The state Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a bill to create a working group to study statewide marketing and tourism. Raised and unanimously approved by the Commerce Committee, Senate Bill 305 creates a working group charged with conducting a comprehensive review of investment and participation in statewide marketing and tourism efforts across Connecticut. On Wednesday, […]
The state Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a bill to create a working group to study statewide marketing and tourism.
Raised and unanimously approved by the Commerce Committee,
Senate Bill 305 creates a working group charged with conducting a comprehensive review of investment and participation in statewide marketing and tourism efforts across Connecticut.
On Wednesday, the Senate voted 35-0 with one senator absent to approve the bill, which now goes to the House for a potential vote.
The working group will include key stakeholders from state government and the tourism industry, including representatives of the Commerce Committee, state Department of Economic and Community Development, state Office of Policy and Management, the governor’s office and Connecticut Tourism Council.
Under the bill, the working group is required to submit a report with its recommendations to the Commerce Committee by no later than Jan. 1, 2027. The bill also terminates the working group on that date.
"It's critical that we take a hard look at how we're promoting our state and where we're investing our resources," said Sen. Joan Hartley (D-Waterbury), co-chair of the Commerce Committee.
State funding for tourism marketing has fallen each year since it received a big federal boost in fiscal 2022, when the budget was $12.1 million.
The budget for fiscal year 2026 is just $4.5 million, 63% below the level just three years ago.
Several bills introduced this session have proposed increasing funding for state tourism and marketing.
