Consumer Privacy legislation back on the front burner
Public hearings pick up next week
News and Notes from the State Capitol
News and notes from around the State
- On Wednesday of this week, Sen. James Maroney (D-Milford), reported to his interim Privacy Task Force, which was created as part of his consumer privacy bill that was passed last year, that he had new legislation that he was recommending for this session.
- Maroney’s proposal does offer some technical changes to sections of last year’s bill, but it also has a lot of additional language that will directly impact the retail industry.
- You can review what Sen. Maroney is recommending by going here.
- In a little bit of legislative maneuvering, Maroney is also splitting the bill into two parts.
- One part will remain in his committee, the General Law Committee. That part was turned into HB 1103 and there will be a public hearing on that bill next Tuesday. You can review that bill by going here.
- The other sections of his recommended legislation will be merged into SB 3, AAC Online Privacy and Protections which is currently in the Judiciary Committee and has yet to be fully drafted or has been scheduled for a public hearing.
- We know this might be a little bit confusing so we will do our best to keep you informed as both of these bills move thru the process.
- Needless to say, it is a huge issue for retailers, so we will stay on top of the issue and keep you posted along the winding road this issue is about to travel.
Public hearings on other key issues next week
- CRN will be busy with public hearings on a few key issues early next week.
- On Monday, the Environment Committee will be holding a public hearing on HB 6664 – otherwise known as EPR for packaging.
- Also on Monday, the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee will be holding a public hearing on two bills that will impact the retail industry.
- One, SB 72, would reinstate a clothing exemption allowance, which we support. The other bill would increase taxes on retailers by instituting a DIGITAL AD TAX.
- If you recall, CRN resoundingly defeated a Digital Ad Tax in 2021. We plan on doing that again.
- On Tuesday of next week, the General Law Committee will hold a public hearing on several proposed privacy bills that have been introduced, but the focus will be HB 1103 as that is the bill that is most likely to pass out of committee.
- On Thursday of next week, the Labor Committee is holding a public hearing on SB 152, AAC the Protection of Warehouse Workers.
News and Notes from the State Capitol
- Retail sales of cannabis have been happening for almost two months, but lawmakers are looking at making several changes to it and the medical marijuana program. CTNewsJunkie reports that news here.
- A legislative committee heard testimony this week on three bills to implement a range of early voting periods in Connecticut. Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas has recommended a 10-day early voting period. CTNewsJunkie has the details here.
- Gov. Lamont is advocating for legislation that seeks to address rising health costs and hospital consolidation. CT Mirror’s Mark Pazniokas reports on the proposals here.
- Attorney General William Tong is asking the state legislature to grant him “investigative authority” over bank consumer financial protection failures following the merger between People’s United and M&T. Hartford Business Journal reports on the AG’s proposal here.
- Although Republicans are in the minority in the General Assembly, they were able to secure enough signatures to call for a public hearing on repealing the highway user fee that went into effect in January. CTNewsJunkie has that story here.
- At the start of the week at least two legislative committees canceled hearings on Tuesday due to Internet disruptions experienced by the provider for numerous Connecticut state agencies, including the Connecticut General Assembly. CTNewsJunkie has the details here.
News and notes from around the State
- Former Republican state Sen. Toni Boucher, a 2002 UConn graduate, and her late husband Henry Boucher, who was a management consultant and entrepreneur, donated $8 million to the UConn School of Business, its largest-ever gift. Hartford Business Journal reports here.
- Milford-based sandwich chain Subway is collaborating with GenZ EV Solutions to bring electric vehicle charging stations to some of their locations across the U.S. New Haven BIZ has the details here.
- FORGE, a Massachusetts-headquartered nonprofit that connects startups with manufacturers, design firms and engineers, is establishing operations in Connecticut and will begin offering its free services to local entrepreneurs. Fairfield County Business Journal reports on their plans here.
- Connecticut firms have scaled-down operations or withdrawn from Russia since the Russian invasion of Ukraine that was launched one year ago, on Feb. 24, 2022. Connecticut Post has the details here.