Time’s almost up in Hartford. What’s still alive and what’s in limbo
Lawmakers have already voted on the most controversial proposals, but some bills are still awaiting action – while others have already run out of time.
More Stories
The clock is ticking down in Hartford.
Connecticut lawmakers are scrambling to pass hundreds of bills before Wednesday night’s deadline.
Here is a look at what is still alive – and what’s on life support.
“A LITTLE BIT OF CHAOS”
In the final days of the legislative session, anything can happen.
“A bill’s going to go up on the board and you are going to see any individual in that chamber that might object, which causes a little bit of chaos,” said Connecticut House GOP leader Vin Candelora (R-North Branford).
Although Candelora’s party is vastly outnumbered, Republicans have unusual leverage in the last week. They can essentially “run out the clock” since the General Assembly allows unlimited debate on legislation.
DEAD: “JUST CAUSE” EVICTIONS
Time has already run out for some bills, according to legislative leaders.
That includes “Just Cause” evictions legislation, which would require landlords to renew tenants’ lease in most cases. It’s designed to prevent large developers from forcing out tenants simply to raise rents.
“All these people care about is money. They don’t see people; they just see money,” Nick Bailey, of New London, told lawmakers in February. “These disgusting companies that come in and buy everything. Why is that permitted?”
Despite support from Gov. Ned Lamont, Democratic leaders said the vote margin is too narrow with so little time left.
The “Just Cause” bill has failed several years in a row after fierce pushback from property owners.
UNLIKELY TO PASS: “GOLDEN GIRLS BILL”
Also unlikely to pass is the “Golden Girls Bill.” Like the hit television show, homeowners could rent up to three bedrooms out of their homes without local approval.
House Speaker Matt Ritter said it needs an age restriction, but there may not be time to change the legislation and get it through both chambers in time.
“I think you have to go to 55 [years old] to make it a ‘Golden Girls Bill.’ Really, what it is now is party central for college towns,” Ritter told reporters. “Can I rent to four kids at Fairfield U and have them hang out at the beach? Yeah. And it overrides local zoning.”
Republicans also oppose the current language.
“If people want to bring strangers into their home and rent rooms in order to try to save some money, to me it’s a bit disturbing,“ Candelora said. “It fails to recognize the fundamental problem I hear from my constituents is, they can’t afford to pay taxes anymore.”
UNLIKELY TO PASS: EXPANDED EARLY PAROLE
On Tuesday afternoon, House members briefly debated whether to expand early parole eligibility. But leaders said the bill does not have enough support to pass.
“There was significant concern among members that we talked to about any offenders who perhaps had a sexual crime … and whether those should not be considered,” Rojas said.
Around 400 offenders who committed crimes before they turned 26 could apply, but most would still have to serve 60% of their sentence. “There seems to be sort of this boogeyman fear out there that it just means people are just going to be let out right after they’ve committed some sort of heinous crime, and that's not the case,” said state Rep. Steve Stafstrom (D-Bridgeport), co-chair of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee.
Rojas suggested the bill could receive more support next year if the expansion was phased-in.
“Perhaps beginning with 22- and 23-year-olds and then moving up to 24 over a period of time,” he said.
IN LIMBO: PET STORE BANS
A bill letting Stamford and other communities outlaw pet stores is in legislative limbo.
The city’s Board of Representatives approved the ban in November, but Mayor Caroline Simmons vetoed it because it appears to run afoul of state law.
“We had over 170 emails, and that’s a lot,” said Board of Representatives President Nina Sherwood. “If we get five or six on an issue, we tend to like take a look and say, ‘Oh my god, people are really interested in this.’”
The Connecticut House debated the proposal on Monday night, but lawmakers are divided over letting existing pet stores remain open. Currently, only about 14 stores still exist statewide.
“There was a divide amongst the chamber,” Ritter said. “There’s no agreement, so what were we supposed to do?”
LIKELY TO PASS: BAN ON GLOCK HANDGUN SALES
Lawmakers aren’t just saying "no." Many bills are making it through in the last two days.
Lamont’s proposed ban on “convertible pistols” is set to get final approval on Tuesday night following a lengthy debate. The aim is to get deadly “Glock switches” – a cheap piece of plastic that can turn a handgun into a fully automatic weapon – off the streets.
“You can order it off internet,” said recently retired FBI Special Agent-In-Charge John DeVito. “Print it in your backyard.”
Owners could keep their existing handguns – and sell them.
The National Rifle Association is challenging a similar law in California. New York and several other states are considering bans of Glock sales, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal is pushing for more money for the ATF in Congress.
LIKELY TO PASS: PENALTIES FOR PASSING SCHOOL BUSES
Lawmakers are green-lighting tougher penalties for passing a school bus. Drivers would lose their license for a third offense, but only if a police officer pulls them over. An automated school bus camera ticket would not count.
Bridgeport Police issued more than 20,584 tickets to drivers who failed to stop for school buses between August 2024 and June 2025. A private company called BusPatrol installed a camera system on the city’s 248 school buses.
“Illegal school bus passings are a major issue in Bridgeport, across Connecticut and nationwide,” said Justin Meyers, BusPatrol’s president and chief innovation officer. “Our program has proven that over 90% of drivers who receive a violation for unlawfully passing a school bus do not repeat offend.”
State law requires motorists to stop at least 10 feet away from a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing.
PASSED: HATE CRIMES
Connecticut’s hate crimes laws – scattered across dozens of statutes – will be consolidated under a bill passed on Tuesday.
“Those are some of the most heinous crimes that we could possibly envision,” said state Rep. Craig Fishbein (R-Wallingford), the top House Republican on the Judiciary Committee.
Even more changes could be coming next year. The Connecticut Sentencing commission will recommend a new sentencing structure under the new law.
“There are certainly crimes in there that I would say, ‘I can’t believe it’s that penalty is that low’ or ‘I can’t believe that penalty is that high,” Stafstrom said. “Do we tweak those? Do we move them? And we decided, you know what, it really has to be done on a holistic basis.”
According to the FBI, hate crimes jumped 41% in one year.
