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2018 Connecticut legislative session

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2018 legislative sessions coverage
Connecticut General Assembly

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General information
Type:   State legislature
Term limits:   None
Session start:   February 7, 2018
Session end:   May 9, 2018
Website:   Official Legislature Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Nancy Wyman (D)
House Speaker:  Joe Aresimowicz (D)
Majority Leader:   Senate: Bob Duff (D)
House: Matthew Ritter (D)
Minority Leader:   Senate: Len Fasano (R)
House: Themis Klarides (R)
Structure
Members:  36 (Senate), 151 (House)
Length of term:   2 years (Senate), 2 years (House)
Authority:   Art III, Section 1, Connecticut Constitution
Salary:   $28,000/year
Elections
Redistricting:  Connecticut Legislature has control with optional commission

During 2018, Ballotpedia tracked notable stories from the Connecticut General Assembly. The timeline on this page shows the major events that we tracked during 2018, including events in the regular session and in any special sessions that occurred after the regular session adjourned.

If you know of any additional events that should be added to this page, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Overview

In 2018, the Connecticut General Assembly was in session from February 7, 2018, through May 9, 2018.

Partisan control

Connecticut was one of eight Democratic state government trifectas in 2018. A state government trifecta occurs when one political party holds the governor's office, a majority in the state Senate, and a majority in the state House. For more information about state government trifectas and divided governments, click here.

The following tables show the partisan breakdown of the Connecticut General Assembly in the 2018 legislative session.

Senate

Party As of December 2018
     Democratic Party 18
     Republican Party 18
     Vacancies 0
Total 36

House

Party As of December 2018
     Democratic Party 80
     Republican Party 71
     Vacancies 0
Total 151

Leadership in 2018

Connecticut State Senate

Connecticut House of Representatives

Regular session

Bill statistics

Bills and resolutions Passed House Passed Senate Signed by governor Became law without governor's signature Vetoed
432 390 385 214 1 7

Source: Connecticut General Assembly, "List of Bills Passed as of July 6: 2018 Regular Session," accessed July 6, 2018

Status of legislation at the end of the regular session

The following table shows the status of the legislation Ballotpedia tracked during the 2018 legislative session.

Status of legislation at the end of the 2018 regular session
Legislation Subject area Actions during the regular session Status at the end of the regular session
HB 5421 Joining the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Passed House
Passed Senate 		Signed into law
HB 5542 Bump stock ban Passed House
Passed Senate 		Signed into law
Amendment to SB 336 Passed Senate Did not see further action
SB 543 Budget Passed House
Passed Senate 		Signed into law

April 26, 2018

House approves joining National Popular Vote Interstate Compact
The Connecticut House of Representatives voted in favor of joining the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, an interstate compact among 11 jurisdictions that would guarantee the presidency to the winner of the national popular vote. According to the National Popular Vote website, the states representing at least 270 electoral college votes must adopt the legislation for the compact to take effect.[1]

Representatives disagreed on the objectives of the bill. Democratic Rep. Bob Godfrey supported the bill and said it gave power to the people by allowing them to directly elect the president. Republican Reps. Mitch Bolinsky and Michael McLachlan expressed concern that the bill would dimish Connecticut's influence.[2]

The House passed the bill by a 77-73 vote along party lines. It was sent to the state Senate for consideration. Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney (D) expressed support for the bill.[3]

Update: The state Senate approved the bill on May 5, 2018, and Gov. Dan Malloy (D) signed it on May 24, 2018.
See also: National Popular Vote Interstate Compact

May 1, 2018

Bump stock ban advances to state Senate
The Connecticut House of Representatives voted 114-35 on a bill that would ban ownership of bump stocks and similar devices that increase the rate of fire of a semi-automatic rifle.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many

Gov. Dan Malloy (D) expressed support for the bill: "I cannot see one legitimate reason why anyone needs to own a bump stock other than for the mass shooting of people." Scott Wilson, president of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, said the bill was unnecessary because the manufacturer had already stopped making bump stocks and because there was "an impending ban on the instruments at the federal level."Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many The Connecticut Citizens Defense League described itself as a grassroots organization "advocating for the right to keep and bear arms."[4]

Bump stocks were banned in Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington, and Florida at the time of the bill's passage, and legislation to ban bump stocks was under consideration in other states including Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, and Delaware.[5] Read more here.

Update: The state Senate approved the bill on May 8, 2018, and Gov. Dan Malloy (D) signed it on May 31, 2018.

May 4, 2018

Connecticut Senate approves bill related to net neutrality rules
Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman (D) cast a tie-breaking vote to send a bill related to net neutrality to the Connecticut House of Representatives. The measure had died in committee but was brought back as an amendment to Senate Bill 336, which initially dealt with community shared solar power. The amendment would prohibit internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking content, impairing traffic, or prioritizing content in exchange for benefits (also known as paid prioritization). The measure would require ISPs to publicly disclose information about network management practices.

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D) said maintaining net neutrality guidelines was good for businesses, startups, students, and consumers in the state.[6] Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano said the bill would result in a loss of innovation and business involvement with information, saying, "Let the marketplace dictate where we want to be."[7]

The bill was sent to the Connecticut House of Representatives, where a similar bill failed to pass out of committee, according to Westfair.[8]

On December 14, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2, along party lines, to repeal net neutrality rules instituted during the Obama administration. The FCC also sought to prevent state and local government from imposing net neutrality rules. The rules, known as the 2015 Open Internet Order, prohibited ISPs from blocking or slowing web traffic or providing paid internet fast lanes.

At the time of the bill's passage, Connecticut was one of at least 21 states and the District of Columbia involved in a legal challenge to the FCC's ruling. All of the states that joined the suit also had Democratic attorneys general. At least 26 other states had also introduced bills in response to the FCC's decision. Governors in Washington and Oregon had signed legislation protecting net neutrality principles into law.

Update: The amendment to SB 336 did not see further action in the state House.
See also: Net neutrality responses by state

May 5, 2018

State Senate approves bill to join National Popular Vote Interstate Compact
The Connecticut State Senate approved HB 5421, which would allow the state's electoral votes to go to the presidential candidate who won the popular vote. HB 5421 would authorize Connecticut to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, an interstate compact among 11 jurisdictions. The Senate voted 21-14 for the bill, which passed the House by a 77-73 vote on April 26. Democratic Gov. Dan Malloy expressed support for the measure.[9] Read more here.

Update: Gov. Dan Malloy (D) signed HB 5421 on May 24, 2018.
See also: National Popular Vote Interstate Compact

May 8, 2018

General Assembly sends bump stock ban to governor's desk
The Connecticut State Senate voted 26 to 10 on a bill that would prohibit the sale, transfer, possession, manufacture, or use of bump stocks. Bump stocks are devices that increase the rate of fire of a semi-automatic rifle. Individuals without a firearm permit who possess the devices would be guilty of a felony after October 1, 2018. Individuals with a firearm permit who possess bump stocks would be guilty of a misdemeanor on a first offense until July 1, 2019, and subsequently guilty of a felony.[10]

The Connecticut House of Representatives approved the bill on May 1 by a 114-35 vote. The bill was sent to Democratic Gov. Dan Malloy, who said he would sign it.[10] Read more here.

Update: Gov. Dan Malloy (D) signed the legislation on May 31, 2018.

May 31, 2018

Governor signs bump stock ban into law
Gov. Dan Malloy (D) signed a bill banning bump stocks and other rate-of-fire enhancements. According to a press release from the governor's office, Connecticut joined Massachusetts, California, Vermont, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Washington, Hawaii, and Florida in banning the devices.[11]

Budget

2018

On May 15, 2018, Gov. Dan Malloy signed a $20 billion bill revising the state budget for the 2019 fiscal year. It passed unanimously in the Senate and by a 142-8 vote in the House on May 9, 2018—the last day of the legislative session.[12]

The bill included provisions to:

  • restore funding to the Medicare savings program, cities and towns, and the state Medicaid program, HUSKY A (HUSKY A is the state's public healthcare program that provides Medicaid to children, teens, parents, relative caregivers, and pregnant women);
  • prohibit Gov. Dan Malloy (D) from increasing bus and train fares;
  • reduce sales tax on boat sales from 6.35 percent to 2.99 percent;
  • preserve tax breaks that were passed in 2017 for Social Security and pension income recipients;
  • allocate additional funding for magnet and vocational-agricultural schools and for 30 Superior Court judges; and
  • increase funding by 1 percent for nonprofit organizations contracting with the state.[13] Read more here.

In signing the legislation, Gov. Malloy delivered a letter to the Connecticut General Assembly congratulating them on the bipartisan budget deal but raising concerns about the state's fiscal stability, noting that the state did not close its $386.7 million deficit.[12]

Process

See also: Connecticut state budget and finances
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The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[14]

  1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in July.
  2. State agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in September.
  3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in February.
  4. The legislature adopts a budget in May or June. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year begins on July 1.

Connecticut is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[14][15]

The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget. Likewise, the legislature must adopt a balanced budget.[14]

Noteworthy events

Sexual misconduct in the state capitol

See also: Sexual misconduct in state capitols (2017-2018)
  • State Rep. Angel Arce (D): Arce announced he would resign from office on March 7, 2018. He had been accused of sending inappropriate Facebook messages to a 16-year old girl. Arce did not say whether he sent the messages or not, but he did say he was familiar with the girl, who was 18 at the time the allegations were reported. Among the messages he allegedly sent to the woman, who disclosed them to the Hartford Courant, were, "Good night love and sweet dreams and thank you for coming into my life,"; “I wish you were living in Hartford. We be hanging out all the times"; "You so beautiful and gorgeous"; and, “Really hun trust I think we going to keep a lot of secrets between us.”
In his resignation statement, he said, "I do not want my presence to be a distraction to the very important work that occurs at the capitol and on the town committee every day. I also do not want my family, friends and supporters to be burdened in any way.”
Arce made his resignation official on April 9, 2018. When announcing this on March 29, he said, "My text communications with the daughter have created the impression and suspicion that I was engaged in an improper relationship as made apparent by the text messages which were published out of context and with no explanation of the relationship. I was not then and I am not now engaged in an improper relationship with either mother or daughter. Although my language may be misconstrued, it was not intended by me nor received by the mother or daughter as an approach for any romantic relationship."[16]

Legislatively referred constitutional amendments

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

The methods by which the Connecticut Constitution can be amended:

See also: Article XII and Article XIII of the Connecticut Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Connecticut

The Connecticut Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Connecticut requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments. Connecticut does not feature the power of initiative for either initiated constitutional amendments or initiated state statutes.

Legislature

See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

In Connecticut, a constitutional amendment can be referred to the ballot after one legislative session or two legislative sessions depending on the vote count.

When an amendment receives a 75% vote in both legislative chambers, the amendment goes on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 114 votes in the Connecticut House of Representatives and 27 votes in the Connecticut State Senate, assuming no vacancies.

When an amendment receives a simple majority vote in both legislative chambers, the amendment must pass during two successive legislative sessions to go on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 76 votes in the Connecticut House of Representatives and 19 votes in the Connecticut State Senate, assuming no vacancies.

Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

Convention

See also: Convention-referred constitutional amendment

According to Article XIII of the Connecticut Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1978. Connecticut is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.

The table below shows the last and next automatic constitutional convention question election years:

State Interval Last question on the ballot Next question on the ballot
Connecticut 20 years 2008 2028

The Legislature can also refer a constitutional convention question to the ballot. A two-thirds vote is required in each legislative chamber to refer a convention question to the ballot.

Proposals adopted at a state constitutional convention require voter approval.


See also

Elections Connecticut State Government State Legislatures State Politics
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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ National Popular Vote.com, Main page, accessed August 9, 2011
  2. ↑ Connecticut Post, "House gives support to joining National Popular Vote compact," April 26, 2018
  3. ↑ National Popular Vote.com, "Connecticut," accessed May 2, 2018
  4. ↑ Connecticut Citizens Defense League, "About Us," accessed May 3, 2018
  5. ↑ The Connecticut Mirror, "Connecticut moves closer to banning bump stocks," May 2, 2018
  6. ↑ Hartford Courant, "With Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman Breaking Tie, Connecticut Senate Passes Net Neutrality Bill," May 5, 2018
  7. ↑ The Connecticut Mirror, "Senate passes bill to restore net neutrality in Connecticut," May 4, 2018
  8. ↑ Westfair, "Net neutrality bill squeaks through Connecticut Senate vote," May 7, 2018
  9. ↑ The Hill, "Connecticut state Senate passes bill giving electoral votes to presidential candidate who wins popular vote," May 6, 2018
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Connecticut Mirror, "On bipartisan vote, Connecticut bans bump stocks," May 9, 2018
  11. ↑ The Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy, "Gov. Malloy Signs Legislation Banning Bump Stocks and Other Rate of Fire Enhancements," May 31, 2018
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 The Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy, "Gov. Malloy Signs Budget Adjustment Bill," May 15, 2018
  13. ↑ The Hartford Courant, "Senate, House Approve State Budget Before Midnight Deadline," May 10, 2018
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
  15. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
  16. ↑ Hartford Courant, "Arce Finally Resigns, Denying Any 'Improper Relationship' With Teen Girl He Texted," March 29, 2018
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