ACTIVE BILLS
The bills below have passed out of at least one committee and have been sent to the appropriate chamber for a vote. HOWEVER, just because they have been scheduled for a vote does NOT mean that they will be raised for a vote. It is our job to keep pushing these bills through – please contact your legislator, as well as Speaker Ritter and Senate President Looney and ask them to call these bills for a vote.
- Senate President Looney: via his executive secretary: carla.smith@cga.ct.gov (860)240-8614
- Speaker Matt Ritter: Matthew.Ritter@cga.ct.gov (860) 240-8585
- Find your legislator here.
URGENT – HB 5634 – AN ACT INCREASING FUNDING FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS.
To supplement funding for energy efficiency programs identified in the Conservation and Load Management Plan by allocating twenty million dollars from the state budget to support such programs.
Bill Activity– Public Hearing March 2 in Energy and Technology, Passed out of E&T Committee on 3/14, This bill was NOT raised for a vote in Appropriations and is dead as a bill BUT – this funding can be added to the budget! Please contact your legislators and Speaker Ritter and Senate President Looney and urge them to add this to the budget.
SB 1147 – AN ACT CONCERNING THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
To enhance the environmental and public health considerations made under the state’s environmental justice statute and provide the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Connecticut Siting Council with the ability to deny certain permits for a new affecting facility and apply conditions to the expansion of an existing facility.
Bill Activity: Public Hearing March 10 in the Environment Committee, Passed the Environment Committee on 3./27, Passed out of Appropriations on 5/1, Sent to Senate for a vote, vote has not been scheduled yet, Climate Lobby Day is 5/24 – REGISTER HERE
SB 961 – AN ACT CONCERNING CARBON-FREE SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND ESTABLISHING OTHER SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
To require the use of project labor agreements when certain solar and energy efficiency projects are required of school districts and to require certain measures by the Department of Public Health concerning air quality and drinking water in school settings.
Bill Activity – Public Hearing 2/15 in Environment Committee, Passed out of Environment Committee on 3/10, Referred to Committee on Finance, Revenue, and Bonding on 5/3, Passed Committee on Finance, Revenue, and Bonding on 5/8, Referred to Appropriations, No new file from Appropriations, Sent to Senate Calendar for a vote, but vote has not been scheduled yet.
SB 963 – AN ACT CONCERNING NEONICOTINOIDS FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL USE.
To prohibit the nonagricultural use of neonicotinoids.
Bill Activity: Public Hearing 2/15 in Environment Committee, Passed out of Environment Committee on 3/10, Passed out of Appropriations on May 1, SB 963 was added as an amendment to the rodenticide bill, SB 962. SB 963 was NOT watered down and the ban remains in place. On the calendar for a Senate vote, but a vote has not been scheduled.
SB 962 – AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF CERTAIN RODENTICIDES.
To prohibit the use of second-generation rodenticides in order to preserve hawk and other raptor populations in the state.
Bill Activity: Public Hearing 2/15 in Environment Committee, Passed out of Environment Committee but with language to only restrict the use of rodenticides, not ban them, Passed out of Appropriations on 5/1
HB 6484 – AN ACT CONCERNING CERTAIN HARVESTING OF HORSESHOE CRABS.
To prohibit the hand-harvesting of horseshoe crabs.
Bill Activity: Public Hearing 1/30, Voted out of Environment 2/7, Reported out of Legislative Commissioners Office on 3/7, on the House Calendar – Passed the House on 4/27, Sent to Senate for a vote
SB 979 – AN ACT PROMOTING ENERGY AFFORDABILITY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND GREEN CITIES.
To implement the Governor’s budget recommendations.
Bill Activity: Public Hearing 2/27 in Environment Committee, Passed out of the Environment Committee on 3/10, Passed out of Judiciary Committee, Sent to Senate for vote, vote has NOT been scheduled yet
Notes: this bill includes a energy labeling system for homes that will encourage landlords and sellers to undergo energy efficiency measures. SB 969 will also promote workforce training for non-fossil fuel based technologies, incorporate energy efficiency into new buildings, and it will increase the tree canopy in urban cities
SB 4 – AN ACT CONCERNING CONNECTICUT’S PRESENT AND FUTURE HOUSING NEEDS.
To promote fair and equitable housing opportunities in every community in the state.
Bill Activity: Public Hearing in Housing Committee on 2/27, Passed out of Housing Committee on 3/2, referred to Appropriations Committee on 5/3 – Lobby Day on Wednesday, 5/17 – REGISTER HERE
Notes: this bill includes renter protections and energy efficiency measures for income-eligible housing
SB 100 – AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ACCOUNT IN THE GENERAL FUND TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO TOWNS THAT NEED PFAS TESTING AND REMEDIATION.
To provide municipalities with needed resources to test for and remediate PFAS contamination on town-owned properties and to assist residential homeowners impacted by such contamination.
Bill Activity: Public Hearing 2/15, Passed out of Environment committee on 3/3, filed with Legislative Commissioner’s Office on 3/6, Referred to Appropriations on 5/3
Notes: Unfortunately, our requested changes were not made – this bill only covers much needed funding for remediation, but doesn’t do anything to address the source. However, it is a step forward and will hopefully set the stage for a more comprehensive bill next year.
HB 5004 – AN ACT IMPLEMENTING EARLY VOTING.
To (1) establish early voting beginning in 2023 for certain elections and beginning in 2024 for certain primaries, special elections and referenda, (2) establish the number of days and hours of, and implement procedures for the conduct of, such early voting, (3) provide for same-day election and same-day primary registrations during periods of early voting, (4) make conforming changes to deadlines for the performance of certain duties prior to an election or primary, and (5) require the Secretary of the State to undertake efforts to educate the public about early voting and train registrars of voters regarding the administration of early voting.
Bill Activity: Public Hearing 2/22 in Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections, Passed out of Committee on 3/14, Referred to Appropriations Committee, Passed Appropriations Committee on 5/1, sent to House, passed House on 5/4, sent to the Senate for a vote, a Senate vote has not been scheduled yet.
DEAD BILLS
HJ 37 – RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.
Bill Activity: Public hearing 2/27 in Environment Committee, did not receive a vote
SB 389 – AN ACT CONCERNING RANKED-CHOICE VOTING.
To provide for ranked-choice voting in elections for members of Congress and allow its use for presidential preference primaries and certain municipal elections.
Bill Activity: Public Hearing 3/6 in Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections
SB 1145 – AN ACT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SECTOR SPECIFIC SUBTARGETS FOR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS AND REGULATING EMISSIONS OF SMALL-OFF ROAD ENGINES.
To enforce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions goals through the establishment of certain sector subtargets and authorize emission standards for certain small off-road engines.
Bill Activity: Public Hearing in the Environment Committee on 3/10, Passed the Environment Committee on 3/27, this bill was referred to Appropriations, but the vote in Appropriations failed
HB 6606 – AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF CERTAIN PRODUCTS MADE FROM POLYSTYRENE.
To eliminate the use of school trays made from polystyrene and prohibit the use of certain polystyrene food containers by restaurants.
Bill Activity: Public Hearing on 2/9, Passed out of Environment Committee 3/3, filed with Legislative Commissioner’s office 3/6, Sent to Appropriations Committee on 4/25, Was not raised in Appropriations Committee
