A lot is happening at the Capitol this session. Here's a quick rundown of what we're watching (and fighting for) on your behalf.

 
Leaf Blower Ban
Democrats initially proposed banning the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers by 2029 and their use entirely by 2030 -- and wanted ratepayers to foot the bill through a new charge buried in the "public benefits" section of your electric bill. After pushback from landscapers and ratepayer advocates, the mandate was stripped. But the issue isn't going away. The revised bill would still route money through the Connecticut Green Bank -- which draws funding from that same public benefits charge -- to subsidize purchases of battery-powered equipment. The mandate may be gone for now, but this is an incremental push toward an eventual ban on leaf blowers...and anything else with a small engine. Rep. Pat Callahan, our caucus leader on the Environment Committee, put it plainly:


Though the current version of the bill does not include the mandate, it's an incremental push toward the ultimate goal of banning leaf blowers and attacking anything that has a small engine.

 
Gas Tax Holiday, or Permanent Relief?
With fuel prices rising sharply in the wake of the U.S.-Iran conflict, Governor Lamont floated a short-term gas tax holiday. Leader Candelora welcomed the idea -- but pushed for more. If the Governor is serious about relief and not just a headline, Candelora said, he should call a meeting with legislative leaders and put something permanent on the table, not a one-month fix.


House Republicans have spent this session fighting for lasting affordability measures--from increasing the state's property tax exemption to reforming the Education Cost Sharing formula to help municipalities and taxpayers manage rising education costs. Check out our policy agenda here.

 
Homeschooling, Religious Freedom
Opponents dubbed it "Wicked Wednesday" and for good reason. In a single day, the legislature held public hearings on three highly controversial bills targeting homeschooling families, religious freedom, and Second Amendment rights. House Bill 5468 cleared the Education Committee 26-20. The bill would require parents to appear in person to withdraw a child from school, file annual forms, document educational progress, and retain records for three years -- all subject to DCF review. Rep. Lezlye Zupkus, Ranking Member of the Education Committee, led Republican opposition to the bill.


The Public Health Committee advanced two identical proposals -- one House bill, one Senate bill -- that would block parents from challenging Connecticut's 2021 removal of the religious vaccine exemption. Parents have been pursuing that challenge under the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which has been on the books since 1993, and may even win a pending lawsuit against the state. In a move that drew sharp criticism, Democrats on the committee shut off public testimony during a recent public hearing on these bill.


 
An Attack on the Last Bipartisan Committee
One of the most alarming proposals this session has flown largely under the radar. HB 5554 would restructure the Regulation Review Committee -- the legislative body that approves state agency regulations before they take effect -- replacing its 50-year-old bipartisan, evenly-divided structure with one controlled by whichever party runs each chamber. More than 300 pieces of written testimony were submitted during the public hearing, nearly all of it in opposition. The bill is a committee bill, meaning no individual legislator put their name on it...a telling sign. It's a brazen attempt to eliminate one of the last meaningful checks on majority power. By week's end, Leader Candelora had joined forces with Democrat House Speaker Matt Ritter to push back on the proposal. Read their joint statement here.

 
Controversial Housing Bill Advances
Call S.B. 257 what it is: state-sanctioned trespassing. That's Rep. Tony Scott, our caucus leader on the Housing Committee, on the so-called "Just Cause" bill. The legislation would allow tenants to overstay their lease indefinitely, regardless of what the property owner wants. A lease is a contract. Just like a hotel room, a rental car, or an Airbnb, there's a signed agreement between two parties for a set period of time. This bill strips property owners of their rights. Ironically, Scott warns it could also hurt tenants. More landlords will pursue evictions preemptively, and that court record will follow renters for years, making it harder to find housing down the road. "This is a slippery slope," Scott says, "and we must consider all the ramifications."

 
The Other Side of Public Service
CT Inside Investigation published an in-depth report recently that's a great read for any taxpayer interested in the intersection of state funding and the professional lives and finances of people who are elected to make laws. Take a look at this eye-popping report.

 
Let'em Cook...


What happens when a bully gets called out on bullying behavior? Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco has a pointed conversation with the head of the state's main teachers' union. It's a must-watch.
Not a group to rest on it's laurels, Democrats who control the Labor Committee strive to keep Connecticut among the most hostile places in the nation for job creators. Rep. Steve Weir, our leader on committee, provides an update here.
High electric rates remain a top priority for frustrated Connecticut residents. Rep. Jason Buchsbaum, a member of the Energy Committee, asks Democrats what they're doing about the crisis as they push a bill leading to subsidization of solar panels for low-income residents.
Rep. John Piscopo, the longest-serving member of our caucus, continues his efforts to install statewide standards for cancer screenings for firefighters.
Rep. Kurt Vail, a member of the Human Services Committee, weighed in on legislation aimed at delivering consumer safeguards in purchases of long-term care insurance policies.
Democrats on the Government Administration and Elections Committee have a habit of blindsiding Republicans...including a 52-bill agenda dropped just hours before last Friday's meeting. When they moved to tinker with absentee ballot rules, Rep. Christie Carpino had something to say about it.