Early February GHIAA Legislative Issue Updates
UUSE works with the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance on a variety of social justice issues. Here are some updates on issues GHIAA and UUSE are addressing in the 2025 legislative session.
Expansion of Just Cause Eviction Protection
The State of Connecticut currently extends Just Cause Eviction protection only to people with disabilities and people 62 or older. Other people may be evicted for no reason at all. A measure being proposed during this legislative session would expand eviction protections to all renters in buildings with more than five units. Landlords would have to provide a reason — for example, a lease violation or a failure to pay rent — in order to evict someone.
The Connecticut Mirror (Jan 23, 2025) noted:
Supporters say the measure would protect tenants who complain about conditions on the property and prevent situations in which a new property owner might evict multiple tenants in order to raise rental rates. They also said with rising rents and a lack of housing across the state — particularly housing that’s affordable to people with low incomes — eviction protections could help keep people housed.
In late January, the Housing Committee voted to support the concept of Just Cause and drafted a committee bill on this subject. We anticipate that there will be a public hearing for this bill in February or March with opportunities to submit written and oral testimonies.
Fiscal Policy/Moral Budget
CT is a wealthy state with billions of dollars stockpiled as surplus. Yet we are starving essential services of necessary resources in order to overstuff our reserves. Analysts have reviewed the Fiscal Roadblocks creating the imbalance and they’ve identified the Volatility Cap and the Spending Cap as primary offenders. These measures are misaligned. The Rainy Day Fund is projected to reach nearly $4.7 Billion or $21,1% of the net General Fund. That equals billions blocked from being reinvested into vital and lifesaving services like special education, mental health services, and care for senior citizens.
In late January, a bill was proposed that would enact some fiscal policy reforms. Many of the representatives who were present at the GHIAA Power Summit in Nov. 2024 are among those who introduced this legislation. GHIAA is currently analyzing this proposed legislation. Next steps will be forthcoming.
HUSKY for Immigrants
The HUSKY for Immigrants campaign is seeking to ensure that all income-eligible people, regardless of immigration status can access HUSKY, the state’s Medicaid program. So far, children up to age 15 and pregnant people are covered. This legislative session, the campaign is seeking to extend coverage to persons up to age 26 and age 65 and over. Two bills have been introduced. Public hearings are likely in late February and there will be opportunities to submit written and oral testimony.
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