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.

Street takeovers

On its second try, the House of Representatives passed a bill allowing municipalities to create regulations prohibiting street takeovers.

Debate over the bill was paused last week when Republicans brought up concerns about a part of the bill allowing municipalities to destroy ATVs and dirt-bikes that were seized by the police after violating municipal ordinances if the owner does not claim the vehicles within 30 days.

The amended bill increases the 30 days to 90, assuaging concerns that vehicle owners might not be able to locate an ATV within 30 days if the vehicle was stolen.

It also changes the penalty for multiple counts of participation in a street takeover from license forfeiture to a two-year license revocation and a $2,000 penalty.

Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, R-Wolcott, one of four people who opposed the bill, said she was still concerned about a portion prohibiting people from gathering to observe a street takeover.

“My concern is that you see something going on in your neighborhood, in the area, and you’re curious … they can be fined for that. We can’t prohibit people from coming out of their houses and observing anything,” she said.

But Rep. Greg Howard, R-Stonington, said the municipality would have to prove that the person gathered in the area for the purpose of watching the street takeover in order to enforce that.

The bill passed 144-4.

— Emilia Otte, Justice Reporter

Sunday hunting

A bill to allow Sunday hunting on private lands advanced out of the House on Wednesday, despite the opposition of many in the majority party.

Hunters have spent years pushing to end restrictions on Sunday hunting, which critics have described as one of Connecticut’s last remaining “blue laws.” In 2015, lawmakers voted to allow a limited exception for bow hunting.

House Bill 7231 would go further, allowing Sunday hunting with firearms on private properties of at least 10 acres.

“We’ve talked about the concept for a little while… this year we’re taking a strong next step,” said state Rep. John-Michael Parker, D-Madison, the co-chair of the Environment Committee.

Opponents, however, argued that hunting would disrupt the activities of hikers and others who seek to get outdoors on Sundays. An amendment added to the bill just prior to Wednesday’s vote attempted to ease those concerns by restricting hunting within 40 yards of a blue-blazed hiking trail, even on private lands.

Still, the bill created divisions within the Democratic caucus.

“I am not satisfied, many of the people who testified over the years in front of the Environment Committee are not going to be satisfied with this 40-yard designation,” said state Rep. Mike Demicco, D-Farmington.

The House voted 101 to 45 to advance the bill on Wednesday, with all of the opposition coming from Democrats. It now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

— John Moritz, Environment & Energy Reporter

Emergency voucher housing program

Most of Connecticut’s congressional delegation signed a letter urging the Appropriations Committee to continue funding the Emergency Voucher program, which helps thousands of people across the country pay for their housing, according to a news release sent Friday.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced earlier this year that it would discontinue the program, which offers rental aid to families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. The department cited rising rents as the reason the program was becoming untenable.

“The EHV program provides rental assistance to help end and prevent homelessness,” the letter said. “At a time when housing costs and homelessness continue to rise, we respectfully request that you provide adequate funding in the FY26 THUD Appropriations bill to renew all EHVs to ensure that those who have been served by the program do not lose their housing support and to ensure landlords continue receiving the rental payments they depend on to maintain their properties.”

The program serves about 107,000 people across the country.

Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal signed the bill, as did Reps. Jim Himes, Jahana Hayes, Joe Courtney and John Larson.

— Ginny Monk, Housing & Children’s Issues Reporter

HUSKY delivery

A bill that would ensure that the legislature is part of any change to the Medicaid delivery model passed through the Senate on Friday afternoon. Senate Bill 985 requires the commissioner of the Department of Social Services to submit any plans to change the payment model for Medicaid, called HUSKY in Connecticut, to legislative committees. Currently, the executive branch has authority to make such a change, through DSS.

Gov. Ned Lamont previously commissioned a study to investigate whether returning to a managed care Medicaid model would be more cost efficient. Even studying the possibility of a switch was met with fierce opposition. The resulting report found that Connecticut’s current system — a managed fee-for-service model — boasts lower costs and similar levels of access when compared to peer states. S.B. 985 is designed to ensure that lawmakers would have a say if the subject returns to the table in the future.

Sen. Matthew Lesser, D-Middletown, who is the co-chair of the Human Services Committee, said there is no issue that has attracted more interest across the nation this year than Medicaid.

“There are massive changes happening at the federal level, changes that we’re certainly concerned about in this building. And the question is, when considering major changes or changes to the HUSKY Health Program, should the legislature be at the table? And this bill seeks to make sure that it is.”

— Laura Tillman, Human Services Reporter