Victories for Taxpayers & Other Session Updates

mccv
March 26, 2022
Happy Spring. As the weather warms up, committee work in the General Assembly winds down. Over the past 6 weeks, the committee process has been in full swing. I am grateful for your input and ideas shared through public hearings, e-mails, phone calls and my favorite, in person conversations.

As bills move through the legislative process, it is like a funnel, with hundreds of ideas introduced, less then slated for a public hearing, and even less actually voted out of the committee.

This week two of my committees completed their work, Transportation and Planning and Development, which I co-chair. Below you will find information about a number of the committee's bills, absentee ballots, the gas tax holiday, and a "sweet" story from right here in Fairfield.
 
Planning & Development Bills
Outdoor Dining Extended

This week the Governor signed into law HB 5271, An Act Concerning The Provision Of Outdoor Food And Beverage Services And Outdoor Displays Of Goods, extending outdoor dining and zoning provisions by an additional 13 months through April 2023. Originally an Executive Order, codified in last year's legislative session, the bill has been a lifeline for restaurants to safely keep their doors open and stay in business. It streamlines and simplifies their approval process. This year, our local restaurants reached out again for assistance, requesting the extension to allow for continued recovery and continuity of business.
 
To hear what restaurants had to say about the passage of the bill, I encourage you to watch the NBC story by clicking the button below:
Restaurant Bill Story - NBC
Remote Meetings

Elected and appointed leaders and members of the public have enjoyed the opportunity to participate in meetings remotely and HB 5269 allows municipalities to continue this option. An Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations report

 found that, "No less than 90% of respondents stated that some form of remote access to public meetings should be maintained in local government." The bill passed out of the committee 18-8. I will continue to champion municipalities' ability to retain this option which is set to expire April 30th.

Transit Oriented Development

HB 5429, An Act Concerning Transit-Oriented Development, after being heard in a public hearing was not placed on the agenda for a vote and will not be advanced this session, despite what is being shared in other places.
 
Transportation Bills
Here are some of the bills of interest from the Transportation Committee. I also serve as a member of this committee.

SB 4, An Act Concerning The Connecticut Clean Air Act. As a co-sponsor of this bill, I am thrilled that the committee advanced this wide-ranging bill that includes expanding the CHEAPR program to electric bikes, requirements, funding and incentives for the electrification of school buses and business fleets, EV charging requirements for new construction, rental properties, and condos, funding for upgrades of municipal traffic signals and more.

HB 5254, An Act Ensuring Access To Parking Near Public Beaches And Recreational And Scenic Areas. This bill passed out of committee in a bipartisan vote as a study. It is similar to a bill passed out of the P&D Committee in the 2021 session, receiving bipartisan support, including from both Senator Hwang and myself. You can read this year's substituted language here. I did not support the original language and believe communities should have the ability to offer reasonable differential parking rates. We did not vote on a different bill in the Planning and Development Committee and it is not moving forward. Thanks to all those who reached out to share their feedback.

SB 214, An Act Concerning The Sale Of Electric Vehicles In The State. This bill, which has been championed by many Fairfielders over the years, will allow the direct sale of electric cars in Connecticut.

HB 5422, An Act Concerning Motor Vehicle Noise  will employ 21st century technology to address excess vehicle noise. Photo noise monitoring devices would allow for enforcement and fines by mail. This could assist in addressing the issue we have faced on the Post Rd with large groups of extremely noisy vehicles also engaged in dangerous behavior on our roadways. This is another tool for law enforcement.
 
Absentee Voting
After passage last week in the House, this week the Senate heard and passed HB 5262, An Act Revising Certain Absentee Voting Eligibility Statutes. The bill will make it easier for voters to vote absentee if they're feeling unwell, worried about their health or illness in the general population, or out of town on Election Day. The bill benefits commuters as well as those caring for a sick or disabled loved one and received bipartisan support in both chambers.

To be eligible to cast an absentee ballot, current law requires voters to have a physical disability or illness that prevents them from voting in person or be out of town for at least 14 hours on Election Day.

No voter should ever have to choose between protecting their health and exercising their right to vote. This proposal eases some of the eligibility restrictions for absentee ballots so that more residents can choose this method to cast their ballot.
 
Suspending the Gas Tax
Wednesday, the House and Senate passed an emergency-certification that will ease some of the financial burden on Connecticut residents and working families whose wallets and budgets have taken a hit due to rising gas prices and record-breaking inflation levels. Thursday, Governor Lamont signed the emergency-certification.

We suspended the 25-cent-per-gallon gas tax from April 1st through June 30th, are offering free bus rides through June 30th and created an additional sales tax-free week on clothing and shoes under $100 in April.
 
A Little Something Sweet
Yesterday, two Dwight Elementary School students, Jacqueline and Amelia, testified in favor of HB 5498 to make the lollipop our state candy. Last year, Mrs. Robb's third graders sent letters (found hanging on the wall in the photo below) to the entire Fairfield delegation requesting this legislation.

Congratulations to Mrs. Robb and all of her students for learning more about advocacy and the legislative process. You can find the students' testimony and remarks from Rep Devlin and I here.