Privacy bill passes House on its way to the Governor
Budget agreement in place
Captive Audience bill to be debated in the House
Other news and notes from the State Capitol
News and notes from around the state
CRMA Golf Outing
- Yesterday, the House of Representatives took final action on SB 6 AN ACT CONCERNING PERSONAL DATA PRIVACY AND ONLINE MONITORING. The bill now goes to the Governor, and he is expected to sign it into law.
- We have written many times over the last few years in this space about the issue of consumer privacy and the importance it has on the retail industry. We have been very active with key legislators and the Governor’s office in working thru the myriad of issues that encompass this issue.
- While we would have preferred that the U.S Congress take action on the topic, we are pleased that the bill that made its way thru the legislative process in this session is one that strikes the right balance between consumer protection while not overly disrupting retailers’ ability to communicate and continue our relationship with customers.
- The bill has needed protections for retailers in areas such as loyalty programs and liability standards, as well good lead time for business to be prepared before the law goes into effect.
- You can go here to take a final look at the bill if you would like and as always, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Captive audience up today in the House
- As we go to print with today’s FF, the House of Representatives is planning on calling SB 163 AN ACT PROTECTING EMPLOYEE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND CONSCIENCE.
- CRMA opposed this bill and has reached out to numerous members of the General Assembly to let them know of our opposition.
- The House is expected to pass the bill along mostly partly lines today.
Budget and tax package agreement in place
- Earlier this week, legislative leaders and the Governor reached an agreement on mid-year budget adjustments. The General Assembly is expected to take up the Budget, possibly Saturday, but more likely Monday of next week.
- Among the highlights of the budget adjustments on the tax side that were agreed upon include continuation of the gas tax cut until January. No other direct consumer related taxes were reduced.
- Chris Keating of the Hartford Courant has more on the details here.
Other news and notes from around the Capitol
- The General Assembly scheduled to adjourn the regular session for the year on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, and with the budget agreement that we mentioned above, they are on track to do that.
- There is a general sense that Legislative Leaders have identified some key bills that they want to get done before adjournment while allowing others to die on the calendar. And they typically go into session on the Saturday before adjournment day, but this year they are hinting that they may not go in.
- Among the bills they are going to take up today in the House, is SB 4 AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONNECTICUT CLEAN AIR ACT.
- The General Assembly has also ratified an agreement between Lockheed Martin and the state to keep Sikorsky’s headquarters in Stratford for the next 20 years. Fairfield County Business Journal has news of that vote here.
- More than 30 incumbent legislators are likely to be leaving the General Assembly when the current term ends – for a variety of reasons. Some hope to move up, others are ready to move on. The Hartford Courant has the story here.
Other news from around the state
- Following a warning from state officials, COVID-19 cases increased in Connecticut schools through the past week as students and teachers returned from April break. CT Post has the latest statewide numbers here.
- Multistate operators are increasingly buying up cannabis shops and other marijuana-related businesses across the country, including in Connecticut. Nine of the state’s 18 cannabis dispensaries have been purchased by public multistate operators since the medical program began. Hartford Business Journal reports on the data here.
- Avelo Airlines marked its one-year anniversary by announcing new service from Tweed New Haven to Wilmington, N.C. — its 14th destination from Tweed — and an increase in frequency of service between Tweed and Orlando. The New Haven Register has the details here.
- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is part of a multistate coalition suing the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to stop it plans to replace most of its aging vehicular fleet with fossil fuel-powered vehicles. Fairfield County Business Journal has the news here.
- The University of Connecticut’s Board of Trustees approved plans to increase student fees in fiscal 2023 to help cover the rising costs of services. Hartford Business Journal has the numbers here.
- United States Vice President Kamala Harris will visit New London next month to deliver the keynote address during the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 141st Commencement Exercises on Wednesday, May 18. News8 has the story here.
CRMA Golf Outing
- If you haven’t done so already, please visit the CRMA website to review our invitation and fill out a registration form for this year’s CRMA Golf Outing, coming up on Tuesday, June 28.
- The Golf Outing is one of the biggest annual fundraisers for CRMA to support our work on behalf of Connecticut retailers year-round. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.
- We hope you will join us or support this event in other ways. We’ll be back at the Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford again this year for a day of camaraderie, delicious food and great fun!
- We hope to see you with us on June 28!
Program Note
- With Earth Day still on our minds, this may be of interest. The Waste Recycling Action Program (WRAP) sponsored by the American Chemistry Council accepts certain plastic film and plastic bags for recycling. There’s an online directory where a store owner can just plug in the town/zip code to find a location close by for drop off: org