Friday Facts – February 20th

Legislative Committees pick up the pace
CRN Legislative Reception set
News and notes from around the State Capitol
CRN and The Hartford team up
News and notes from around the state

• The first phase of the Connecticut legislative process was in full mode this week as several committees held public hearings on concepts that were raised by the committees.

• Of particular interest to CRN members, this week the General Law Committee held a public hearing on some bills we are interested in, and has scheduled more public hearings next week.

• This is an important part of the legislative session, as it is an opportunity for us to weigh in on bills that we are tracking and let legislators know how the bill impacts the retail industry.

• For instance, we are testifying today in the Environment Committee on a bill that will impact tire retailers in Connecticut by implementing a tire stewardship program that could have a negative impact on those members.

• The public hearing is our chance to share with legislators in a public forum our concerns on bills.

• And we want to remind CRN members that when we ask for your input on bills or ask you to join us in testifying on a bill, it is because we know that your testimony will make a HUGE difference.

CRN Legislative Reception set

• We are pleased to announce today that our annual Legislative Reception will be held this year on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Legislative Office Building.

• The legislative reception is a GREAT way for members to meet their local legislators in a casual setting to talk about the pending issues before the General Assembly.

• The event is FREE for any member interested – so please mark your calendar for March 25th and join us at the LOB.

• If you are interested in being a sponsor of our Legislative Reception, please go here for more information.

News and notes from around the State Capitol

• On Monday, the General Law Committee will be holding another public hearing. You can go here to see their agenda.

• On Wednesday of next week, the State Senate is in session.

• We are hearing that in addition to considering judicial nominations, the Senate and the House, the following day, will be taking up some bills that did not make it through the process last session.

• Among those bills that we are hearing the Legislature will take up is a warehouse worker bill.

• If you are a retailer with a warehouse/distribution center in Connecticut, this bill will impact you.

• Among the provisions that we oppose is the inclusion of a Private Right of Action. We will keep you posted on the latest on that bill.

• Three bills introduced in the state’s 2026 legislative session — two by Democrats and one by a Republican — have the same goal: Significantly increase financial support for the state’s Tourism Fund. Details here from Hartford Business Journal.

• A trio of bills introduced by House Republicans would remove the combined public benefits charge from Connecticut electric bills and shift its roughly $1 billion annual cost to the state’s general fund. Details reported here by Hartford Business Journal.

• Gov. Ned Lamont and the General Assembly appear headed for a collision this spring over tax cuts, as CT Mirror’s Keith Phaneuf reports here.

• Connecticut is having challenges in recruiting first responders. Police and fire chiefs on Tuesday said a proposal by Gov. Lamont to waive public college tuition and offer mortgage assistance for police and firefighters was a good “first step” to attract new recruits. CT Mirror has the details here.

• Elected officials joined representatives of United Way of CT and a group of parents at the Legislative Office Building to advocate for a state child tax credit that supporters said would benefit about 75% of families in the state. CTNewsJunkie has the details here.

• Connecticut Senate Democrats unveiled a plan they say will make the state more affordable, proposing more than a billion dollars in tax cuts. Republicans are looking to end what they describe as corruption. WFSB reporter Susan Raff has the details here.

CRN and The Hartford team up

• CRN and The Hartford have teamed up to offer retailers a range of business insurance offerings that are available through The Hartford’s small business network.

• The Hartford is located here in Connecticut, and like you, they understand what it takes to run a business – and their insurance offerings reflect that.

• We believe they will bring value to any retailer that is in need of quality, dependable, and professional service, and we encourage folks to take advantage of our relationship with The Hartford by getting a free quote today.

• The coverage can include: Business Property coverage, Business Liability coverage, Business Income coverage, Workers’ Compensation coverage, and Business Auto coverage.

News and notes from around the state

• Representatives from United Illuminating filed its proposed 2026 Rate Adjustment Mechanism (RAM) with the state’s regulatory authority, announcing that they expect its customers to see an estimated 11 percent drop in their monthly electric bill starting in May. Read the details from CTNewsJunkie here.

• What has been known as the Connecticut Restaurant Association officially announced Tuesday that it has expanded and is now representing the combined restaurant and hospitality industry. Details reported by we-ha.com here.

• A report from the Office of the Child Advocate found “several gaps” in the state’s mandatory reporting and background check laws for town-run youth camp employees. CT Mirror reports on the details here.

• Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace announced Thursday that a record number of residents enrolled in health and dental insurance during the 2026 Open Enrollment Period. FOX61 reports that news here.

• More than eight months before the November election, former New Britain mayor Erin Stewart unveiled a package of $200,000 in television commercials with the theme that Connecticut should try “something different.” The Hartford Courant’s Chris Keating has that news here.

• Old friend, Anthony Anthony helped change the national perception of the state of Connecticut, marrying its identity with its pizza. He has been the architect of changing the state’s brand awareness as the chief marketing officer — a role he’s held since 2023. Now, he’s going out on his own, as CT Post reports here.

• By the end of the 2025-2026 NBA and NHL seasons and two weeks into the 2026 MLB season, sports fans will know the name of Fan Duel Sports Network’s parent company. Fairfield County Business Journal reports that’s because on April 14, Main Street Sports Group of Southport plans to shutter its operation and lay off its 44 employees. Details here.

• Since the 2016-17 school year, K-12 enrollment in Connecticut has fallen by more than 40,000 students, according to data from the state, reported by FOX61. In just the last year, enrollment fell by more than 10,000, the most in five years. The numbers are reported here.