Republicans held a news conference yesterday to unveil progress on a petition process to call the legislature into special session. The call to action outlines five proposals that would provide ratepayers with immediate relief. We will look toward the next session to craft a long-term plan that provides stability and clarity for residents and businesses. To date, all Republican members of the General Assembly have submitted their names to the petition.

To view our news conference from yesterday,…

Consumer Alert – Connecticut’s annual Sales Tax Free Week will take place from Sunday, August 18, through Saturday, August 24. This is an excellent time to buy new clothes for back-to-school or to freshen up your wardrobe. Many clothing items that are marked under $100 will be exempt from the state’s sales tax. The exemption applies to retailers that are physically located in Connecticut and to sales that are made from on-line merchants.

• For more information and specifics for what items qualify…
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Hartford — House and Senate Republicans on Thursday called for a special legislative session to tackle perpetually high electric rates in Connecticut and said it’s time for Governor Lamont to take a more aggressive role in bringing together lawmakers, utility companies, and government regulators to develop a reasonable state strategy on energy.

>>>WATCH THE NEWS CONFERENCE HERE<<< 

 “Connecticut residents are getting crushed by electricity bills. They’re reeling from sticker shock and are justified…

Back in February of this year, I spoke on offering a common sense solution to the massive increase you’re seeing now on your Eversource bill.

>>>WATCH<<<<

I am furious that the suggestion I proposed was declined by the majority party in Hartford. Why? It was to allocate funds elsewhere and put the costs on the ratepayer. This is very simply money that the state could have assisted with, but CHOSE to put this onto ratepayers instead.

I’ll be speaking more on this topic for further understanding…

Upon hearing the news of the appointment of David Arconti as a new Commissioner of PURA , I agree with the choice of the Governor. During our shared time on the Energy & Technology Committee together, despite sitting across the political aisle from each other, David always was receptive to a conversation and would approach each issue with common sense and a rational demeanor. I also worked with David after he left the state legislature and became an industry liaison. David’s industry-focused perspective…

Hartford – On Wednesday the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) released its 2024 voter record scores for the Connecticut State House and Senate. Its scores were based on action taken on several priority pieces of legislation that had been flagged by the organization because of their expected impact on various business sectors. According to CBIA’s legislative record report, State Rep. Bill Buckbee (R-New Milford) completed the 2024 session with a perfect score, signaling his support…

HARTFORD – Each year, the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Research (OLR) publishes a collection of “Acts Affecting” reports. These reports provide a brief explanation of the new state laws impacting various subjects and topics. To date, reports cover the following categories:

• Seniors
• Housing & Real Estate
• Business & Jobs
• People with Disabilities
• Municipalities
• Banking
• Energy & Utilities
• Veterans & the Military
• Town Clerks & Elections
• First Responders
• Animals & Agriculture
• Insurance
• Taxes
• Criminal…
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Several new laws will be going into effect on Monday, July 1^st. I have highlighted some of the major pieces of legislation for your review and encourage you to check out all the newly effective laws.

Click here to review all new Connecticut laws taking effect on July 1^st.

July 1^st New Laws…

School Mandate Relief (Public Act: 24-45)

• This new law creates an advisory council to examine any mandates imposed on local boards of education by the General Assembly and will provide recommendations to remove…
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New Milford—During an assembly at Sarah Noble Intermediate School, State Representatives Bill Buckbee (R-67), Patrick Callahan (R-108) and Cindy Harrison (R-69) talked with students about how a bill becomes a law. The three legislators presented a slideshow about the legislative process and then took questions.

The lawmakers used a relatable example to engage the kids in the discussion of how a bill becomes a law by proposing free ice cream for all Connecticut students. They asked some students to…