State Representative Brian Lanoue Releases His 2023 Legislative Agenda

HARTFORD— State Representative Brian Lanoue (R-45), announced his comprehensive legislative proposals for the 2023 regular session that began on January 4th, 2023.  Rep. Lanoue has several legislative proposals to various committees in the legislature, which include concepts and legislation that had support in previous sessions.

With electrical costs continuing to soar in Connecticut, Rep. Lanoue once again is introducing An Act Creating a Task Force to Study Increased Accountability and Competition in the Electric Distribution Market. Dating back to a special session in the Fall of 2020, Rep. Lanoue has been determined to establish a task force to study utility companies in Connecticut, while addressing accountability and competition in the electric distribution market. Specifically, examining the practicality of municipal electric companies to expand their service areas.

For the third straight legislative session, Rep Lanoue has introduced legislation that would benefit farmers locally as it would give them the ability to process rabbits on their farms in Connecticut. An Act Authorizing the Processing of Rabbits in the State for Consumption and Use by Consumers and Certain Commercial Entities, would enable farmers to serve as direct food sources for customers, which would include restaurants and hotels to drive revenue for local farms across Connecticut.

As the lead introducer, Rep. Lanoue has received bi-partisan support for H.B. No.5499, An Act Allowing a Personal Income Tax Deduction for Stipends Paid to Volunteer Firefighters, Fire Police Officers and Volunteer Ambulance Members, over the past two legislative sessions. The bill has been re-introduced this year in the hopes of giving people more incentive to serve their communities, with many departments facing the challenges of low membership. Another bill aimed at strengthening public safety is An Act Concerning Use of Flashing Red Lights by Certain Medically Trained Personnel. If passed, the bill would allow a local fire chief the ability to issue a permit for medically trained personnel to use a flashing red to respond more quickly to an emergency situation when treatment is needed.

“With the rising costs of gear and travel expenses to get to fellow citizens’ emergencies, we need to ensure that our volunteer first responders have every advantage in doing so,” said Rep. Lanoue. “Offering this tax exemption will hopefully serve as another tool in the toolbox for our towns to attract volunteers, specifically our young people who are particularly eager to serve their communities.”

An Act Concerning the Enforcement of Boating Laws on Certain Bodies of Water Near the State Border, would give law enforcement the ability to enforce laws and if necessary, make arrests on any part of waters lying on the state borders in their respective states of Massachusetts, New York or Rhode Island. This will be very important to Voluntown in regulating the interstate Beach Pond. Rep. Lanoue also submitted additional public safety initiatives that includes Castle Doctrine to stand your ground in your own home and preventing another tier of government from violating your Second Amendment rights. In addition, Rep. Lanoue has signed additional legislative proposals with the Connecticut General Assembly’s Conservative Caucus.

Finally, in effort to add another layer of protection for children and parental rights, Rep. Lanoue has introduced legislation to require parental notification prior to a minor girl receiving an abortion.  With parental rights being front and center in so many homes across Connecticut, Rep. Lanoue will stand firm in his belief that parents know what is in the best interest of their children, not big government.

“Regardless of one’s position on abortion, when someone can take a girl as young as twelve years old to have an abortion without even letting the child’s parents know is deeply disturbing,” said Rep. Lanoue. ” This certainly does not reflect the values of the people in my district and residents throughout Connecticut. This is very straightforward and common-sense legislation that ensures parents know what is happening with their children.”

State Representative Brian Lanoue represents the 45th General Assembly District which includes the towns of Griswold, Ledyard, Lisbon, Preston, and Voluntown.