Digital tax appears out; Budget not done yet
Consumer Privacy bill still pending
Other news and notes from the Capitol
Your response needed to the CRMA retailer survey
CRMA Golf Outing
News and Notes from Around the State
- As we go to print with today’s FF, the Legislature is grinding away towards their constitutional deadline of June 9th, with lots of big issues still pending.
- One of the biggest issues remaining is adoption of a new two-year state budget and tax package.
- Today we may have some good news to report on that front.
- As you know, CRMA has been spearheading an effort to defeat a proposal to institute a new digital ad tax that would be imposed on large digital platforms, which we believe would be passed along to retailers who advertise on these sites. So, we vigorously opposed it.
- And it appears like our efforts may have been successful.
- The latest information we have is that the digital tax appears to be taken out of the budget and tax package. We hesitate to say that with 100% certainty because the budget has not been adopted yet – more about that below. But all signs show that it looks like whatever final budget is adopted, this will NOT be included.
- We want to thank all of those members who helped lobby their local legislators or made phone calls or testified against this bill. It had a great impact on the members of the legislature, and we really appreciate it.
- Hartford Courant reports the latest here.
Budget not done yet
- As we mentioned, the Budget appears close but still elusive – as we go to print, no deal yet. CT Mirror has an update here.
- It sounds to us that Speaker Ritter is determined to have a vote on the budget prior to the adjournment date, regardless of whether he has a deal with the Governor or not.
- Our guess is that a deal will get done and the budget will be adopted by adjournment at midnight Wednesday June 9th.
Consumer Privacy bill still pending in the State Senate
- There is an important bill that CRMA is also actively engaged in lobbing on – SB 893, AAC Consumer privacy.
- The issue of consumer privacy is one that retailers are very sensitive to, due to the nature of our business and the interaction we have with customers. Protecting customer data, while still delivering important information about sales and discounts, is a delicate balancing act so whenever the Legislature gets involved in potential regulating “privacy” we need to watch closely how that actually works. Because the unintended consequences of legislation could be harmful to the retailer/customer experience.
- SB 883 is still pending in the State Senate – a vote could come as soon as today. We remain active in our efforts to have input on the bill by working with other business interest and with the sponsor of the bill, Sen. James Maroney (D-Milford).
- We will keep you posted on the progress of this bill.
Other news and notes from the Capitol
- The House gave final passage to legislation doubling Connecticut’s bottle deposit fee to 10 cents and expanding the number of beverages which will require a deposit. The bill awaits Gov. Lamont’s signature. CTNewsJunkie reports the story here.
- Negotiations continue on a plan to legalize recreational marijuana in Connecticut. Hearst Media’s Dan Haar reports the latest here.
- The Senate passed a resolution that may, in 2024, let residents consider easing constitutional constraints on absentee voting. The proposal still has a road to travel, as CTNewsJunkie reports here.
Your response needed to the CRMA retailer survey
- We want to know – directly from you – how things are going in your business since the state’s relaxing of COVID requirements. Please complete the very brief – only 4 questions – CRMA survey.
- We remain in contact with the Governor’s office and the feedback we get from you will help us when we talk with them – so if changes need to be made, we will be well armed in making that request.
- Thank you very much for your responses to this survey. It is important – and can also help you and your fellow retailer gain valuable insight.
- Please link to the survey here.
CRMA Golf Outing – Join us!
- The CRMA Golf Outing is just weeks away – on Tuesday, June 29! Please consider helping us by purchasing a foursome, or being a sponsor, or donating a raffle prize.
- The Golf Outing is an important fundraiser for CRMA, and we thank you for considering helping us this year.
- You can go here to learn more about this year’s event, at Wampanoag CC in West Hartford. We look forward to seeing you!
News and Notes from around the state
- Comptroller Kevin Lembo has updated his financial forecast for Connecticut and is now projecting a general fund surplus of $470.5 million, up considerably from last month’s $249.8 million projection. Fairfield County Business Journal has the numbers here.
- As the pandemic recedes, CT is marketing itself as a potential remote work hub. Hartford Business Journal has the story here.
- 14 Connecticut companies earned a place on the 2021 Fortune 500. Hartford Business Journal has the details here.
- For the first time in nearly nine months, Connecticut reported no new coronavirus-linked deaths yesterday. The Hartford Courant reports on the latest metrics here.