OVERVIEW
Most of the concluded 2024 Legislative session focused on what to do with surplus budget funding, dramatic changes in environmental laws plus social issues including abortion and transgender rights.
When it all ended, the Legislator and Gov. Lamont decided not to adjust the two-year state budget but opted to divide up $400 million left from federal subsidies from the COVID era under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). These one-time no strings attached allotments were spread across the state for higher education, non-profit organizations and other local needs.
The good news was the defeat of efforts to make abortion and transgender identity a right under the Connecticut Constitution. There was also a growing movement to restore the importance of family and women in traditional terms through a new coalition of legislators who oppose many radical ideas that are contrary to church teaching.
And in terms of health care, the conference was able to defeat efforts that would have denied Catholic health care givers from keeping with their ethical guidelines in the delivery of services.
Overall, our commitment to life from conception to natural end was victorious.
CT MARCH FOR LIFE 2024
The Conference was proud to be a major sponsor of the third CT March for Life on March 20th at the State Capitol. Working closely with the National March for Life, the Family Institute of Connecticut and the Knights of Columbus, the march was once again a resounding success. Thousands of people converged on Hartford from all around the state to make their voices heard on the issue of the sanctity of the life of the unborn and to listen to a fantastic list of speakers. The Conference and all the organizations that helped make this event a success our continually reviewing our planning to make the next year even more successful.
PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE
The Conference’s strong lobbying effort in past years is one of the main reasons that legislation was never offered to establish Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) during this year’s session. The public relations efforts by the advocates of PAS, which included a publicized “Walk Across Connecticut,” failed to generate interest from the Public Health committee to raise a bill. We are expecting a renewal of this after the 2024 Elections and will be ready for such an initiative.
ABORTION/GENDER IDENTITY - CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT (SJ 4)
An attempt to have a question placed on the November 2024 or 2026 ballot to adopt a constitutional amendment to eliminate the possibility of any limits on abortion and to protect transgender ideology failed to have a vote in the Senate. The legislation was approved by the Government Administration and Elections Committee.
The resolution presented this year was far more expansive when compared to the resolution proposed in 2023. It would have updated the existing constitutional law against discrimination based on race, sex, nation of origin and religion by redefining “sex” to include abortion and gender identity. The 2023 proposal focused only on abortion as an expansive privacy right.
ABORTION/GENDER IDENTITY – CATHOLIC HOSPITALS (HB 5424)
The Conference testified in strong opposition to this legislation due to its potential impact on the ability of Catholic hospitals to oversee the practices of their medical staff. The bill did not force Catholic hospitals to perform abortions or gender identity procedures that violated Catholic healthcare directives (ERDs), but it removed their ability to discipline staff that did perform prohibited procedures or referrals. The bill passed out of the Public Health Committee, but it failed to be called for a vote in the House.
This was the second year the Conference defeated this type of legislation. Abortion advocacy groups have stated publicly in the press that they will pursue it again in 2025.
ABORTION/GENDER IDENTITY – HEALTH CARE DISCRIMINATION (SB 425)
The proposed bill would have created a new state law that made it illegal for a health care provider to discriminate against patients based on race, sex, color, religious creed, gender identity and expression, etc. While the stated goals of the bill were laudable, the application and interpretation by the Connecticut Human Rights and Opportunities Commission raised concerns. Patients seeking care for gender dysphoria, or an abortion could easily bring a charge against the provider under the proposed bill. There were also no provisions to protect providers from charges due to their professional judgement or ethical considerations.
The bill was voted out of the Judiciary Committee but failed to be called for a vote in the Senate.
GENDER IDENTITY – GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTH CARE (SB 214)
This bill was intended to be a technical bill making minor revisions to existing law that made Connecticut a “Safe Harbor” state for providers practicing gender affirming care on patients in other states. Under the existing law if charges are brought against a provider for violating the laws of another state concerning gender affirming care, the State of Connecticut would not cooperate in the legal proceedings, such as not responding to subpoenas or enforcing extradition requests. This language was an exact duplicate of the abortion “Safe Harbor” law. The bill failed to be voted out of the Judiciary Committee following an extensive public hearing.
Unlike the Connecticut abortion “Safe Harbor” law, the gender affirming “Safe Harbor” law never had a public hearing or debate in any committee. The law was included in a large budget bill passed in the last minutes of the 2022 legislative session.
The committee members were surprised that the existing law never had a public hearing. Those testifying, including the Conference, wanted the protections of the law not to apply to providers performing gender affirming care on minors.
PUBLIC HEALTH – DECRIMINALIZATION OF MAGIC MUSHROOMS (HB 5297)
The Conference opposed the legalization of psilocybin, which is the component of “magic mushrooms’ that induces a mind-altering state in a person that uses it. Just like with the legalization of marijuana in Connecticut, the Conference opposed the legislation because of the health threats from this substance and the negative impact on our state. The advocates pointed out highly questionable medical benefits to individuals. While the bill passed out of the Judiciary Committee, it failed to be raised for a vote in the House.
EDUCATION – SCHOOL MAPPING GRANT (SB 229)
The Conference requested that this proposed bill be amended so that the security program for schools called School Mapping would also be funded for nonpublic schools. This new program would provide grant funds for all public schools to have aerial maps of school exteriors, maps of school interiors, and signage marking various areas of the schools. The purpose was to improve the response of public safety personnel in case of an emergency. The proposed legislation was voted out of the Public Safety and Security Committee, but it failed to be voted on by the Senate.
EDUCATION – TAX CREDIT FOR SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS (HB 5101)
The Conference supported the establishment of a tax credit for funds donated to a scholarship foundation that supports low-income students who wish to attend a nonpublic school. The proposed legislation failed to be voted out of the Finance Committee due to opposition from teachers’ unions.
SOCIAL – CHILD TAX CREDIT/DEDUCTION
The Conference supported two bills to assist families in coping with the increasing costs of raising children. SB 36 would have created a state tax credit, and HB 5303 would have created a state child income tax deduction. Both bills had a public hearing, but they failed to be voted out of the Finance Committee.