From the Rome Smith & Lutz team:
The Connecticut General Assembly adjourned sine die the 2019 regular legislative session. Governor Lamont will address the joint session of the General Assembly to call the legislature back in for a special session on tolls and transportation infrastructure. Both chambers voted to adopt a resolution calling themselves back in for a special session on a date to be determined. The call for a special session is available at this link: Senate Joint Resolution No. 44
The $43 billion biennium budget is anticipated to close with a balance of over $2 billion in the Rainy Day Fund, which will be the highest in state history. Additionally, the passage of increases in the minimum wage and paid family and medical leave stand out as two of the most contentious issues to pass the General Assembly this year after being prominent campaign platforms for the majority party. There still remain a number of items that are expected to be raised during an upcoming special session, including transportation infrastructure funding/tolls, an economic development package, and the full state bonding package.
From David Lehman, Commissioner, Department of Economic and Community Development:
Opportunity Zone enhancements. SB 570 contains a series of initiatives aimed at driving additional investments to our 72 Opportunity Zones, making Connecticut one of only a handful of states to take such actions.
Reforming the Transfer Act. SB 1030 drives key changes to the Transfer Act, which governs sales of contaminated properties. These changes will remove roadblocks for property owners and developers while still ensuring sites will be properly cleaned up. Not only is this good news for the private sector, but it will also help municipalities return more properties to their tax rolls.
Other legislative actions