Governor Lamont released his proposed state budget this past week, disclosing deficits of 1.75 million for 2022 and 2.13 billion for 2023. It was stated that there will be a reserve balance of 3,505.6 million by the end of 2021. Revenue changes called for by the governor’s budget will include legalized recreational use of cannabis by adults, a JobsCT tax credit, convenience fee for credit card use, banning flavored vaping products, implement lottery, and gaming and sports betting.
You can find a list of Governor Lamont’s major legislative proposals through his budget, including carbon emissions, broadband, climate change, and bonding, here.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE
Connecticut residents 65 years old and older can now register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 test positivity rates continues to drop in Connecticut.
NOMINATION OF JUDGES
The announcement of the new judge nominations is expected shortly so that nominees may go before the Judiciary Committee for approval and then to the floor of the House and Senate before the session ends in June.
DAILY BILLS
Daily lists of House and Senate bills are distributed to the CBA section and committee chairs and legislative liaisons for their review and distribution. Note that hyperlinked bill numbers can be placed at the top of this page to review bills, at which time you can note who introduced the bill and you can view the present state of the proposed bill or concept. The Legislative Commissioners Office (LCO) is busy drafting those bills that have been raised and readied for public hearings.
LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR
The calendar of the legislature is available daily to view scheduling of committee meetings and public hearings. Each day through this calendar we have an opportunity to view committee agendas, attend virtual committee meetings, hear the discussion, and note the process.
PUBLIC HEARINGS and INFORMATIONAL FORUMS
Hearings and forums are listed in The Bulletin. When you get to the Bulletin, at the top of that page, click the underlined link for hearings and forums. Then note each committee’s public hearing process.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS & PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public hearings will be held in almost all the legislative committees this week, including Veterans, Children, Transportation, Banking, General Law, Higher Education, Labor, Planning and Zoning, Housing, Energy & Technology (moving Consumer Counsel to OAG), Commerce, and Finance and Human Services. The Appropriations (reviewing budgets of regulations and also conservation) and Public Health (regarding both immunizations and exemptions) Committees will also have public hearings this week.
The following committees will meet to raise and/or joint favorable (JF) bills: General Law, Aging, Banking, Insurance and Real Estate, Labor, Environment, Commerce, Public Safety, and Veterans
Legislator committee assignments are here.
BUDGET HEARINGS BEFORE THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE FOR STATE AGENCIES
The Appropriations Committee will hold state agency budget presentations from Thursday, February 18, 2021 through Monday, March 1, 2021, to be held at the times and location found in The Bulletin.