SENATE & HOUSE DEMOCRATS ANNOUNCE PRIORITY THIS SESSION ON EDUCATION & HOUSING BILLS
Last week, the Senate and House Democratic leaders announced priority legislation including education and housing policies for the 2025 legislative session with a focus of reducing the cost burdens associated with Special Education on municipalities and increasing affordable housing.
Senate Bill 1: An Act Increasing Resources for Students, Schools, and Special Education
Senate Bill 12: An Act Concerning Connecticut's Housing Needs
House Bill 5001: An Act Concerning the Quality and Delivery of Special Education Services in Connecticut
House Bill 5002: An Act Concerning Housing and the Needs of Homeless Persons
SENATE DEMOCRATS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
In addition to the joint Democratic announcement of education and housing priorities, Senate Democratic leaders held a series of press conferences last week to share other top priorities they plan to focus on during the 2025 session. They have more press conferences scheduled for this week where we will provide a summary of on Friday.
Ratepayers First Act
Senate Democrats unveiled the "Ratepayers First Act," their flagship energy legislation in the 2025 legislative session. The bill seeks to address costs, enhance the reliability of Connecticut's power grid, increase energy production, and ensure utilities prioritize ratepayers ahead of shareholders.
Protecting Warehouse Workers, Unemployment for Striking Workers
Senate leadership announced their intent to protect warehouse workers and allow striking workers to collect unemployment benefits as part of their 2025 legislative agenda to support working people in Connecticut.
BUDGET UPDATE
Connecticut's Office of Policy and Management (OPM) and the Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA) released January's 2025 consensus revenue forecast. The report includes the consensus revenue estimates for the current FY 23-25 biennium and the next three ensuing fiscal years.
GENERAL FUND
Relative to November 2024 Consensus Revenue Estimates, General Fund revenue projections have improved by the following:
$298.4 million in FY 25;
$59.4 million in FY 26;
$32.7 million in FY 27; and
$11.8 million in FY 28.
SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION FUND
Relative to November 2024 Consensus Revenue Estimates, Special Transportation Fund (STF) revenue projections are adjusted as follows:
- -$2.9 million in FY 25;
- -$6.9 million in FY 26;
- -$5.6 million in FY 27; and
- -$4.4 million in FY 28.
BREAKING NEWS
Governor Lamont announced that the State of Connecticut is investing
$58.6 million in funding it recently received from multistate settlements with pharmaceutical companies over their role in creating and fueling the opioid epidemic to support the creation of a new, innovative program designed to provide stable housing and recovery support for individuals in Connecticut facing both opioid use disorder and homelessness.
Governor Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Commissioner Daniel O'Keefe announced the launch of a
$25 million state grant program to help supply chain companies in Connecticut's core industries expand and increase production capacity and encourage the establishment of new operations in the state.
Governor Lamont announced that
14 veterans have been selected as part of the 20th class of honorees for induction into the
Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame, the state's official tribute recognizing former members of the United States Armed Forces who are from Connecticut and have continued making significant impacts in their communities after leaving military service.
SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS