COVID-19 is on the top of everyone’s agenda. The governor’s office is making sure there are sufficient doses to get those aged 75+ vaccinated with their first doses and provide a second dose to our first responders and essential workers.
Since Governor Lamont’s emergency orders expire on February 9, 2021, he signed a declaration to extend emergency orders through April 20, 2021 to adequately respond to the civil and health challenges of the pandemic.
The governor plans in this session to introduce legislation that:
- Builds a robust workforce by developing and investing in short-term training programs, increasing access to postsecondary education, enhancing workforce data collection efforts, and codifying a new state office focused on workforce development
- Brings broadband access to parts of the state lacking in technology
- Amends the tax on high value homes
DAILY BILLS
The legislature is introducing a significant number of bills. The CBA section and committee chairs and legislative liaisons have received the lists of bills and those noted as significant bills for review. As public hearings are being held, there is generally a five-day notice of these hearings, and it is imperative to receive authorization for a section to testify or submit testimony on bills. Please note whether you have authorization through the updated legislative agenda. If not authorized, please go to the Legislative Affairs page on the CBA website for agenda, forms, etc. Complete a position request form and submit by Mondays so that it may be reviewed by the Legislative Policy and Review Committee.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Meetings and hearings information is available below. Some issues to be addressed this week include zoning laws, flavored cigarettes and vapes, revisions to cannabis statutes, and regulations of alcohol.
Public hearings this week are in the following committees: Public Health, General Law, Planning and Development, and Children. A forum will be held on Medicaid 101 and also meeting this week will be the Animal Advocacy Caucus.
Legislator committee assignments can be found here.
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
These are listed in the Daily Bulletin. When you open that website, navigate to the top menu bar and click the links for Public Hearings or Committee Forums and Presentation. Also note each committee’s public hearing process. It includes signing up to testify for a particular committee hearing with your contact information. Hearings are a lottery. You should receive a link to your email address. Once you have connected to Zoom, you will be placed in a waiting room at which time there should be three of you waiting to testify. Once you are admitted to testify, you should be unmuted and need to share your video. You will have three minutes plus any time needed to respond to legislator questions.