CT Legislative Summary From a Catholic Perspective
- kolkermd
- Jun 15
- 7 min read
From the Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference:
OVERVIEW
The driving theme of the 2025 Legislative Session was dominated by a new era of federalism and the impact of the Trump administration’s budget priorities on social services, taxes, transgender policies, immigration, and public safety – among others.
The following list highlights the most significant bills the Conference acted on and includes the Conference accomplishments.
PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE – NO PROPOSED LEGISLATION
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. We believe our ongoing efforts to educate lawmakers coupled with the hardened support by key legislators were contributing factors in stopping PAS. But we are not lowering our guard and will be monitoring activity in other states.
ELIMINATION OF ABORTION REGULATIONS – House Bill 7213
The Conference strongly opposed this legislation, proposed by the Department of Public Health (DPH), which would have allowed abortion in the third trimester. It would have removed medical providers’ rights not to participate in an abortion, and it would have removed the requirement to provide emergency medical treatment for an infant born alive following a failed attempt at an abortion. The sections to delete these regulations were removed in the bill on the House floor.
Abortion advocates attempted to eliminate these regulations through the normal regulatory process late in 2024. They failed, after the Conference became aware of their efforts, and forced a public hearing on the matter last summer/fall. The turnout at the hearing compelled DPH to withdraw its proposal. DPH then turned to the legislative process to remove those regulations, but were met with strong opposition, led by the Conference.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM – CATHOLIC HOSPITALS – Senate Bill 7
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. This was the third year the Conference defeated this type of legislation. SB 7 was a major healthcare bill for Democratic leadership. The offensive section of the bill did not force Catholic hospitals to provide abortions or gender identity procedures that violated Catholic healthcare directives (Ethical and Religious Directives), but it removed their ability to discipline staff that did perform prohibited procedures or referrals. In terms of abortions, the issue was more about providing abortion drugs then actually performing surgical abortions in the hospitals.
While the Conference initially stopped the ability of the state to pay for out of-state abortions when it was proposed as stand-alone legislation, Democrats included it in the budget bill.
Under the Safe Harbor proposal, the State Treasurer would oversee the account that will pay for abortions, even though the funds will be privately donated. Monitoring the administration and repealing this program will be a Conference priority.
ABORTION DRUGS/DEATH PENALTY DRUGS – Senate Bill 1355
This piece of legislation had two purposes. It would have allowed the State and other organizations to purchase and stockpile birth control pills and abortion pills to guarantee the supply of these would be readily available. The second component would ban any manufacturer from selling drugs or products that they knew would be used by other states to carry out the death penalty. The Conference attempted to have the second part of the bill amended to include any drugs used for physician-assisted suicide. The bill died without a vote in the House.
ABORTION/GENDER IDENTITY - CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – Senate Joint Resolution 35
A big win for the Conference and our Pro-Life agenda. The conference was able to prevent a vote on SJR 35 in the House and Senate. If passed, the resolution
would have resulted in a statewide ballot question asking Connecticut residents to vote on whether to guarantee abortion as a Constitutional right and make transgender individuals a protected class.
Based on guidance from the Archdiocesan legal counsel, if this legislation was adopted by voters at the ballot box, all existing state laws limiting abortions and providing protections to religious institutions relating to sexual ideology would be overridden. Thankfully, it didn’t happen.
ABORTION/GENDER IDENTITY SHIELD LAW – Senate Bill 1530/House Bill 7135
These bills were intended to make minor technical revisions to the existing “Shield Law” that protects abortion and gender-affirming care providers in Connecticut from legal actions brought by other states. The language in these bills was inserted in the budget bill, HB 7287, which passed in both chambers.
Under the existing law, if charges are brought against a provider for violating the laws of another state concerning gender affirming care or providing an abortion, the State of Connecticut would not cooperate in the legal proceedings, such as not responding to subpoenas or enforcing extradition requests. The procedure would have to have been performed in Connecticut and in compliance with Connecticut state law.
The supporters of this law believe it is necessary should a resident from a state banning abortion or gender-affirming care come to Connecticut for services the state of residence could bring legal action against them. No states currently have laws allowing this to happen.
SOCIAL JUSTICE/ HOUSING – House Bill 6894
The Conference supported HB 6894, which would establish an Interagency Council on Homelessness. Although there were many other pieces of legislation related to housing and homelessness, ensuring that government agencies work together in addressing these issues, the Conference choose to support this critical piece of planning legislation. HB 6894 passed in both chambers with bipartisan support.
SOCIAL JUSTICE/ TRUST ACT – House Bill 7212
The Conference supported this legislation, which made modifications to the existing Trust Act. This Act limits the interaction that state and local law enforcement can have with Immigrations Customs Enforcement. It also lists when these restrictions do not apply based on criminal acts. The bill expanded the number of state and local offices that fall under its restrictions and expanded the type of criminal offenses that would exempt application of the restrictions.
The Conference’s position was based on prior statements from Connecticut Bishops and was in line with USCCB statements. HB 7212 was incorporated into a larger criminal justice bill, HB 7259, and passed both chambers.
SOCIAL JUSTICE/ MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR DIAPERS – House Bill 6937
The Conference supported this legislation to support families on Medicaid, with one of the most expensive items, diapers, that are needed when raising a child. It would also help relieve a burden on our pro-life pregnancy centers who spend a large amount of resources on diapers for low-income mothers.
HB 7212 was referred by the House to the Appropriations Committee. Although the exact language of this bill was not adopted, an additional $350,000 was provided for diapers in a separate allocation in the state budget.
EDUCATION/ANTISEMITISM – House Bill 7012
The Conference joined with representatives of the Jewish community in our state to supported HB 7012, which would establish a group to study how to address the rising antisemitism in our public schools. The growing antisemitism in our state is a threat to people of all faiths. Our children must be taught how truly harmful such actions and viewpoints are to a free society.
HB 7012 was incorporated into a larger education bill HB 7009 and passed both chambers.
EDUCATION/PROPERTY TAX ON PRIVATE SCHOOLS – House Bill 6804
The Conference successfully stopped legislation that would have allowed taxation of private school properties. Early in the session, the Conference noticed this bill and worked with the CT Association of Independent Schools, which includes some Archdiocesan schools.
The bill aimed to tax faculty housing on private K-12 campuses. While this would affect only a few schools, such as Canterbury School and Marianapolis Prep, the Conference focused its testimony on the Academy of the Holy Family in Baltic.
For the Academy, the bill would have allowed taxation of the school and the adjacent residence of the Sisters of Charity, women religious teachers who run the school.
Other private schools provided excellent testimony. The bill failed.
EDUCATION/LIBRARIES/PARENTAL RIGHTS – (House Bill 7014, Senate Bill 1271)
The Conference opposed bills that usurped local boards of education policies governing school library books. The Conference learned about the extreme content of some of the schoolbooks in offered in libraries and recognized the damage these books could have on children. The Conference opposed the bill because it suppressed parental rights. The bill was inserted into the state budget.
As a rule, the CT General Statutes differentiate between laws that affect public versus non-public schools. At a committee hearing earlier in the session, there were conflicting and unclear answers on whether the law was applicable to Catholic schools.
Based on precedent, however, the Conference believes this bill does not apply to Catholic schools. However, we monitor this issue and be ready to seek action next session to clarify or recommend other action to the board.
EDUCATION FUNDING: CHET Employer Tax Credit
An idea that the Conference proposed in 2017 was finally included in the state budget,
HB 7287, this session. The budget provides for an employer tax-credit for contributions to employee's children's Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET) accounts: a 25% employer tax credit up to $500 per employee.
If an employer contributes $2,000 to an employee's CHET accounts, then the employer receives a $500 tax credit for state taxes. CHET accounts can be used for K-12+ tuition and other expenses.
The Conference had proposed the tax credit when CHET/529 plans were expanded to include application to K-12 tuition and educational expense under the first Trump administration's tax plan. Although the tax credit was swiftly attacked in the past at the state level, it passed this session.
CT MARCH FOR LIFE 2025
The Conference was a major sponsor of the fourth CT March for Life on March 19 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.
Over 3,500 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 are continually reviewing plans to make next year even more successful. Attendance made it one of the largest demonstrations at the Capitol this year.
EDUCATION FUNDING: Federal ECCA
The Conference is monitoring the U.S. Senate for any new changes to the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) language in the Congressional reconciliation bill.
Through its website, https//:ne4ecca.org, the Conference collected over 1,300 signatures, supporting a scholarship tax credit, which were sent to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee, and Rules Committee. In return, the Conference has been included in daily and weekly updates from proponents of the reconciliation bill. The Conference expects that ECCA, or a similar tax credit, will remain in the final reconciliation bill.
A state tax credit bill, which would have been a state-level ECCA, did not pass out of Committee.
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