Sen. Jeff Gordon Fights to Protect Towns from Unfunded Mandates at Appropriations Hearing on S.B. 17

HARTFORD, CT — Today, State Senator Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock), a member of the Appropriations Committee, voiced his strong support for his bill, S.B. 17, An Act Concerning Funding for Municipalities for Early Voting Costs, at a public hearing. The bill aims to provide municipalities with the necessary funding to cover the high costs associated with the state-mandated early voting system.

“Right now, Connecticut’s early voting law is an unfunded mandate that forces towns into financial distress with no help from the state,” said Sen. Gordon. “This is about fairness for our towns. The state cannot continue forcing expensive mandates on our municipalities without providing the necessary funding. I’ve heard from registrars across the state who are struggling to cover the high costs of early voting. If this goes unfunded, towns will be left with no choice but to raise property taxes or cut essential services to comply with the law. That is unacceptable,” Sen. Gordon continued.

S.B. 17 seeks to fully fund the costs of early voting at the municipal level, ensuring that local taxpayers are not left shouldering the burden of an unfunded state mandate. The legislation introduced by Sen. Gordon appropriates funds to the Office of Policy and Management for distribution to municipalities, making them whole for any additional costs incurred due to early voting. Sen. Gordon has also been leading efforts to reduce the length of early voting from 14 days to 5-7 days to lower costs while still maintaining accessible voting options for residents.

“I am proud that the Appropriations Committee has moved this important legislation forward by giving it a public hearing. Now, we need to get it over the finish line,” Gordon said. “This is common-sense legislation that protects taxpayers and ensures our towns don’t have to make impossible budget decisions because of Hartford’s mandates.”