[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6325225,"mediaKeyId","2334272-d070e0cffba41641d607f1ff27a3de83","parentId",2334272,"title","Votes at a glance: Veterans and Military Affairs Committee advances multiple bills to the floor","audioSeconds",53,"startMs",3765000,"endMs",3818000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2334272-d070e0cffba41641d607f1ff27a3de83&start=3765&end=3818","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2334272-d070e0cffba41641d607f1ff27a3de83/thumbnail_3765000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6325225/Connecticut/Votes-at-a-glance-Veterans-and-Military-Affairs-Committee-advances-multiple-bills-to-the-floor","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325225-45dd002f1523270054315938c38502a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157594&Signature=JvFQJCmWGirJ74VI~b3FRNmv-Dlzo56PcovLlp8p697DvgMhFuXgsIle6Mn6pAnTz~Sg-W9zOo4otTEtKOzI6G~G1Eg99Oypk6t91fNT6LwyIrFyUx8aDnieolTE~JAt1p0mVS7Myj12O3YkpXiSa1eYengvJkTQhRgw9kKIcRumxGArERL5g4KTRJTMq493G4SqWkEIb3hMPhTRc9tY7FDLOfkBBff4x4LJMjFbXHWFiDKcCmKdMk15IuMZ2jTBT8BIoO22RiLgVs0rk5xP7PlCgLE5Y0XxgrOAO5pFtOjGz0QJTciWiXre7voGgtkaES9gZ3YZPHNkV4TA6lcBUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CGA - Veterans’ Affairs Committee","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on Tuesday moved an array of bills forward, largely on voice votes and on the consent calendar. Items advanced include measures covering veterans recognition days, military department funding, award authorizations, property tax exemptions, housing and veterans’ services, specialty license plates, and ceremonial resolutions.

Key items listed on the committee’s consent calendar or advanced to the floor:

- SB 376 — JF to the floor (eliminating service in time of war as an eligibility criterion for certain state and municipal veterans benefits). Outcome: advanced to the floor (consent).
- SB 721 — JF to the floor (designating National Women Veterans Recognition Day). Outcome: advanced to the floor (consent).
- SB 1152 — JF to the floor (appropriating funds to the military department for the joint enlistment enhancement program). Outcome: advanced to the floor (consent).
- SB 1153 — JF to the floor (authorizing the adjutant general to establish state military awards). Outcome: advanced to the floor (consent).
- SB 1276 — FS to the floor (property tax exemption for 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans and Gold Star spouses). Outcome: advanced to the floor (consent); an appropriation amendment to reimburse towns failed 6-11.
- SB 1277 — JF to the floor (affordable housing for certain disabled or elderly veterans). Outcome: advanced to the floor (consent).
- HB 5787 — JF to the floor (reimbursement for veterans who join a chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart for number plate recognition). Outcome: advanced to the floor (consent).
- HB 6441 (listed as HB 6438/6441 in transcript) — JF to a change of reference to Appropriations (Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Advocacy and Assistance). Outcome: referred to Appropriations per committee action.
- HB 6442 — JF to the floor (military affairs placeholder vehicle). Outcome: advanced to the floor.
- HB 6723 — JF to the floor (designating November as Veterans Month). Outcome: advanced to the floor (consent).
- HB 6910 — JF to the floor (waiting list exemptions for service-connected veterans in certain long-term care facilities). Outcome: advanced to the floor (consent).
- HJ-6 — JFS to the floor (resolution honoring members of the 606880 eighth Central Postal Directory Battalion). Outcome: advanced to the floor (consent).
- HJ-28 — JF to the floor (recognizing Chief Harold Tantequajin). Outcome: advanced to the floor (consent); chairs committed to notify the Mohegan Tribe of the resolution.

Several of the consent items were taken by voice vote; some bills (including the placeholder vehicles and SB 1276 amendment) drew roll-call votes or recorded objections during debate. The committee announced votes would be held open until 3:30 p.m. to allow late members to register votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2/18 VMA Committee Meeting part 1","oneSentenceSummary","The committee placed a package of veterans and military-related bills on the consent calendar or advanced them to the floor, including SB 376, SB 721, SB 1152, SB 1153, SB 1276, SB 1277, HB 5787, HB 6441 (to Appropriations), HB 6442, HB 6723, HB 6910, HJ-6 and HJ-28.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature CT, Connecticut","taxId",77677,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325229,"Lawmakers debate use of placeholder 'aircraft carrier' bills for veterans and military measures",983,2428000,3411000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2334272-d070e0cffba41641d607f1ff27a3de83&start=2428&end=3411","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2334272-d070e0cffba41641d607f1ff27a3de83/thumbnail_2428000.jpg","/articles/6325229/Connecticut/Lawmakers-debate-use-of-placeholder-aircraft-carrier-bills-for-veterans-and-military-measures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325229-440da5741d63cc7429482cb1a0b61005/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157594&Signature=fH4o7nMwOREUs9nui14NSwU6SX9703pYeoaWn3h-1dZAsOgaAHx0rCP~cRjSxaBLp8xCr2lehwIIUv-lIQkxSgdQtlcpXmQfE-RBFDHAKuR9cPgxFtEbpCin9LYOBzWafu506ctaWWWEvjq6iaijenriYG98piPSf1MV0RMHbO5jv1IYT1G4upb4zuZ-34HmoiqD1oCbscHZDRtc~1H8tRsBq9vYjy~RB~zIS6tk5pRKuWQeDUss1CFggsfTPeP8jVNAlAKd~Aj7ltu0CGZIqcvKSHtqy6NRV5sOy5sDdplQpbGtrT4zFy3bVzSctZpRvELRhUsomfoSGazej2y2dQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee engaged in a prolonged debate over the committee’s use of broad “placeholder” or “aircraft carrier” bills to carry multiple veterans- and military-related measures.

Representative Jamie Foster, chair, said the placeholder vehicles were intended to capture “low-hanging fruit” — bipartisan, noncontroversial items that previously had passed in committee but sometimes died on the floor because of time — and to prevent well-supported measures from being lost. Foster emphasized she would not use the vehicle to insert items that had not gone through proper public hearings.

Representative Vail and Representative Buckby opposed the placeholder approach. “This is not part of the process. It's never been something I support,” Vail said, adding that the legislature already has a process for bills to receive public hearings. Representative Buckby said he had “a really tough time” with placeholder bills that bypass the usual scrutiny and public testimony.

Senator Paul Honig, co-chair, pledged publicly to use any placeholder vehicles only for measures “that have been through a public hearing and have bipartisan support.” Several other members said they would reserve the right to oppose any items later placed in a placeholder bill if those items had not previously received a hearing.

The committee advanced two placeholder vehicles discussed during the session: House Bill 6,438 (titled in the agenda “concerning veterans affairs in Connecticut”) was referred with a change of reference to the Appropriations Committee for certain provisions, and House Bill 6,442 (“concerning military affairs in Connecticut”) was advanced to the floor. Both motions carried following debate; some members who opposed the placeholder approach nonetheless supported the chairs' assurances and voted to move the bills forward.

Committee members said their support was conditional on the chairs’ pledge not to “abuse” the vehicle and on the expectation that substantive additions would be limited to measures that had already been through public hearings.","Committee chairs defended plans for two broad placeholder bills intended to bundle agreed-upon veterans and military items; several members objected, calling the practice a circumvention of the public hearing process. Both placeholder bills were nevertheless advanced to the floor.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325232,"Committee rejects $15 million state reimbursement amendment to veterans property tax exemption; bill advances",839,1447000,2286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2334272-d070e0cffba41641d607f1ff27a3de83&start=1447&end=2286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2334272-d070e0cffba41641d607f1ff27a3de83/thumbnail_1447000.jpg","/articles/6325232/Connecticut/Committee-rejects-15-million-state-reimbursement-amendment-to-veterans-property-tax-exemption-bill-advances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325232-acd7ee92a1bd73a59fd03fe97a6e2099/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157594&Signature=Hz7c~zRwlIJLG6jGyCbJjZsfpOmKleRxI~Ac3xl2PZolrGFMpobIRsAwgfP1waTfdaYikG5mv-af71UKxlF~iT7XHT50Z6Uscx3XNEehEAOBQQN~Xnk6C9P13WCxNAdMaB1jThB0NFw~dwH0RJFzRO05l~f4Pt49pOmseD7k~0QixC3savT3uB7hFbHNNSKYxihwkBsk8lL4sNs71LFwPfZb-Xenrd0kmwiqLROQPYV6RzRUMdJR2~8sfRiQYSYnjPYOe~itAVxtPgi8GC4S7njwOgKGkijwZyZMmDl1iAxE9VZq1zlRuYvHDvXyBQc8hVw-lcbCI1Jpq7azpVzr~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on Tuesday rejected an amendment that would have appropriated $15,000,000 to reimburse municipalities for revenue lost if certain veterans receive a full property tax exemption, then voted to advance the underlying bill, Senate Bill 1276, to the floor on the consent calendar.

Representative Jamie Foster, chair of the committee, told members they had received commentary from the Connecticut Department of Social Services that “there may be an unintended fiscal impact” larger than the committee initially expected. Foster said committee staff would meet with DSS to clarify the estimate.

Representative Lanou proposed the amendment, saying the $15 million appropriation — to be made by the Office of Policy and Management from the general fund for the fiscal year ending Jan. 30, 2026 — would allow the state to “pick up the cost” and prevent municipalities from bearing the burden. “This is telling our municipalities, our veterans, and our Gold Star families, we got you as a state of Connecticut,” Lanou said while summarizing the amendment.

Senator Gordon said he supported Representative Lanou’s effort to ease municipal burden, but urged parallel work on Senate Bill 381 (filed in Appropriations) that was intended to secure reimbursement. “I very much share his concern … and I do appreciate the growing bipartisan work,” Gordon said. He announced he would vote yes on Lanou’s amendment while continuing to pursue additional appropriations through SB 381.

Representative Vail and Representative Anderson also voiced support for funding the exemption at the state level; Anderson noted the fiscal note attached to last year’s enabling public act was “just under $5,000,000” and that recent estimates appear higher.

After a roll call on the amendment, the clerk reported the tally: six in favor, 11 opposed; the amendment failed. The committee then took a separate motion to add SB 1276 to the consent calendar; that motion carried and the bill was advanced to the floor.

The debate centered on two points: fixing an inadvertent omission from last year’s statute (the transcript records that the earlier law omitted the term “100%” in the intended exemption), and how to pay municipal reimbursement if the committee expands the exemption. Committee members repeatedly said they would continue coordination with the Appropriations Committee and the Office of Policy and Management about funding options.

The committee did not adopt the appropriation amendment; the underlying bill (SB 1276) was passed out of committee on the consent calendar and will proceed to the next stage in the legislative process.","A proposed $15 million appropriation to reimburse Connecticut towns for lost property tax revenue from a 100% disability and Gold Star spouse exemption failed on a 6-11 roll call; the underlying bill (SB 1276) was later advanced to the floor on the consent calendar.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Veterans and Military Affairs Committee advances multiple bills to the floor

Lawmakers debate use of placeholder 'aircraft carrier' bills for veterans and military measures

Committee rejects $15 million state reimbursement amendment to veterans property tax exemption; bill advances