Legislation Passed 5/11/21

session
May 12, 2021

This Tuesday the House was in session to pass several pieces of important legislation. Below I have provided highlights on a few of bills that passed.

 
COVID-19 exposed the rigidity of Connecticut's voting system. Offering no-excuse absentee voting would move the state out of its steady habits and give voters a convenient way to cast their vote making elections more accessible. The House passed HJ 58 by a simple majority. The CT General Assembly will take this issue up again in 2023. If successful, voters will have the opportunity in 2024 to decide if they'd like to see no-excuse absentee voting in Connecticut's future.
Race-based deed restrictions and the declaration of race upon an application for a marriage license remain a lingering reminder of the historical wrongs of our past. These covenants resulted in racial segregation and economic isolation that plague our society and moral conscience today – and it's time to remove them from our state. With the passage of HB 6665, we take a step towards removing two relics of systemic racism and move towards a more equitable future.
Did you know that in Connecticut, less than 7% of tenants have legal representation in eviction cases? In contrast, 80% of landlords do. At a moment when so much is at stake, tenants need support navigating the highly technical and fast-moving pace of eviction cases. HB 6531 provides tenants with fairness and equity by guaranteeing they can obtain legal representation. If passed, CT will be only the 2nd state to enact this legislation to protect tenants.