These news briefs were originally written for CT Politics, The Connecticut Mirror’s weekly newsletter providing updates on the 2025 legislative session. To sign up for CT Politics, click here.
Towing changes
Following an investigation into towing practices from The Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica, lawmakers and state officials say they plan to take steps to change towing law and make it easier for drivers to get their vehicles back. A couple of bills were filed on the first day of session, and it’s likely that more will come in over the next couple of weeks.
– Ginny Monk, Housing & Children’s Issues Reporter
LGBTQ+ Rights
Members of the LGBTQ+ Justice & Opportunity Network gathered on Wednesday at the Capitol to press lawmakers to develop and expand access to health care funds, the creation of a dedicated LGBTQ+ policy analyst role within the Commission on Women, Children and Equitable Access, and an updated needs assessment to supply concrete data on the group’s needs. “COVID especially, while it has resolved for the most part, totally rocked the population and changed everything about the economy, about housing, and healthcare, and that has direct impacts on the queer community that are just different than our heterosexual counterparts,” said Bill Ollayos, a spokesman for the LGBTQ+ Justice and Opportunity Network.
– Laura Tillman, Human Services Reporter
Housing bills
As Connecticut’s housing crisis worsens, state lawmakers are looking to build more housing, increase services for the homeless population, and improve renter protections. This session will likely see a reiteration of several ideas related to zoning and housing, along with some new ideas. Legislators will debate bills to increase residential density near public transit, reform eviction law and increase funding allotted to the state’s homelessness response system, among other measures.
– Ginny Monk, Housing & Children’s Issues Reporter
Education budget battles
Both K-12 and higher education stakeholders are preparing for familiar budget battles that they’ve advocated for in previous years. In K-12, advocates plan to push this legislative session for continued ECS funding, while prioritizing managing the cost of special education. In higher education, the state’s public universities (UConn and the CSCU system) will ask to increases to their block grants, which they say will keep their systems afloat as one-time funding from the state runs out. Other priorities for the Education Committee this year will include safety initiatives, the charter school approval process and teacher recruitment and retainment. In higher education, lawmakers will also likely consider legislation regarding legacy admissions.
– Jessika Harkay, Education Reporter
Conservation and development
A state legislative committee saw broad support for the draft of the State Plan of Conservation and Development at a public hearing Friday. Following the hearing, the Continuing Committee on State Planning and Development has 45 days to get the legislature’s approval on the plan. The document, which is updated every five years, lays out the way Connecticut will deal with climate change, environmental conservation, housing and developing its municipalities. After the committee approves the plan, it will go to the House and Senate as a resolution.
– Ginny Monk, Housing & Children’s Issues Reporter