State Capitol update for the week of September 28

October 1, 2020

September’s Special Session: House Edition is now a wrap, as we pass the baton to the Senate today. 
 
Beginning at 11:00 am yesterday, and adjourning shortly before 1:00 am this morning, we passed nine pieces of legislation (most on unanimous votes), confirmed 4 judges (also unanimously), honored veterans in the legislature and on staff, and bid emotional farewells to several long-serving members who were retiring, including Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz and House Minority Leader Themis Klarides.  It was a long day, but one which reinforced the best of the Connecticut General Assembly’s tradition of bipartisanship. 

I want to highlight three significant bills passed.  The most discussed bill, dubbed “Take Back Our Grid,” or House Bill 7006, passed on a vote of 136-4.  I testified in favor of this bill, which begins the process of implementing a performance-based rate system that would favor ratepayers over shareholders. It would require utilities to pay customers $25 for each day power is out beyond 96 consecutive hours and $250 for lost food and medicine if power is out for that period of time.  It would also begin a process aimed at providing more reliable staffing levels for storm response. 

The bill generated lengthy debate, with most of that focused on outrage felt throughout the state toward the state’s two major electric utilities, Eversource Energy and United Illuminating, for both high electric bills and poor service in the wake of Tropic Storm Isaias.   

A second significant bill, House Bill 7001, reforms CT’s “Transfer Act”.  This technically complex bill was the result of many hours of bipartisan work aimed at reforming how CT cleans up toxic releases on various types of property.  CT’s current regulatory scheme has failed both the business and environmental activist community, leaving properties throughout the state languishing without clean up or re-development. 

Both pro-environment and pro-economic development, this bill would allow us to address the level of contamination appropriately, speed up the clean-up process, and enable commercial properties to be redeveloped, creating new businesses and jobs. It passed unanimously.
 
We also passed House Bill 7005, intended to quicken the counting of absentee ballots by allowing certain “pre-work” to begin before election day, in towns that choose to opt into this process.  This “pre-work” does not include counting of ballots, which may not begin until election day.  The bill was approved 139-5.
 
Here’s a quick summary of the other legislation we passed:

  • House Bill 7002. It revises fees for judicial marshals.
  • House Bill 7003. This revises the state’s hemp program to comply with U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations.
  • House Bill 7004. It clarifies that condominiums are eligible for the special loans available for the repair of buildings affected by crumbling foundations due to a mineral, pyrrhotite.
  • House Bill 7008. The measure revises the state’s environmental justice law.
  • House Bill 7009. The bill, among other things, extends by five years the deadline for Bridgeport’s Steel Point Infrastructure Improvement District to issue bonds.
  • House Bill 7010. This bill authorizes 12 school construction grants totaling $209.2 million toward total project costs of $501.3 million.  After a brief debate questioning one project in Norwalk in particular, the bill passed 99-38. 

The Senate convened earlier today to take up these bills.  Because this is a special session, with an election only weeks away, these bills cannot be amended by the Senate, and we expect that body to vote on the bills as passed by the House.
 
Here’s a list of today’s other topics:

  • Governor Lamont signs Executive Order No. 9E (extending eviction moratorium, et al.)
  • October is Manufacturing Month

For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “COVID-19 Data Tracker.”
 
Governor Lamont signs Executive Order No. 9E enacting the following provisions:
 

  • Extension of eviction moratorium: Extends the previously issued moratorium on residential evictions through January 1, 2021.
  • Certain liquor permits extended: Directs the Department of Consumer Protection to extend the expiration date of all café liquor permits that were club permits, nonprofit club permits, or golf country club permits prior to July 1, 2020, to February 9, 2021.
  • Date of new insurance data security requirements extended: Modifies the effective date of Section 230 of Public Act 19-117, also known as the Insurance Data Security Law, to February 9, 2021.

October is Manufacturing Month
 
Opportunities in manufacturing in the State of CT are substantial--for all education levels – and run the gamut in terms of products and methods.  As Mary O’Neill, Career Experience Coordinator at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, noted, if she’d been asked to title the event, it would called “Making Really Cool Stuff Month.”  
 
Here are a few events and resources to explore a career in manufacturing:
CT Manufacturing Day--October 2, 2020
MFG Day​ is an initiative organized by ​The Manufacturing Institute​, the workforce development and education partner of the ​National Association of Manufacturers​. Launched annually on the first Friday in October with events that continue throughout the month, MFG Day helps show the reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions around the nation to open their doors to students, families, teachers and community leaders.
Virtual MFG Fair  
Students from Connecticut’s middle, high school, and college programs are invited to explore  manufacturing through virtual tours, interactive activities, and games. The Virtual Fair will provide manufacturers an opportunity to showcase their work and students a chance to learn about future career paths.
Resources & Information

Thanks to Mary O’Neill for helping put together this list of resources!
 
Providing information to Connecticut residents
 
For the most up-to-date information from the State of Connecticut on COVID-19, including an FAQ and other guidance and resources, residents are encouraged to visit ct.gov/coronavirus.
 

Individuals who have general questions that are not answered on the website can also call 2-1-1 for assistance. The hotline is available 24 hours a day and has multilingual assistance. Relay services can be accessed by calling 7-1-1. Anyone who is out-of-state or using Relay can connect to Connecticut 2-1-1 toll free by dialing 1-800-203-1234. The hotline is intended to be used by individuals who are not experiencing symptoms but may have general questions related to COVID-19. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms is strongly urged to contact their medical provider.