LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Hearings and Bills
With the end of session coming in less than two months, public hearings have been gearing up with nine hearings on one day this past week. Hearings are being held each day in in order to make the deadlines that each committee is given to get their bills out of their respective committees. At that point, the bills go on the House or Senate desk to determine whether they are brought to the floor for discussion and a vote. Getting raised is the first step, and getting out of committee is the second. There are quite a few steps after that in order to finally get the governor to put a pen on the bill.
Committees have set up meetings this week to joint favorable (JF) bills out of committee. Bills approved in committee are literally brought up to the fifth floor where they need to be stamped by 5:00 p.m. on deadline day.
New Chief of Staff
Paul Mounds, Jr. was named Governor Lamont’s new chief of staff, replacing Ryan Drajewicz, who had joined the governor’s staff in the beginning and had stated that he would only stay for a year. Chief of Staff Mounds had been Governor Lamont’s COO, and previously served as Governor Malloy's senior director of policy and government affairs.
Coronavirus
The coronavirus was under discussion all week at the LOB with a forum being held on Friday as to what the state was planning in regards to its preparedness and response efforts. Stay informed on the State's response by visiting their dedicated website.
Paradigm for Parity Pledge
Ten Connecticut companies took a pledge at the Capitol to make half of their leaders women by 2030. They signed onto the Paradigm for Parity pledge–a nationwide coalition of businesses committing to achieving gender parity in the leadership of their respective corporations over the next ten years.
Gambling
The governor and the Mashantucket Tribal chair are discussing sports betting and smartphone gambling. Read his statement here.
Insulin Cost-Capping
The insulin cost-capping bill passed out of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee. This could be one of the earliest bills to be signed by the governor.
RULES COMMITTEE
The last meeting of the Rules Committee of the Superior Court will be held next Monday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m. in the Supreme Court. All items approved throughout the year will be placed on the Monday, May 11, 10:00 a.m., public hearing agenda.
In sad news, Judge Kevin Dubay, a member of the Rules Committee for the past couple of years, died this past weekend. Click here for more information.
CAPITOL UPDATE VIDEO
Rep. Rosa Rebimbas, ranking house member of the Judiciary Committee, is this week’s visitor in our Capitol Update video. As a solo practitioner and legislator, Rep. Rebimbas discusses political issues and how she prioritizes her busy legal and political life.
YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION (YLS) LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST
Rep. Matt Blumenthal, Stamford, vice chair of the Judiciary Committee, will be guest speaker at this year’s legislative breakfast on April 22, 2020 from 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at the Legislative Office Building.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE at 12:00 p.m. in Room 2B
EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE at 10:00 a.m. in Room 1B
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN to JF bills at 1:00 p.m. in Room 1B
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE at 10:30 a.m. in Room 2B
BANKING COMMITTEE at 3:00 p.m. in Room 2E
EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE following a public hearing in Room 1B
BANKING COMMITTEE at 1:00 p.m. in Room 2A
BANKING COMMITTEE at 11:00 a.m. in Room 1C