Nick Gauthier

It's been a busy and productive session so far, which has included extensive committee work and support for issues including universal school meals and just cause tenants rights protections, among other things.

This week at the Capitol included my support for School Meals for All CT at a press conference and panel discussion.

I have proposed HB 5117, which includes a 4% marginal surtax on incomes after $1 million per year. This legislation will, among other things, restore Connecticut’s universal school meals program –- both breakfast and lunch –- for every schoolchild in our state.

The state provided free meals (breakfast and lunch) to public school students during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and it was a major success.

The money ran out, however, and this measure, if passed, would help reintroduce universal school meals.

Connecticut, at the very least, should be feeding its kids just like Massachusetts, Minnesota and other states.

Also this week, I supported the work of the Housing Committee, which passed legislation requiring “just cause” for evictions after a certain amount of time a tenant rents a location, expanding protections to meet the needs of more Connecticut residents.

That measure would require landlords to have a legitimate reason — or "just cause" — before evicting a tenant who has rented in a building of five or more units for at least one year and is in good standing.

Under current Connecticut law, landlords can evict tenants at the end of a lease for any reason, with only limited protections for elderly, blind, or disabled residents. This bill would extend meaningful protections to far more renters, shielding them from no-fault evictions — including retaliation after filing a complaint about living conditions or following a property sale to a new owner. Evictions for nonpayment, nuisance behavior, lease violations, and illegal activity would still be permitted.

No-fault evictions have nearly doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic and currently make up about 11% of all eviction filings statewide. The bill received more than 200 testimonials in support, and advocates estimate it could reduce evictions by 10%.

I'm proud to support this common-sense protection for Connecticut renters, and I look forward to the debate ahead.

Committee Work

Also this week, all three committees of which I am a member – Labor & Public Employees, Energy & Technology, Government Administration & Elections – met and has passed legislation to protect workers’ rights, address energy costs and environmental protection, and protect our election systems.

Those bills include the following:

Labor

• SB 345 and SB 353, which protect women’s rights in the workplace. SB 345 provides, among other things, that an employee must have the opportunity to use break time to express breastmilk at the time that it is needed. SB 353 would, among other things, require employers to provide reasonable accommodations in the workplace for conditions related to menopause. It's worth mentioning that these bills were debated and discussed during Women's History Month.
• Regulating and protecting workers from AI in the workplace.  HB 5497 would establish task force to study the effects of the use of artificial intelligence on the trades industry and require the Commissioner of Public Health to study the feasibility of establishing a certified nursing assistant training program. SB 435 would to establish various requirements concerning the use of automated employment-related decision systems and artificial intelligence technologies.
• Giving workers the ability to exercise their rights and collectively bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions. SB 440, SB 357, HB 5492

Energy & Technology

• SB 245 aims to save taxpayers' dollars that subsidize corporate interests by eliminating tax incentives for data center corporations in the state.
• A group of bills look to increase our supply of green, renewable, and sustainable energy and reduce our reliance on expensive fossil fuels. Please see the following: HB 5248, HB 5036, HB 5340, SB 244
• HB 5336 looks to advance nuclear energy. 
• In response to issues affecting residents locally, SB421 aims to safely and in a timely manner remove double utility poles.

Government Administration & Elections

• Creating and implementing the will of the people of Connecticut with no excuse absentee ballots. HB 5001
• Adding an Environmental Bill of Rights to the state constitution. SJ 37
• Proposing a bill to prevent voter intimidation and ensure people feel safe casting a ballot without the presence of armed federal agents or immigration enforcement. The proposal comes after the Trump administration said it wants to "nationalize" elections and for ICE agents to have a presence at voting places later this year. HB 5001 and HB 5533

TVCCA Anniversary

Last week I joined friends, colleagues, and community leaders to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Thames Valley Council for Community Action in the Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial Park.

TVCCA is an anchor of our community in Eastern Connecticut, offering 34 programs that support childhood development, employment training, senior nutrition, energy assistance, emergency housing and more.

Join me in thanking TVCCA for their six decades of service to our region, consider donating to their efforts, and/or volunteering with their organization!

Go Wolves!

This week the Montville legislative delegation had the honor of presenting the ECC-winning girls indoor track team and their coaches with citations celebrating their third straight indoor track win.

So much talent, so much hard work. Go Wolves!

Waterford Historical Society Art Installation

Waterford Town Hall currently features a collection of patriotic and marine-themed paintings and photos produced by four local veterans to recognize the 250th anniversary of the United States of America and the 225th anniversary of Waterford. The artwork will be on display through April 17, and beginning April 20, the Waterford Historical Society’s “Art In Waterford: Past+Present+Future” will display patriotic art by regional artists through September.
 

Waterford Craft Show

On Saturday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Waterford Community Center, the Waterford Regional Lions Club will host a Spring Fling craft show with vendors and seasonal offerings.

Mohegan Pequot Lions Brunch

On March 22 from 8-11 a.m., the Montville Mohegan Pequot Lions will hold a brunch for the community at the Oakdale Firehouse at 444 Chapel Hill Road in Oakdale, with eggs, sausage gravy, biscuits, seafood Newberg, baked goods and more on the menu. Attendance is $10 for 13+, $8 for seniors and kids 5-12 and kids under 5 eat free.

Montville Egg Hunts

Montville kids ages 11-16 can sign up for Montville Parks and Recreation’s Flashlight Egg Hunt on March 28 at 7:30 p.m., where the first 50 kids to sign up can search by flashlight at the Camp Oakdale Ball Fields for candy-filled eggs and a bonus egg, redeemable for prizes like pizza, gift cards, candy and movie tickets. Registration is free – call 860-848-6780 or email pbushway@montville-ct.org with name, email and age. That same day at 1 p.m. at the Camp Oakdale Ball Fields, kids up to age 10 can participate in the Easter Egg Hunt, with non-perishable food item donations welcomed.