Action Items

HB 5443- An Act Concerning the Sales and Use Taxes Rate for and Applicability to Certain Motor Vehicles, Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing, Certain Personal Property Used in Burials and Cremations and Electricity for Biotechnology Businesses, Dedicating Funding for the Tourism Fun and Increasing the Exemption Amount for Sales Tax-Free Week

Stance: Strongly Support

Status: Public Hearing will be scheduled for March 11, 2026 11 AM

What it Does: Dedicates 50% of 1% of the Meals Tax to the Tourism Fund, which is the funding source for all public funding of Arts, Culture and Tourism in the State of Connecticut. This is what we have been working toward for several years now in partnership with CT Humanities and the CT Tourism Coalition. This is the Finance Committee's version of Senate Bill 2 which is still being drafted.

Request: We want to show overwhelming sector support for this bill. The fact that this was SB 2 and being supported by committee leadership is a direct result of all of our collective efforts last session. We want to continue this trend of the cultural sector showing up in force. So we’re asking you to:

• Submit Written Testimony: Instructions and Template are below, but we want you, your board members, donors or stakeholders who believe in a vibrant cultural sector to submit written testimony in support of this bill. Focus on how your work or programs impact your community, and if you’ve received funding from CT Office of the Arts or CT Humanities how that funding has impacted you or your organization.
• Sign Up To Testify in Person or Zoom: If you would like to share your story to the Finance Committee in person you can use the instructions below to sign up for in person or virutal testimony. Testimony will be limited to 3 minutes per person, so you can submit longer written testimony and then summarize in person if you would like.

Testimony Instructions

HOW TO TESTIFY IN-PERSON OR VIA ZOOM

Public Hearing Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 - 1 PM

Deadline to Register to Testify: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - 3 PM

• Link to Register

• Registration is required if you intend to testify over Zoom or in-person.

• Testimony is limited to 3-minutes/person.

The order of testimony will be distributed in advance in a randomized order and will be posted at the top of this page the night before.

Location: Legislative Office Building, 300 Capital Ave., Hartford, CT 06106, Room 2E

Watch the Hearing: Committee YouTube Channel

HOW TO SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY

Submit your testimony by: Wednesday, March 11, 2026

• Use this online testimony submission form to upload your Word or PDF document or to copy and paste text into the text box.
• When filling out the form, select March 11 at 1pm as the hearing date, HB05443 - AAC THE SALES AND USE TAXES RATE FOR AND APPLICABILITY... as the bill number, and that you are submitting testimony in support.
• Written testimony can be submitted anonymously, select the button above the form to submit anonymously

Testimony Template

March 11, 2026   

H.B. No. 5443 AN ACT CONCERNING THE SALES AND USE TAXES RATE FOR AND APPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLES, PEER-TO-PEER CAR SHARING, CERTAIN PERSONAL PROPERTY USED IN BURIALS AND CREMATIONS AND ELECTRICITY FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES, DEDICATING FUNDING FOR THE TOURISM FUND AND INCREASING THE EXEMPTION AMOUNT FOR SALES TAX-FREE WEEK. 

Support for dedicating a portion of the Meals Tax to the Tourism Fund to support cultural organizations  

Dear Leaders of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee, Senator Fonfara, Representative Horn, Senator Fazio, Representative Polletta, Senator Cabrera, Senator Miller, Representative Constantine, Representative Rader, and esteemed Connecticut General Assembly members of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee: 

I am a resident of [Town] and [insert professional relationship to CTH, CAA, and/or COA].  

I am submitting testimony in favor of Raised House Bill No. 5443 with respect to the need for increased investment in the Tourism Fund, which provides robust funding for our state’s cultural organizations.  

Replace this highlighted section with 150-250 words with specific examples and stories for how your organization and/or the cultural sector contribute to Connecticut’s success in 1-2 of the following ways: 

• Workforce Development: Investment in CTH/COA helps retain jobs and hire new staff members, keeping CT residents employed and bringing in talent from other states;  

• Economic Development: Our support brings dollars into cultural organizations, restaurants, hotels, and other businesses (see our AEP6 Connecticut calculator), supporting local economies;  

• Educational Attainment: Museums and cultural organizations support schools and teachers by providing classroom materials, field trips, and educational opportunities and digital resources;  

• Out of State Investment: Support from CTH/COA increases your ability to leverage federal and private funds to advance your mission;  

• Cultural Vibrancy: Cultural organizations make your town a place that people want to live in and visit, and instill pride in our communities; 

• Civic and Community Health: Our organizations foster a sense of community and keep residents more informed and engaged, fostering empathy, encouraging dialogue, and building relationships; 

• America 250 | CT: We have been working collectively to meet the moment for the 250th, focusing our efforts despite minimal state and federal investment, and showcasing Connecticut’s rich story.

CT Humanities and Connecticut Office of the Arts provide support and guidance to nonprofit cultural organizations and accountability on behalf of Connecticut residents. Please pass this bill to make it possible to increase support for CT Humanities and Connecticut Office of the Arts, especially in the aftermath of last year’s destabilizing NEH, NEA, and IMLS funding terminations, but primarily because of the impact of our sector. 

Sincerely,  

Name 

Title 

Organization 

Address 

Contact Information