modified declaration of emergency.
According to the Office of Legislative Research, major issues that may be taken up during this session include pandemic recovery of businesses and the workforce; new education funding formulas; climate change mitigation; solid waste management; tax relief —property, income, gas, sales; community college consolidation changes, and juvenile justice.
Under current rules, legislators may vote in the chamber or remotely from their offices. This rule will likely remain in place for the near future. Only the first floors of the Capitol and Legislative Office Building are open to the public, and no date has been set for full reopening. Last year, public hearings were all conducted remotely. This may change to a hybrid approach.
Residents can make their voices heard by submitting oral and written testimony to the committees during public hearings on pending legislation. Notice of these hearings is posted in the Connecticut General Assembly bulletin at cga.ct.gov
Public hearings are scheduled to take place during the period of March 3-25.