There are 19 days left in the 2021 legislative session which means the following weeks are going to be similar to this one: aka caffeine fueled paired with late nights. The Connecticut General Assembly had another full and productive week, with both chambers meeting three times each. A great number of legislative proposals were passed, the most notable being the Connecticut House of Representatives legalizing sports betting and online gambling. The bill passed 122-21, and now heads to the Senate. Other notable legislation includes zoning law reform, free phone calls for inmates, banning deceptive practices by faith-based pregnancy centers, and declaring racism a public health crisis.
On Wednesday, the Lamont Administration announced that fully vaccinated individuals no longer have to wear a mask in most settings. This comes as the state has relaxed most COVID-19 restrictions. Starting May 19, alcohol can be served without food, there will be no limit to the number of people who may sit at a table in a restaurant; and the business curfew will be moved back to midnight. “If you’re fully vaccinated, you don’t have to wear a mask. If you’re not fully vaccinated, you’ve got to wear a mask indoors,” Lamont said. “I hope that people in Connecticut understand why the CDC set those guidelines. They probably make a certain amount of sense, and I think the vast majority of people will follow that.” Settings that still require a mask include school buildings, correctional facilities, and transportation hubs (airports, taxis, etc).
