Nick Gauthier

Following the close of this year’s legislative session, I want to update you on the significant pieces of legislation that have passed and have been signed into law or are awaiting the governor's final signature.

In addition to budget adjustments, the legislature this year advanced measures focused on labor and employment protections, election integrity and voter access, long-term stability of hospitals and quality of patient care, online safety, consumer data privacy, and investments in renewable energy for a more sustainable future.

These measures reflect our commitment to building a safer, more sustainable, and more secure future for all residents.

Labor and Employment Protections

We passed Connecticut's most significant labor legislation in years -- House Bill 5003

, an omnibus workforce and working conditions act -- which Governor Ned Lamont officially signed into law on May 11.

As a member of the Labor and Public Employee Committee, I supported the 75-section package, which includes major changes for workers and employers across the state, including the following:

• Pay Transparency:

  Employers are now required to include position wage ranges and a general description of benefits in all internal and external job advertisements.

• Stay-or-Pay Ban:
  

  The law expands existing Connecticut law by banning "employment promissory notes" (also known as training-repayment agreements) for all employers, not just large ones. Agreements signed on or after October 1, requiring workers to repay training costs if they leave early are generally void.

• Worker Assault Protection:
  

  Teachers, para-educators, and healthcare professionals who are assaulted on the job and unable to work are now eligible to receive up to 100% of their lost wages through workers' compensation.

• Service Worker Retention:
  

  When a service contract changes hands, the new employer is required to retain the existing service workers for at least 90 days.

Expanding Voting Access

I am proud that Governor Ned Lamont recently signed into law legislation that expands voting access by allowing all eligible Connecticut voters to vote by absentee ballot, no excuse required.

As a member of the Government Administration and Elections Committee, I supported this important reform, which implements the constitutional amendment approved by Connecticut voters in 2024. This new law removes outdated restrictions that required voters to provide a specific reason for requesting an absentee ballot and ensures that every eligible voter has greater flexibility in how they participate in our elections.

This change will make voting more accessible for working families, caregivers, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and anyone who may face challenges getting to the polls on Election Day. By expanding access to absentee voting, we are strengthening participation in our democracy and helping ensure that every voice can be heard.

The law also includes important election security measures, including stronger protections for election workers, increased penalties for ballot drop box tampering, and safeguards against voter intimidation and election interference.

I will continue working to protect both voting access and election integrity for all Connecticut residents.

Hospital Protections

We passed an important bill to protect our hospitals, Senate Bill 196: An Act Concerning Hospital Sale-Leaseback Agreements and Attestations Concerning Lack of Private Equity Control of the Hospital and Control of or Interference with the Professional Judgement and Clinical Decisions of Certain Health Care Providers. 

This bill is designed to curb the influence of private equity in the healthcare system and safeguard the long-term stability of hospitals and quality of patient care. A central provision of the bill prohibits hospitals from engaging in sale-leaseback arrangements involving their main campus properties, a practice that can generate short-term revenue but has been linked to long-term financial strain and reduced operational flexibility.

The legislation also establishes new accountability measures. Beginning February 1, 2027, hospitals will be required to submit annual attestations to the Connecticut Department of Public Health confirming that no private equity entity holds a controlling interest or exerts influence over clinical decision-making. This is intended to ensure that medical judgments remain in the hands of healthcare professionals, rather than driven by profit motives.

Additionally, the bill includes enforcement mechanisms, allowing the state to impose civil penalties on hospitals that fail to comply with these requirements. Overall, SB 196 responds to growing concerns about the role of for-profit entities in healthcare and aims to protect access to essential services, promote transparency, and prioritize patient outcomes over financial returns.

Municipal Budget Relief

After months of negotiation, House Democrats shepherded passage of a bipartisan budget demonstrating that compromise remains the most effective way to govern.

Together, we produced a 2027 budget that significantly boosts support for the state’s education system, increases crucial investments in housing and transportation, supports town and city budgets, and more, all while safeguarding the state's strong fiscal outlook, including $1 billion toward paying down long-term debt.

The budget includes:

• Over $300 million relief package for cities, towns, and schools
• $190 million in direct support for schools
• $100 million to address local tax increases
• $12 million to establish universal free school breakfast programs across the state
• Expanded grants for successful special education programs
• Numerous grants to towns to address the rising costs associated with construction and purchasing
• $4 million to help communities where three hospitals abruptly came off the tax rolls

A historic agreement with our hospitals:

• Providing them with much-needed tax relief
• Maximizing federal funding for health care
• Setting up a system to address rising costs

More investments in transportation options for our residents:

• Increased funding for Shoreline East rail
• Funded successful "micro-transit" public transportation programs
• Helped prevent hikes in bus fares

Making Connecticut more affordable for working families:

• Expanding sales tax-free week to include clothing, shoes, and backpacks under $300 (from $100)
• Making basic school supplies tax-free, including backpacks, lunchboxes, notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, rulers, and paper
• Creating a family caregiver tax credit for residents caring for a loved one

Investing in Connecticut businesses and job growth:

• Helping small businesses offer health care support by providing a tax credit when they contribute toward employees’ individual health insurance coverage.
• Supporting small businesses and biotech companies through a new research and development tax credit to help them grow and create jobs in our state

Taking Aim at Property Taxes:

• $162M new Education Equalization Grant to address underfunding in our current school funding formula
• Additional 2% for the towns that have seen recent population decreases
• $100M in new funding to cities and towns

Connecticut residents made a call for help in many areas. Connecticut lawmakers heard it and answered in a strong, bipartisan way.

Online Safety and AI Protections

The House passed Senate Bill 5: An Act Concerning Online Safety. The C.A.R.T. Act creates clear standards for powerful AI systems, while preparing Connecticut's residents, workers, students, small businesses, public agencies, and institutions for an AI-driven economy.
 
AI is already affecting our economy, workplaces, online platforms, and the information Connecticut residents encounter every day. Senate Bill 5 responds to the new reality of AI through targeted protections, transparency for consumers, and system accountability.

This legislation targets areas where AI is making a meaningful impact on residents' lives, including employment-related automated decision tools, consumer disclosures, synthetic media provenance, youth online safety, and workforce preparation.
 
Connecticut residents are already being impacted by AI systems. It is our state's responsibility to take action to set clear expectations to keep residents protected from harmful AI practices.

Gov. Ned Lamont signed the bill into law last week.

This bill makes it easier to exercise your right to delete your data from data brokers and people tracking websites and prevents predatory surveillance pricing. As technology evolves, our laws must evolve with it. Senate Bill 4 takes critical action to strengthen privacy protections, promote transparency, and ensure Connecticut consumers are treated fairly.

Senate Bill 4 will target the following specific threats to consumer privacy:

• Data brokers: Consumers may request, at no cost, the deletion of any personal data collected by a data broker.
• Dynamic pricing: Strict disclosure requirements apply when businesses use algorithmic pricing to increase prices.
• Geolocation data: Controllers and processors are banned from selling or sharing precise geolocation data.
• Genetic Testing: Consumers would have the right to their own genetic data when using direct to consumer genetic testing services and create more transparency in their policies.
• Volume of Ads: Streaming platforms cannot transmit the audio of any commercial advertisement at a volume that is louder than the volume established by the Federal Communications Commission for television commercials.

Senate Bills 4 and 5 now move to the Governor's desk to be signed into law.

Renewable Energy

Connecticut has strived to be a leader in renewable energy, and this approach ensures we keep moving forward while prioritizing affordability. House Bill 5340: An Act Concerning Renewable Power Generation, modernizes Connecticut’s renewable energy programs by introducing measures meant to make them more reliable, consistent and flexible to economic fluctuations.

This bill will:

• Create clear annual megawatt and budget targets so renewable energy programs remain financially sustainable, and ratepayer impacts stay predictable and focus on investments that result in savings for ratepayers holistically
• Give state regulators the flexibility to adjust programs year-to-year to remain within overall budget limits instead of being tied to rigid annual caps that may not reflect market conditions
• Create dedicated solar rates for low-income residents, residents in distressed municipalities, and affordable multifamily housing residents
• Encourage municipalities to adopt an existing streamlined solar permitting platform (Solar APP +) to help simplify and speed up the permitting process

As electricity demand grows, we must ensure that our energy programs are cost effective and efficient.

Waterford Historical Society CT Open House Day

The Waterford Historical Society, 65 Rope Ferry Road, will take part in CT Open House Day on June 13. See what life was like when Waterford boasted 100-plus dairy farms, bustling granite quarries, flourishing shipbuilding and fishing industries and clamoring blacksmith shops to forge items for every need. Enter the 1840s Beebe-Phillips House; the 1740s Jordan District Schoolhouse; the Jordan Park House, Waterford's first, original public library building; Stacy Barn, filled with antique farming equipment and two cider presses; and see the blacksmiths in action at the bustling Ralph Madara Blacksmith Shop.  Free, though donations are welcome.

Waterford Historical Society Annual Meeting

The Society will hold its Annual Meeting and Election of Officers in Jordan Park House at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13. Reports will be given by the Society's president and treasurer as well as various committees including publicity, events, and buildings and grounds. Members are encouraged to attend and renew their membership to support the Society. The public is welcome to attend. 

Waterford Summer Concert Series

The Waterford Summer Concert Series will take place Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at Waterford Beach Park, with concerts each Wednesday from June 17 to Aug. 12. Weather-related decisions will be made the day of performances around 1 p.m.

Montville Community Tag Sale

Montville on June 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., will hold a community tag sale at 836 Old Colchester Road. Call 860-848-6780 for more information.

Waterford Blood Drive

Waterford will hold a blood drive in the Town Hall auditorium on Friday, June 12 from noon to 5:30 p.m.

Hazardous Waste Disposal

SCRRRA's next Household Hazardous Waste disposal event is set for Saturday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Norwich Public Works. This event allows for residents of Bozrah, Montville, New London, Salem and Waterford to dispose of unwanted household hazardous waste for free.