Posted on April 18, 2024
HARTFORD— On Wednesday, State Representative Brian Lanoue (R-45), announced that two of his additional legislative priorities that he introduced during the current session have advanced out of committee and await further action prior to the end of the 2024 Connecticut Legislative Session that adjourns on May 8th.
On Tuesday, the Public Safety and Security Committee passed H.B. No. 5350, An Act Concerning the Enforcement of Boating Laws on Bodies of Water Near the Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York Borders, out of committee. If passed by the House and Senate, it would be the first step to enable dual enforcement for Connecticut and Rhode Island law enforcement to enforce safety measures by allowing them to pursue and arrest violators into the other state’s waters on Beach Pond. For this law to be enforceable however, the Rhode Island State Legislature will need to take similar action. This proposed legislation was crafted after several safety concerns have been raised by residents concerning the use of the pond in the warmer weather months.
‘I want to thank the Public Safety Committee for recognizing both the urgency to act on this serious safety issue effecting Beach Pond and the merits of this legislation to allow Connecticut to participate in interstate dual enforcement on the pond,” said Rep. Lanoue. “It’s also important that we recognize the many residents who did not give up on this initiative, submitted testimony and to First Selectman Hanson who testified with me before the Environment Committee last month and for her continuous advocacy for this legislation. We will now continue to push forward toward the next step in our goal, to get this bill called on the House floor.”
Earlier this month, the Finance Committee unanimously voted in favor of passing S.B. No. 443, out of committee. Previously Section 4 (now Section 1), in this bill features one of my legislative proposals to protect our businesses. This part of the bill would change the state law to help business owners and workers by requiring the Department of Revenue Services to waive interest and penalties associated with a business owners’ amended tax filings for federal tax credits stemming from a federally declared emergency, specifically COVID-19 (CARES Act), to help businesses survive and keep people employed. This provided extra funding for unemployment benefits, aid to small businesses, support for healthcare providers, and help for industries that were hit hard by the pandemic, and most notably, the Employee Retention Tax Credits (ERTC) – which allows businesses to receive money back for their employees if they were retained during this time. It also includes the America Rescue Plan, which also granted the ERTC tax credits.
“Business owners and working families in Connecticut already face one of the most onerous tax burdens of any state in this country,” Rep Lanoue added. “This paired with businesses being forced by government to close their doors during COVID-19 have made the economic climate particularly trying. The state government should not be adding insult to injury by assessing interest and penalties against business owners for taking advantage of federal law, trying to recover their losses, keep people employed and doing everything they can to get back on their feet in the wake of these forced shutdowns. I want to thank the Finance Committee for passing this bill unanimously out of committee. Also, a very special acknowledgement to Senator Maroney for his willingness to work in a bipartisan nature with me by co-introducing this legislation before the committee.”
State Representative Brian Lanoue proudly represents the towns of Griswold, Ledyard, Lisbon, Preston, and Voluntown.
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