The Connecticut General Assembly adjourned sine die on May 8.

During the session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 253 concerning foreign political spending.

The bill prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions or expenditures and individuals from receiving contributions from foreign nationals.

Additionally, it requires certification on independent expenditure reports that the person making the expenditure is not a foreign national.

If signed by the governor, Senate Bill 253 becomes effective from passage.

This does affect lobbying reporting.

The monthly employer activity report required any month the General Assembly is in regular session is due June 10.

On January 23, 2024, a special election will be held to fill a vacant seat for the 115th Assembly District of the Connecticut House of Representatives.

Gov. Ned Lamont formerly announced the special election on December 8 in order to fill the seat vacated by Dorinda Borer.

Borer resigned on December 2 and was inaugurated as the newly elected mayor of West Haven on December 3.

Voters in New Haven, Connecticut approved changes to the City Charter, which includes extending the terms of the mayor, the city clerk, and alders (members of the Board of Aldermen) from two to four years.

Additionally, the revision allows the Board of Alderman to increase the salaries for alders, allows them more power to reform commissions and boards, and requires all city contracts of above $100,000 to be approved by them.

The increases in the length of terms takes effect in 2027, following two more election cycles.

A charter revision for Stamford, Connecticut failed to pass in yesterday’s election.

The ballot measure would have altered the appointment process for non-elected boards and commissions, changed allowing board members with expired terms to continue to hold seats and participate in voting, and allowed any member of the Board of Representatives to nominate a candidate to a board or commission in certain circumstances.

Additionally, the measure would change how outside legal counsel is retained by the Board and added residency requirements for certain non-elected city officials.

Both opponents and proponents of the charter revisions saw it as shifting power away from the mayor to the Board of Representatives.

On November 7, citizens of Hartford, Connecticut elected Democrat Arunan Arulampalam.

Arulampalam, CEO of Hartford Land Bank, defeated Republican Mike McGarry and a variety of petitioning candidates.

Before becoming CEO, Arulampalam worked as a commissioner with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.

Arulampalam will replace Mayor Luke Bronin, who did not seek reelection.

Gov. Lamont called for a second special session to convene on September 26.

This session is seeking the approval of several pieces of legislation, including changing the date set by state statute for Connecticut to hold its presidential preference primary and also authorizing the Office of Secretary of the State to retain election monitors in certain municipalities.

Connecticut is currently one of the last states in the nation to hold its presidential primary.

The legislation being considered will move the date of the primary up four weeks from the last Tuesday in April to the first Tuesday in April.

Gov. Lamont called the Legislature into special session to consider the nomination of Nora Dannehy to the Supreme Court.

The governor’s proclamation compels the special session to begin on September 19.

A second special session proclamation by Lamont is anticipated later this month to consider legislation changing the date for Connecticut’s presidential preference primary.

The Connecticut Legislature adjourned sine die on June 7 after passing a two-year $51 billion state budget.

The budget includes historic cuts to personal income taxes and the reduction is predicted to benefit approximately 1 million of the state’s 1.7 million income tax filers.

The new budget also boosts state aid for local school districts by an additional $329 million.

Once the budget is signed by Gov. Lamont, it will take effect July 1.

This does affect lobbying reporting. The final monthly activity report is due July 10.

Three special elections have been scheduled for February 28, to fill vacant seats in the state’s Assembly District 6, 100, and 148.

The Assembly District 6 seat was vacated by Rep. Edwin Vargas when he resigned to pursue an academic post.

The Assembly District 148 seat was vacated when Rep. Daniel Fox resigned to accept an anticipated judicial nomination.

The Assembly District 100 seat was vacated when Rep. Quentin Williams was killed in a car crash earlier this month.

The winner of each election on February 28 will serve the remainder of each term, all of which expire at the end of 2024.

Lawmakers will convene for a special session of the Connecticut General Assembly on November 28.

Lawmakers will discuss extending the gas tax holiday and the continued suspension of fares on all public transit buses.

The 2022 session of the Connecticut General Assembly adjourned on May 4.

Lawmakers passed a state budget including more than $600 million in tax cuts, made Juneteenth a state holiday, and dedicated $300 million toward fighting the opioid epidemic.

Bills related to campaign consultants, municipal campaign finance filings, and banning foreign money in state elections were introduced but not passed.

This does affect lobbyist reporting dates.

The monthly employer activity report required any month the General Assembly is in regular session is due June 10

Connecticut Gov. Lamont announced a special election for Assembly District 5 to be held on March 1.

The seat became vacant when Rep. Brandon McGee, Jr. resigned to take a senior role on Lamont’s reelection campaign.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the two-year term set to expire in December.

Connecticut Gov. Lamont announced a special election for Assembly District 71 to be held on February 22.

The seat became vacant when Rep. Anthony “Tony” D’Amelio retired last week.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the two-year term set to expire in December 2022.

Connecticut Gov. Lamont announced a special election for House District 144 to be held on January 25, 2022.

The seat became vacant when Rep. Caroline Simmons was sworn in as the first female mayor of Stamford.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the two-year term set to expire in December 2022.

Lamont is also expected to call for a special election to fill the vacant seat in House District 71.

State Rep. Anthony “Tony” D’Amelio announced he will retire on December 31 at midnight to spend more time with his family and focus on running his restaurant.