Possible Special Session in September to take on issues impacting retailers
News and notes from around the State Capitol
News and notes from around the State
- Even though the General Assembly adjourned the regular session over a month ago, some issues that would impact retailers may come back to life in September. (The next regular session begins next February.)
- Earlier this week, we received word that it is possible a Special Session may be called for September to deal with the issues of paid sick leave and association health plans (AHP).
- Those two issues have been linked together due to the support of the Moderate Democrats in the House of AHP’s, and their strong opposition to changes in CT’s paid sick leave law.
- During the regular session, the State Senate passed SB1178, which, in addition to requiring all businesses participate in the CT paid sick leave bill, lowered the threshold for eligible employers down to those with 1 employee.
- Meanwhile the Insurance Committee, after extensive debate, passed a bill that would allow business trade groups like CRN to offer members discounted group health insurance by creating Association Health Plans.
- Progressive Democrats strongly supported the paid sick law bill while Moderate Democrats opposed it, and moderate Democrats strongly supported the AHP bill and in turn progressive D’s opposed that bill.
- In the end, despite efforts by Speaker of the House Matt Ritter, both bills died.
- Now, we are hearing that the Speaker has been working behind the scenes to put a deal together that would allow the paid sick leave bill to pass by lowering the threshold somewhat initially and then phasing the number of workers down to 1 over a period of possibly 3 – 5 years, which would be responsive to progressives and labor.
- In return, the AHP bill would also be included in the special session, responding to moderate D’s.
- That is at least the rough, preliminary, apparently under discussion, outline of a deal that we are hearing, but experience tells us that nothing is certain and the best we can do is to continue to keep our ears to the ground and in turn keep you posted on whatever may come next.
News and notes from around the State Capitol
- Connecticut’s state legislature convened for brief technical sessions Monday morning, when lawmakers waived the opportunity to override any of the five vetoes issued this year by Gov. Ned Lamont. CTNewsJunkie reports on the decision here.
- Connecticut residents favored cannabis flower over vapor or edible products as they spent nearly $24 million on cannabis products during the month of June, the Department of Consumer Protection announced on Monday. Details are reported by CTNewsJunkie here.
- Foreign companies invested more than $1.88 billion in Connecticut last year, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), with almost all of that coming via company acquisitions. The numbers are reported by Hartford Business Journal here.
News and notes from around the State
- Connecticut climbed eight spots in CNBC’s annual ranking of “Top States for Business,” reaching 31st on this year’s list. CTNewsJunkie reports on the latest rankings here.
- Isabella Casillas Guzman, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, toured several small New Haven businesses on July 11, during a visit to Connecticut with Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro. Hartford Business Journal reports on the visit here.
- Colleges are expanding their physical geography. Fairfield University recently debuted a new nursing-focused campus in Texas, while the Arizona College of Nursing is pursuing a new Connecticut campus in East Hartford. Hartford Business Journal reports on the recent trend.
- Longtime cardiologist Dr. Keith Churchwell is leaving his position as president of Yale New Haven Hospital next month to become the next president of the American Heart Association. Hartford Business Journal has the details here.
- Hartford HealthCare and Eastern Connecticut State University announced they are forming a partnership to respond to the state’s ongoing nursing shortage. According to the Governor’s Workforce Council, Connecticut’s nursing programs graduate fewer than 2,000 nurses annually, but the state needs closer to 3,000 to meet demand. HBJ has the details here.
- Breeze Airways has launched a “Stretch It Out” sale for August flights on 12 routes from Bradley International Airport. The sale prices, starting at $41 one way, are good for flights between Aug. 9-29, and must be purchased by July 17. The Hartford Courant has the details here.