Governor presents 2-year budget to General Assembly
No changes in sales tax or consumer taxes included
CRN Legislative Reception set for 2025
News and notes from the State Capitol
News and notes from around the state
- Governor Lamont presented to the General Assembly on Wednesday this week his new two-year budget for 2026/2027.
- The last biennial budget Gov. Lamont will propose before committing to reelection or retirement came with a speech that looked back on Connecticut’s fiscal turnaround and ahead to the continuing challenge of relieving financial burdens on a struggling working class. CT Mirror’s Mark Pazniokas reports the highlights here.
- In his two-year, $55.2 billion spending plan, Gov. Lamont included several proposals to reform corporate taxes, but the result, Hartford Business Journal reports, is an increased burden on businesses of nearly $348 million over the biennium.
No Sales tax changes or other consumer fees included
- In addition to the proposals to reform corporate taxes which would result in some increases to members, CRN is disappointed that the Governor’s budget did not include any changes to the sales tax or any other consumer-related taxes.
- The next step in the process for the budget is that it will go thru the two so-called money committees, Appropriations and Finance, and it is at that stage that we will make our push to lower the sales tax or look for any other opportunities to lower consumer-related taxes.
- We will keep you updated throughout the process.
CRN Legislative Reception set for 2025
- The 2025 CRN Legislative Reception will be held on Thursday, March 20, 4-7 PM, at the Legislative Office Building adjoining the State Capitol.
- It’s an opportunity for legislators and retailers to gather in a casual setting, as the legislative session continues. Please mark your calendar to join us!
- Sponsorships are available to support this key event on the CRN calendar. There’s additional information here; please contact Tim Phelan at tim@ctretailnetwork to learn more.
News and notes from the State Capitol
- It will be a busy week at the State Capitol, with a number of Committees holding meetings and public hearings.
- On Monday, the Environment Committee will be holding a committee meeting to consider bills and the General Law Committee will be holding a public hearing.
- You can view the General Law Committee public hearing agenda by going here.
- On Tuesday, the Labor Committee will be holding a committee meeting and the Public Safety Committee will be holding a public hearing.
- The Capitol Complex will be closed on Wednesday.
- On Thursday, the Labor Committee is at it again with another public hearing. This time holding a hearing on a warehouse workers bill. You can go here to view the complete agenda.
- And on Friday, the General Law Committee will be holding a public hearing on some of the Govenor’s bills. You can go here to view that agenda.
- Gov. Lamont has proposed creating a new state venture capital fund dedicated to investing in startups driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing. The Governor’s plans reported here by Hartford Business Journal.
- The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities said this about the Governor’s budget: “Local governments cannot continue the heavy reliance on property taxes to bear the burden of the state not fulfilling its basic responsibilities regarding municipal aid.” Details reported by the Fairfield County Business Journal here.
- State Rep. Michael Quinn, D-Meriden, is looking to mandate that all drivers take a 30-60 minute continuing education session prior to getting their drivers license renewed. CT Examiner reports on his proposal here.
- State Rep. Anthony Nolan, D-New London, has proposed legislation that would impose fines exceeding $25,000 on municipalities that fail to comply with state affordable housing laws. CT Examiner looks at that proposal here.
- Proposed legislation to tackle the state Department of Labor complaint backlog has been met with bipartisan support, according to Connecticut Inside Investigator. Details reported here.
- Gov. Lamont is urging pharmaceutical companies to reduce prices. As CTNewsJunkie reports, he spoke this week at a meeting of life sciences lobbying group BioCT. See that story here.
- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong. New York State Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin have sent a letter to Altice USA urging the cable operator to quickly resolve contract negotiations with MSG Networks – or refund customers money. Read more here.
News and notes around the state
- Hearst Connecticut Media Group closed on its acquisition of the Waterbury Republican-American and Sunday Republican this week. Details reported by Hartford Business Journal here.
- The Hartford has retooled its branding for the first time since 2010. The insurance company’s new logo still features the iconic stag, but now in a monochromatic black-and-white version. Hartford Business Journal reports on the new logo here.
- Some changes are in the works for the leadership of CT State campuses, which is Connecticut’s relatively new system of community colleges now under one banner. CEOs are out, Presidents are in. WFSB has the details here.
- The growth of West Hartford-based Bare Life, which produces a distinctive hot cocoa by eliminating unnecessary ingredients like preservatives and fillers to create organic, plant-based and gluten-free versions, has been helped by Connecticut’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Fairfield County Business Journal takes a look here.
- U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal is raising concern about these numbers: FAA data shows that at Bradley International Airport, there are 15 air traffic controllers, when it should be 20 – about a 25% shortage. And at the Bradley Radar Control Center that handles planes on approach getting ready to land, there are 18 staffers on-board, when the target number is 26, a 30% shortage. WTNH News 8 has the details here.