March 12 Capitol Update

Planning & Development Committee: 10:00am

Local control over property zoning is an important issue that is coming into focus this session. There are proposals that will essentially create a “one size fits all” zoning mandate from Hartford, require changes to zoning density around transportation-oriented development, and require developers to set aside larger percentages of development as affordable. Other proposals would establish a zoning “bill of rights” to firmly solidify control with local officials, and a Constitutional Amendment that would mandate the state stay out of these local issues.

These proposals will be discussed at Monday’s public hearing. View the full list of proposals here.

Click here if you’d like to testify virtually (via Zoom.) The deadline to register is Sunday, March 14, at 3 p.m. Speakers are limited to 3 minutes of testimony.

To testify via email, submit testimony in a Word or PDF document to PDtestimony@cga.ct.gov. Include your name and the bill number you are testifying on. All testimony submitted becomes public record.

Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee: 9:00am

These two controversial bills before the Finance Committee will result in tax increases for residents across the state:

• SB 171: An Act Establishing a State-Wide Tax on Real Property, which establishes a 1 mill state-wide property tax on commercial and residential property.
• SB 172: An Act Establishing a State-Wide Assessment to Encourage Affordable Housing in the State, which establishes a state-wide assessment on real property based on the percentage of affordable housing in your municipality.

Click here if you’d like to testify virtually (via Zoom.) The deadline to register is Sunday, March 14, at 3 p.m. Speakers are limited to 3 minutes of testimony.

To testify via email, submit testimony in a Word or PDF document to FINtestimony@cga.ct.gov. Include your name and the bill number you are testifying on. All testimony submitted becomes public record.

Public Health and Insurance Committees: 9:00am

The Public Health and Insurance & Real Estate Committees will be having a joint public hearing on Monday to discuss the expansion of telehealth in Connecticut. The two bills being discussed are:

• SB 1022: An Act Concerning Telehealth, which makes temporary expansion measures passed last summer permanent
• HB 5596: An Act Concerning Telehealth, which requires a study concerning expansion of telehealth in the state

Click here if you’d like to testify virtually (via Zoom.) The deadline to register is Sunday, March 14, at 3 p.m. Speakers are limited to 3 minutes of testimony.

To testify via email, submit testimony in a Word or PDF document to PHtestimony@cga.ct.gov. Include your name and the bill number you are testifying on. All testimony submitted becomes public record.

On March 16, the House of Representatives has been called into legislative session. While the agenda has not been officially set, we will likely discuss several important proposals including adjustments to the July 2020 Police Accountability Bill and a Republican proposal to require legislative confirmation before use of federal COVID-19 relief funding.

You can watch the session by visiting CT-N.com and view the agenda once it is posted at cga.ct.gov.

Connecticut suffers from years of policy decisions that have made it inhospitable to job creators and increasingly unaffordable for its residents. The COVID-19 pandemic created new hurdles, and more than ever we need the legislature to take steps that prove to residents that their state government is willing to take action to improve their quality of life. Our state’s potential lies dormant, and our effort to restart Connecticut is driven by these principles:

• The cost of government should not be a burden on those it serves.
• New laws should resolve problems, not create them.
• Government’s purpose is to protect and serve people, not special interests.
• Public access and oversight are vital to government accountability.
• Restoring trust in government requires government to trust people to make their own best choices for themselves and their families.