CRCOG's 2024 Legislative Summary

Hello. Our legislative update is 935 words and a 5-minute read. 

Connecticut’s legislative session officially kicked off yesterday. It’s going to be a short session and our state legislators will have a great deal of work ahead of them over the next few months. In preparation for this year’s session, our Legislative Committee and Policy board have put together a Legislative Agenda that will focus on our priorities for our region.  

Our agenda is separated into two broad categories - Legislative Proposals to be introduced by CRCOG and Other Legislative Proposals and Initiatives to Support. 

Here’s our short list of CRCOG’s legislative priorities:



• Federal infrastructure funding - assist with Local Match for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to enable municipalities to take full advantage of federal funding opportunities. 
• Municipal service sharing - remove remaining statutory barriers and provide incentives to promote municipal service sharing at the local level. 
• Regional/intermunicipal fair rent commissions – expressly permit municipalities with a population of 25,000 or more to form intermunicipal or regional fair rent commissions at local option. 
• Motor Vehicle Mill Rate Cap – hold towns harmless from loss of state revenue sharing designed to supplement state’s motor vehicle mill rate cap. 
• PILOT funding – fund the state’s payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) programs at statutorily required levels.  
• Funding for CFSIC – authorize the issuance of the remaining balance of $50 million in bond funds allocated under PA 21-120 to enable the CT Foundation Indemnity Solutions Company (CFSIC) to continue its mission to assist homeowners with repairing/replacing crumbling foundations. 
• Permitting/siting of large solar installations – enhance the municipal role in the Siting Council’s permitting process for solar installations greater than one megawatt in size. 
• Medicaid ambulance reimbursement – index state’s Medicaid ambulance reimbursement rate at the Federal level and pay the full rate for group home transport. 

Here is a summary of our legislative agenda and the full report 2024 CRCOG Legislative Agenda. 

Governer Lamonts’ 2024 legislative priorities 

Yesterday, Governor Lamont delivered his annual State of the State and Budget Address. He addressed a joint session of the full general assembly to give his "State of the State and Budget Address.” 

The Governor stated that "our budget is doing more, but we must also focus on doing better. Local government spread across 169 towns and 200 school districts is too damn expensive. Don’t worry, I am not going to use the word regionalize,” which went over like a lead balloon a few years ago. Instead, our budget provides additional flexibility for our COGs so they can hire the tax assessors, building inspectors, purchasing agents…that your town may not be able to afford on a full-time basis, but your COG can make available to you on a contract, as needed basis. That should save you money and provide the skills as needed…" 

• Here is the link to the Governor's 2025 budget proposal overview. 

• Here is the link to the Governors 2025 budget document. 

The Governor’s proposed budget discussions this year will be shaped by the "fiscal guardrails", which are spending restraints first implemented by the legislature in 2017 and extended by the legislature and the Governor last year. The commitment to these fiscal guidelines will face scrutiny as the budget process progresses through the legislative session. 

Key priorities of Connecticut’s legislature 

Connecticut’s legislature has its own set of priorities. They include bills that will focus on: 



• Budget adjustments and debate over spending and tax guardrails to stay under the spending cap. 
• Proposals to restrain the growth of healthcare costs. 
• To lower blood alcohol limits to deter drunk driving. 
• Further action to phase out the sale of new combustion engine vehicles in the next decade.  
• Additional proposals to address the Opioid crisis and the shortage of behavioral health services.  
• To expand the mandate on businesses to provide paid sick days. 

The Democratic House and Senate leadership, urged on by some members of their caucuses, are exploring potential modifications to Governor Lamont’s administration’s guardrails to allow for some funding flexibility. It remains unclear at this time exactly how or to what extent that will be achievable until conversations continue through the budget deliberation process over the next couple of months. 

Meanwhile, House and Senate Minority Leadership will be seeking more sustainable tax cuts, limiting spending, and maintaining the fiscal guardrails. 

Over the coming days, bills will be submitted, and various committees will meet and vet bills coming up for public hearings. The State Constitution and the Legislature's Joint Rules restrict the introduction of bills and resolutions during even-year sessions to the following: 

• By Individual Members: Proposed Bills and Resolutions that relate to budgetary, revenue or financial matters 
• By Committees: Bills and resolutions that relate to budgetary, revenue or financial matters 
• By Legislative Leaders: Bills and resolutions certified as emergencies by the Speaker and President Pro Tempore 

The Session is short and will end on May 8, 2024. 

ICYMI: In the news 

What’s happening in and around the capital? Here’s a short list of new stories we think are worth reading when you have a moment. 

• Feb. 7: Lamont keeps CT budget within fiscal guardrails, pays down $500M in debt 
• Feb. 7: Connecticut leaders launch campaign to tackle loneliness epidemic 
• Feb.7: Lamont’s $26.1B budget plan takes a big bite out of bonded debt 
• Feb. 7: Motor Vehicle Tax Task Force Completes Report Without Reaching Consensus 
• Feb. 6: Activists and Lawmakers Rally at Capitol for Greater Equity and Revenue to Address Inequality 
• Feb. 1: CT businesses to lawmakers: Don’t touch ‘fiscal guardrails’ 
• Feb. 1: Lamont Plans to Boost Childcare Spending in Budget, Uncertainty Looms Over K-12 Schools Funding 
• Jan. 31: CT families could see some relief as bill with child tax credit passes 

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