Which bills move Connecticut up? Which ones don’t?
As this issue of CBIA News goes to press, the state legislature is considering numerous proposals that would help Connecticut move up into the top 20 states for economic competitiveness by 2017 and others that wouldn’t. Below are just some of the most important. For a complete list of bills, click here.
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Legislative Progress Report
These bills drive economic growth and job creation. Urge your legislators to vote YES.
STATE BUDGET & TAXES
- SB 40: Prohibits the use of bond proceeds to pay for ongoing government expenditures and requires they be used only for their specified purpose
- SB 946 (Sec. 21): Eliminates the $250 Business Entity Tax
- SB 952: ”Second Chance Society” prison reform bill to help nonviolent offenders transition to becoming productive members of society
- SB 1017: Updates and makes more usable the manufacturing apprenticeship tax credit passed last year to expand the manufacturing talent pipeline
BUSINESS LAW & LIABILITY
- SB 1032: Creates a fair and reasonable statute of limitations time frame for the state to bring legal action on certain contracts and projects
ENERGY
- SB 1078: Empowers the state to enter into regional agreements to address high energy prices in New England
ENVIRONMENT
- SB 941: Ensures that more rigorous environmental reporting requirements don’t become effective until the regulatory procedures for administering those new requirements are in place
REGULATORY REFORM
- SB 961 (Sec. 3): Requires agencies to develop “federal deviation analyses” when proposing regulations for which federal standards or procedures exist in order to clarify compliance requirements and streamline regulation development
TRANSPORTATION
- HJ 62: Amends the constitution to prohibit the use of funds in the Special Transportation Fund for non-transportation purposes
- HB 6840: Contains the governor’s 30-year transportation infrastructure improvement plan
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
- HB 7007: Adopts the recommendations of the Connecticut Higher Education Planning Commission
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Legislative Progress Report
These bills stop economic growth and job creation. Urge your legislators to vote NO.
STATE BUDGET & TAXES
- SB 1 (Secs. 51–54): Multifaceted property tax “reform” measure that will mean higher property taxes for most, if not all, job creators in Connecticut
- SB 946: Tax measures in the governor’s budget proposal that effectively increase taxes on businesses by nearly $500 million and seriously weaken the state’s strategic tax policy promoting innovation
- HB 6824: Governor’s budget bill making appropriations and other provisions related to revenue for the biennium ending June 30, 2017
LABOR
- SB 1044 & HB 6791: Impose a tax of $1 per hour worked by any employee paid less than $15 per hour on employers with either 500-plus or 250-plus employees (respectively) or franchisors whose local franchises (mainly small businesses) collectively meet or exceed those thresholds
- HB 6932: Mandates that employees pay into a system allowing 12 weeks per year of paid leave, during which businesses must continue to provide non-wage benefits; taxpayers would fund the administration of the program
- HB 6933: Requires employers to post employee schedules 21 days in advance or risk a “predictability pay” tax; failed in committee but could resurface
ENERGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
- SB 570: Increases the portion of consumer energy bills based on the amount of energy used, raising costs on manufacturers and other large energy users
- HB 7055: Creates a new program for subsidizing development of renewable power, which would add $180 million to ratepayer bills over the life of the program at a time when Connecticut has the highest energy costs in the continental United States
HEALTHCARE
- SB 955: Drives up the cost of health insurance premiums for small employers by transferring $8.8 million from the Department of Public Health budget to the Insurance Fund