With the legislative session quickly coming to an end, it appears the legislative majority will continue to keep the Capitol closed to the public despite the statewide lifting of governor’s business restrictions and the governor ordering state government staff back to their offices. This is disappointing but unlikely to change before the session ends on June 9th.

Zoning

On Thursday, the House of Representatives debated House Bill 6107, An Act Concerning the Reorganization of the Zoning Enabling Act…

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Dear Friends & Neighbors,

With a month left of the legislative year, the House of Representatives will continue to hold in-person session days until we adjourn on June 9th. Affordability is a significant ongoing problem for Connecticut families, retirees, individuals and small businesses – something that I and my Republican colleagues have focused on, particularly while many are still dealing with financial disruption from the pandemic. Unfortunately, many of my friends and colleagues across the…

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Today I had the honor of participating in the ceremony to raise the Polish Flag at the Capitol. The event marks the 230^th anniversary of the 1791 Polish Constitution, which sought to create equality among citizens, forge a representative government, and implement the division of executive, legislative, and judicial powers.

The Polish Constitution is considered Europe’s first written constitution and the world’s second oldest after the United States Constitution.

This is the 30^th year Connecticut…

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Earlier this year, Representative Terrie Wood and I introduced House Bill 6175: An Act Concerning Educational Access and Opportunity Scholarships. This bill would create a limited state tax credit for businesses and individuals donating to nonprofits that provide educational access and opportunity scholarships to underserved students. Our bill has attracted bipartisan cosponsors who – like us – believe this will help provide better education options for children whose learning environments may not…

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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending the ceremonial bill signing Special Act 21-3 (House Bill 6610), An Act Concerning the Outdoor Sale of Goods and Provisions of Food and Beverage Services, with Governor Lamont, fellow state legislators, and municipal leaders held at Millwrights Restaurant and Tavern. This legislation will ease restrictions on outside dining and allow restaurants to supplement their indoor occupancy restrictions with outdoor seating.

To listen…

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Dear Friends & Neighbors,

Today House Minority Leader Candelora and business leaders across Connecticut held a press conference to discuss the looming crisis of the insolvent Unemployment Compensation Fund.

Connecticut is facing an Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund crisis not seen since the 2008 recession. This is the fund that provides unemployment payments to those who have lost their jobs, and which has been a lifeline for so many employees over the past year. While extended unemployment compensation…

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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The increase in juvenile car theft and burglary has become a dangerous threat to public safety and impacted residents’ quality of life. Increasingly over the past year, coordinated groups have burglarized or stolen dozens of cars setting up potentially dangerous confrontations between property owners and juveniles. There have been instances where car thieves have been armed and in at least one case a car was stolen from a garage while young children were playing outside.…

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Dear Friends & Neighbors,

I’m writing to let you know about an important public hearing Monday in the legislature’s Planning and Development Committee, where there are several bills aimed at upending local control of land use decisions.

Among the bills is S.B. 1024, An Act Concerning Zoning Authority, Certain Design Guidelines, Qualifications of Certain Land Use Officials and Certain Sewage Disposal Systems.

The need for more diverse and affordable housing in Connecticut must be addressed – however,…

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Dear Friends & Neighbors,

On Thursday, Governor Lamont announced upcoming changes to coronavirus restrictions set to begin on March 19^th. While certain protocols and guidelines will remain in place, many capacity restrictions will be phased out or significantly reduced. Additionally, the Governor announced an early beginning for trout fishing season.

…

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Dear Friends & Neighbors,

On Monday March 8^th, the Education Committee will conduct a public hearing on S.B. 977, “An Act Concerning Virtual Learning.” The stated purpose of this committee bill is “to require the Department of Education to develop uniform standards for the provision of virtual learning in public schools, conduct a comprehensive audit of virtual learning programs in the state and develop guidelines for training educators in the provision of virtual learning.”

This is your opportunity…

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