Jennifer Leeper

Happy Friday!

It’s hard to believe, but we’re just a couple of weeks away from the start of another school year.

Connecticut’s 26th annual Sales Tax-Free Week begins on Sunday, August 17, and runs through Saturday, August 23. It is a great opportunity to tackle your back-to-school shopping without paying sales tax! 

Highlights of Sales Tax-Free Week:

• Sales or purchases of certain items of clothing or footwear costing less than $100 per item are exempt from Connecticut's 6.35% sales tax
• Sales Tax-Free Week applies to purchases made in-store, online, mail-order, and over the phone
• This special exemption applies to purchases made from retailers located in Connecticut as well as from online retailers

Click here to read a list of tax exempt and taxable items during Sales Tax-Free week!

And to read some frequently asked questions about Sales Tax-Free Week, click here. 

In the rest of this week's eblast, you can read about a student loan forgiveness program, avoiding DMV scams, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.

• Fairfield's Little League Team Advances!
• Student Loan Relief Program Renewed
• Reminder: Fairfield Restaurant Week
• How to Sign Up for the CT Alert Emergency Notification System
• Firearm Industry Responsibility Act
• DMV Scam Alert!
• Celebrating Fairfield's History
• Summer Saturdays at the Museum Commons

Last week, Gov. Ned Lamont signed a gun violence prevention bill into law. The Firearm Industry Responsibility Act (Public Act 25-43) introduces new measures aimed at reducing gun violence and increasing accountability within the firearm industry. It allows civil lawsuits against gun industry members who fail to act responsibly and strengthens firearm permit laws. 

Key provisions of the bill include: 

Gun Industry Accountability:

• Enables civil lawsuits against gun manufacturers, distributors, and retailers who fail to exercise reasonable control over the marketing, sale, and distribution of their firearms
• his makes Connecticut one of the few states allowing civil action against members of the firearm industry under state law

Closing Permit Loopholes:

• Out-of-state convictions: Individuals convicted of crimes in other states that would be disqualifying in Connecticut are now also ineligible for firearm permits in the state
• Applies to convictions within the past 8 years

Age Restrictions Expanded:

• The prohibition on selling certain semi-automatic rifles to individuals under 21 now extends to private sales, not just sales by licensed dealers

Body Armor Restrictions:

• Purchasers must have a pistol permit or eligibility certificate to buy body armor
• Certain exemptions apply for law enforcement and specified personnel

Clarification of Self-Defense:

• The law clarifies that the unlawful discharge of a firearm statute (a Class C misdemeanor) does not apply to someone who lawfully discharged a firearm in self-defense or defense of another

Connecticut is recognized as having some of the strongest gun laws in the U.S., and this bill is seen as a significant step toward enhanced public safety and industry accountability.