CONNECTICUT, USA — Editor's note: Video above originally aired on March 23.
Gov. Ned Lamont signed a bill Wednesday that extends a law broadly permitting the continuation of outdoor dining and retail until April 2023.
The state House passed the bill two weeks ago, and the Senate passed it last week.
The law was set to expire Thursday.
“Relaxing the rules on outdoor dining has enabled many restaurants across Connecticut to safely serve their customers and support their continued operations during the pandemic,” Lamont said. “So many restaurants are locally owned, small businesses, and this is one way we can help in their economic recovery.”
Some Republicans voiced concerns about the bill. Several said they worry that municipal control over a zoning matter is being overruled by state law.
The extension will aim to give restaurants a chance to catch up on business since many were forced to shut their doors during the pandemic, a wound they are still recovering from.
“When we started this process, we were responding to something that was unknown, that was a challenge for businesses across the state, particularly our restaurant industry, which was hit very hard,” said Rep. Joe Zullo, R-East Haven when the bill passed the House.
“We’re here and we’re in a little bit of a different place,” said Zullo. “We’re not quite to the 9th inning, but maybe we’re just beyond the 7th inning stretch, and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Businesses are opening up. Our economy is beginning to recover, but we still have some restaurants that are struggling.”
The Connecticut Restaurant Association has applauded the final passage of the bill.
“Thank you to Governor Lamont for signing this bill, and thank you to the General Assembly for passing it on a bipartisan basis, especially the chairs and ranking members of the Planning and Development Committee,” Scott Dolch, president and CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, said. “This is a timely and much-needed measure that will help local restaurants as they continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Connecticut restaurants make up ten percent of the state’s economy, and we greatly appreciate state leaders for supporting these local businesses and the tens of thousands of state residents they employ.”
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