{"id":4237,"date":"2022-02-14T11:12:37","date_gmt":"2022-02-14T11:12:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMibWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWhvdXIuY29tL29waW5pb24vYXJ0aWNsZS9Kb25hdGhhbi1MLVdoYXJ0b24tb3Bpbmlvbi1XaGF0LXRvLWxvb2stb3V0LTE2OTEwNTk4LnBocD90PWVjZDE4ZDA4MGLSAQA"},"modified":"2022-02-14T11:12:37","modified_gmt":"2022-02-14T11:12:37","slug":"jonathan-l-wharton-opinion-what-to-look-out-for-this-legislative-session-thehour-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=4237","title":{"rendered":"Jonathan L. Wharton (opinion): What to look out for this legislative session – Thehour.com"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Connecticut General Assembly has begun another term. Before highlighting some of the proposals<\/a> to consider this year, I must cover the particulars of our state legislature.<\/p>\n

First off, the General Assembly meets from the beginning of the calendar year until late spring. They can still hold special legislative sessions beyond springtime months, but we technically have a hybrid legislature<\/a>, since it\u2019s not a full-time legislative body. There have been proposals to change that, but full-time legislatures are often for larger states that require lawmakers to stay over in their state capitals. (For example, Albany and Boston.) In my former policy-aide life, I worked for New Jersey\u2019s legislature, and I can\u2019t easily agree with their lawmaking sessions meeting beyond one season. I\u2019ve been pressed by students and WNPR listeners<\/a> to say which model is ideal, but considering our small state and tradition, I\u2019ll stick with our current lawmaking process.<\/p>\n

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As far as what can be expected this particular legislative session, there\u2019s already been much discussion about addressing COVID measures and extending emergency declarations<\/a> to continue to get federal funding. Budgetary and tax proposals<\/a> are always typical in a legislative session, including talk of car-tax changes.<\/p>\n

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Aside from the usual bills, however, I would suggest paying special attention to education and economic concerns. Facial masking in schools is of significant interest especially since Gov. Ned Lamont announced that mask requirements will fall onto school districts<\/a> officials next month. If last year\u2019s school board and local council meetings were already cantankerous in many municipalities, watch them now. And watch how our state lawmakers respond, particularly since they are up for reelection in November.<\/p>\n

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Most important, watch how our General Assembly responds to the recent settlement<\/a> on the Sheff v. O\u2019Neill case. Since equitable public education has been a decades-long saga in Connecticut, a state Superior Court judge gave her approval to expanding magnet schools and access to suburban schools for urban students through the Open Choice program<\/a>. This has been a controversial policy area in Connecticut politics because school districts vary by demographics and financing.<\/p>\n

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But it will be especially interesting to see our General Assembly\u2019s response to the settlement. Our state government is known for dealing with education reforms, especially those related to the Sheff case. Witness when<\/em> lawmakers vote on the changes required by the new Sheff agreement<\/a>. Thorny proposals tend to be decided toward the end of the legislative session or in special session. One only needs to remember the General Assembly\u2019s delaying tactics with recreational marijuana<\/a> last year.<\/p>\n