The Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee on Oct. 12 voted to reserve two proposed bills for subject-matter public hearings: Senate Bill 741, an act concerning a statewide property tax on certain residential real property, and Senate Bill 742, an act establishing a capital gains surcharge.

The committee’s chair opened each item and members voted by roll call to place both bills on the agenda for future public hearings. The committee clerk conducted formal roll-call votes and the motions to reserve both bills carried.

The committee heard brief objections from some members before the roll calls. Senator Fazio said he would vote against raising SB 741 for a hearing, arguing Connecticut already carries “one of the highest property tax burdens in the entire country” and urging the committee to focus on efficiency in state and municipal operations instead of new taxation; he said, “I will be voting against raising the bill for today.” Representative Polleta similarly said she would oppose SB 741, saying the proposal would disproportionately affect residents on fixed incomes and households earning below the statewide average.

The chair and other members repeatedly clarified that voting to reserve a bill is not an endorsement of its substance but only a procedural step to allow a subject-matter public hearing and public comment. For SB 742, Senator Fazio again stated his opposition to further taxes on investments and indicated he would vote against reserving that bill.

Votes at a glance: SB 741 (statewide property tax on certain residential real property) — motion to reserve for subject-matter public hearing carried by roll call. Mover: Senator Fonferro; second: Representative Winter. Approximate roll-call result: 23 yes, 11 no.

SB 742 (capital gains surcharge) — motion to reserve for subject-matter public hearing carried by roll call. Mover: Senator Fonferro; second: Representative Doucette. Approximate roll-call result: 23 yes, 10 no.

Committee members and staff indicated votes would remain open for members participating remotely until a stated cutoff time of 12:30 p.m. The committee recessed after completing the votes and said public hearing scheduling would be announced later.

Why it matters: Reserving the bills for public hearings allows the committee to take testimony from residents, experts and stakeholders before deciding whether to advance the measures. Both proposals — a statewide property tax and a capital gains surcharge — would affect revenue collection and taxpayer obligations if later enacted.

What committee members said: In explaining his vote, Senator Fazio said the committee should prioritize efficiency and oppose additional tax burdens on property owners and investments. Representative Polleta expressed concern about the local impact on fixed-income households and lower-income residents. Other members did not debate the bills’ merits in detail during the meeting; several said they supported holding hearings to invite public comment.

Next steps: The measures were reserved for subject-matter public hearings; the committee did not take up or adopt the bills on their merits and did not set final hearing dates during the recorded session. Committee staff said the dates would be confirmed and announced separately.