2025 is an important session for Connecticut. The biennial budget is being decided for FY 2026 and 2027, and the fiscal guardrails in place make this a tough legislative session. Combined with the federal uncertainty of funding, it is more important than ever to voice your support for the creative economy that makes this state a vibrant place to live and work.

Action Items

SB 1456 AN ACT DEDICATING A PORTION OF THE MEALS TAX REVENUE TO ARTS, CULTURE, AND TOURISM

Link to Bill

There are several bills proposed this session that will take 1% of the Meals Tax and use the proceeds to fund Arts, Culture and Tourism funding at an increased level. CT Arts Alliance, CT Humanities, CT Tourism Coalition, and CT Retail Association are all advocating for this. SB 1456 is the Commerce Bill supporting this and we are asking people to submit written testimony in support of this bill.

Our joint proposal would break down 1% of the Meals Tax in this way:

• 50% to the municipalities where the tax occurred
• 30% to Arts, Culture, and Tourism Funding with the breakdown being at least:
  • $5 million for Arts funding
  • $5 million for Cultural funding
  • $12 million for Tourism Marketing
• 20% to Workforce Development

Public Hearing Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM

Written Testimony Due: Monday, March 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM

Use the On-line Testimony Submission Form to upload your Word or PDF document (or copy and paste text into the text box.)

Choose March 11, 2025 10:00 AM for the Hearing Date and Time and select SB 1456 AA DEDICATING A PORTION OF THE MEALS TAX REVENUE TO ARTS, CULTURE AND TOURISM as the Bill. Select that you are submitting testimony Supporting the bill.

Written testimony can be submitted anonymously, using "Anonymous" as both the first and last name.

Link for Sample Testimony

2025 Session Bills Tracked

H.B. 6864: An Act Adjusting the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2027 

The governor's proposed budget eliminates funding to 9 orgs in the "Various Grants" line item in the Tourism fund, and reduces funding to 30 earmarked organizations by 17.5% for a total reduction in arts and culture funding of $2,043,552. We oppose any reduction in arts and culture funding and are seeking increased funding to this sector as proposed below.

Link to the Budget

Public Hearing Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025 - 4:30 PM

•  There was 9 hours of testimony, over 40% of the testimony was from Arts, Culture and Tourism groups!

Link to CAA's Submitted Testimony

Link for Sample Testimony

H.B. 6881: An Act Concerning Arts, Culture, and Tourism

This bill requires DECD to study arts, culture and tourism in our state. CAA testified and gave general comments on the bill offering our support in getting the committee the data and infromation they were looking for.

Link to CAA's Submitted Testimony