Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • January 27, 2020 • Hartford Business Journal 17 Quality Construction + Butler Manufacturing = Repeat Customers www.borghesibuilding.com © 2011 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Butler Manufacturing™ is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. 2155 East Main Street • Torrington, Connecticut 06790 Stevens Manufacturing, Milford, CT | 1990 | 22,000 sq. ft. • 1998 | Addition — 5,000 sq. ft. 2009 | Addition — 8,300 sq. ft. • 2016 | Addition — 29,000 sq. ft. Contact us at 860-482-7613 or visit us on the web. WE PROVIDE CT BUSINESS LEADERS WITH THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY RUN THEIR BUSINESS. ARE YOU IN THE KNOW? SUBSCRIBE BY GOING TO HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM CLICK ON "SUBSCRIBE" LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW state will simply reduce benefit levels to compensate, but Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) predicts another potential outcome: That lawmakers may feel pressure to make employers shoulder some of the extra burden. "We haven't done the math that says this is going to be enough money," Fasano said. House Majority Leader Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) says concerns are over- stated. "I think we're going to have a very successful program," he said. "Will there be changes? Sure. Any complex program will have some minor tinkering." Another recent policy Brennan hopes to revisit this year is charg- ing sales tax on dry-cleaning services and safety-equip- ment purchases. He also wants the sales tax on certain worker-training services repealed. "It's not huge dollars, but it's something we'll look at," he said. Transfer Act Lawmakers last year made several significant changes to a state law that governs the disclosure and cleanup of a contaminated property when it's sold. Developers and others have argued that the Transfer Act has been causing unnecessary delays in returning parcels to productive use. The 2019 changes exempted cer- tain types of hazardous waste from the law and tightened the timeframe for the state to conduct an audit of a contaminated property. The changes are expected to reduce the number of property re- developments that get delayed, but further tweaks could be coming. A working group formed under the 2019 law will make recommenda- tions to lawmakers early next month. "[The Transfer Act] is a business killer in the state of Connecticut," said Sen. Christine Cohen (D-Guil- ford), co-chair of the Environment Committee, during a recent panel discussion in Hartford, adding that the act's aim to protect the environ- ment is also important. She said the working group hopes to strike that balance with its com- ing policy recommendations. "That's one of the things I'm most excited about for next session," she said. Sin bills Count on a strong push to legalize sports betting this session, said Rit- ter, who has been frustrated to see neighboring states reap tax revenue from their brick-and-mortar and online sportsbooks. "I think there's more momentum this year to really consider it long and hard, and I hope we can get to a deal with the tribes," Ritter said. He is encouraged by Lamont's recent rekindling of talks with the state's two casino-operating tribes. An agreement will be crucial, as the tribes claim their long-standing revenue-sharing compact with the state gives them rights to sports betting. The matter could end up in a lengthy court battle if the state tries to cut them out. Lamont sought a grand bargain last year that would have included a third casino, sports betting and on- line wagering, but the talks ultimate- ly fell apart. Lamont has indicated he may be willing to decouple sports betting from the contentious casino issue in order to get a deal done. Lamont may also push recreation- al marijuana legalization. CT News Junkie recently reported that Lamont's team is prepar- ing a bill that includes regulation, taxation, expungement of criminal records and an equity commission. New rules for quasi-public agencies Last summer, after reporters revealed questionable expenditures and hiring at the fledgling Connecti- cut Port Authority, Lamont ordered a review of the operations and governance of all state quasi-public agencies. Fasano said he will pursue stricter rules on quasi-publics this session that could get bipartisan support. He wants to require increased re- porting, legislative review of salaries above $100,000 and raises of more than 10 percent, and Attorney Gen- eral review of larger contracts. "I think there are still arguments for quasis [to exist] but that doesn't mean they can run amok," Fasano said. Matt Ritter, House Majority Leader (D-Hartford)

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