Legislative Committees getting busy
CRN’s Legislative Committee meeting update
News and Notes from the State Capitol
News and notes from around the State
- Despite the short week due to the Capitol building being closed for MLK Day on Monday, the General Assembly had a busy week.
- Many of the Legislature’s standing committees held meetings this week to raise bills or concepts that will turn into bills later in the process.
- For instance, the Labor Committee held its first meeting since the tragic death of Rep. “Q” Williams and raised several bills, including one dealing with retailers’ ability to establish a work schedule. You can view the Labor committee agenda by going here.
- The General Law committee held a meeting this week and also raised many bills and concepts, including a bill that would allow grocery stores the ability to sell CT-produced wine in their stores. The Hartford Courant looks at the battle ahead here.
- The work of legislative committees will continue as bills are filed and committees begin the next step of the process by scheduling public hearings. As always, we will keep you posted along the way.
CRN’s Legislative Committee to meet
- We will be holding our next CRN Legislative Committee meeting next week. The Legislative Committee is open to all members. If you are interested in getting updates on Committee meetings, please feel free to contact us at tim@ctretailnetwork.com
- This week we will be reviewing the many bills that are being introduced and the next steps we anticipate in regard to those bills.
- Please feel free to reach out for more information.
News and notes from the State Capitol
- As we mentioned above, the Labor Committee held its first meeting of the session since the passing of Rep. Williams. State Rep. Manny Sanchez will assume the role of the Labor and Public Employees Committee’s House chair, House Speaker Matt Ritter announced this week. Sanchez, a New Britain Democrat, is beginning his second term. CTNewsJunkie has news of the announcement here.
- Both the House and the Senate will be in session next Wednesday. They are expected to take up Executive and Judicial nominations.
- As the state budget surplus continues, Gov. Ned Lamont is calling for a high-priority tax cut that his office says would benefit more than 100,000 small businesses. The Hartford Courant’s Chris Keating has details on the proposal here.
- Projections for state tax receipts ticked upward this week, pushing the current fiscal year’s surplus beyond $3 billion, according to a report from Gov. Lamont’s budget office and the legislature’s nonpartisan fiscal staff. CT Mirror has the details here.
- Special elections will be held Feb. 28 to fill vacancies created by the death of Rep. Quentin Williams, D-Middletown, and the resignations of Rep. Dan Fox, D-Stamford, and Rep. Edwin Vargas Jr., D-Hartford. CT Mirror’s Mark Pazniokas reports on the election plans here.
- State Comptroller Sean Scanlon visited businesses in New Haven this week to promote the third wave of recruitment for the new state-run retirement plan for private sector workers, MyCTSavings. New Haven BIZ reports on his efforts here.
- Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas made her first policy recommendation Thursday, urging legislators to pass a law authorizing 10 days of early voting, beginning with the 2023 municipal elections. CT Mirror’s Mark Pazniokas outlines her plan here.
News and notes from around the State
- Two months after easily winning a fifth consecutive term in the Connecticut legislature, state Sen. Marilyn Moore has filed paperwork with the Town Clerk’s office to run for mayor against incumbent and fellow Democrat Joe Ganim. CT Post has the story here.
- The Connecticut Paid Leave Authority has announced that it had paid $249 million in benefits on 97,450 claims through the end of 2022. Hartford Business Journal has the numbers here.
- The Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) released “Health Trends Shaping Benefits in 2023,” a report detailing the findings of Mercer Marsh Benefits’ (MMB) global 2023 health trends survey. Fairfield County Business Journal highlights the data here.
- Many colleges have plans in the year ahead to form new partnerships with private-sector employers and launch new majors and degrees in in-demand careers. Hartford Business Journal has details here.
- Campbell is closing manufacturing facilities in Norwalk and expanding in Bloomfield, according to plans announced by the company this week. The Hartford Courant has details of the plans here.
- CBIA announced its 2023 legislative agenda, which focuses on addressing Connecticut’s workforce shortage and making the state a more affordable place to live and work. The Hartford Business Journal has the highlights here.
- In the span of a week, Connecticut has collected over $2 million in recreational cannabis sales. NBC Connecticut reports the numbers here.
- With this week’s release of the UConn Athletic Department’s budget, showing a $53-million operating deficit, questions are being raised about the sustainability of high-level athletics in Storrs. The Hartford Courant reports on the dollars and sense here.