Bills of the Wild Wild Left, 2025 Edition

FROM THE DESK OF REP. MASTROFRANCESCO:

Connecticut is once again at a crossroads, and the legislative agenda being pushed by the majority party in Hartford is a roadmap to disaster. As a strong advocate for smaller government, lower taxes, and personal freedom, I cannot sit idly by while harmful bills threaten our state’s economy, property owners, law-abiding citizens, and taxpayers. I wanted to share with you my 2025 edition of the Bills of the Wild, Wild Left. From forcing you to vote, to attacks on property owners, this list is just some of the outrageous proposals that have come up so far this legislative session.

Let’s start with housing and labor. The idea of allowing striking workers to collect unemployment benefits (SB 8 & HB 5760) is absurd. Unemployment benefits are for those who have lost their jobs, not for those who choose to walk off the job. This will force businesses to bear even more costs and could lead to job cuts or even closures. Meanwhile, the expansion of Fair Rent Commissions and additional funding for rental assistance (SB 1159) is nothing more than government overreach into the housing market, which will drive up costs for everyone.

Another attack on property owners comes with HB 6891, which prohibits security deposits greater than one month’s rent, removing a crucial protection for property owners. Add SB 996, which would prohibit eviction for lapse of time in larger housing complexes, and HB 6490, which would cap rent increases and allow tenants to file complaints, and you have a recipe for discouraging property investment in Connecticut. Instead of making it easier to build and rent housing, these bills will drive landlords out of the market, reducing housing supply and making the crisis worse.

The attack on election integrity is just as alarming. HB 5755 would force candidates into the Citizens’ Election Program, taking away their right to choose how to finance their campaigns. HB 6473 would allow incarcerated individuals to vote, rewarding criminals with rights meant for law-abiding citizens. The most outrageous proposal, HB 6471, would force people to vote—turning a personal choice into a government mandate.

If that wasn’t bad enough, the majority party is also trying to silence dissent in the Senate (SR 7) by restricting the length of debate and removing the ability for a filibuster (the last resort of the minority party to push back against legislation). Free and open debate is the bedrock of democracy. When legislators try to limit discussion, they are trying to hide bad ideas from discussion and remove any possibility of compromise on legislation.

Then, we have government waste and mandates. HB 6754 weakens Connecticut’s fiscal guardrails, setting us up for future financial disaster. SB 866 allocates $500,000 in taxpayer dollars to fund West Hartford Pride, a special-interest event that should not be receiving public money. HB 5619 seeks to impose yet another tax on Connecticut residents—this time on paper checkout bags. HB 6500 would interfere with private property rights by forcing landlords to give tenants the first right of refusal when selling property.

Public safety is also under attack. HB 6385 and HB 5330 would raise the minimum arrest age from 10 to 14, removing a critical tool for law enforcement to deter youth crime. SB 492 seeks to establish overdose prevention centers (translation: government-sanctioned drug dens).

This session’s legislative proposals are an all-out assault on businesses, property owners, taxpayers, and law-abiding citizens. We need to reject this dangerous agenda and fight for policies that promote economic growth, personal responsibility, and public safety. Connecticut deserves better and my fight in Hartford on your behalf will continue this session.

I can be reached by email at Gale.Mastrofrancesco@housegop.ct.gov or by phone at (800) 842-1423. You can also follow my legislative activity on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/repgale.