Gary Turco

The House on Thursday passed Senate Bill 3, a bill that I presented and defended that provides real quality-of-life benefits for all people in our increasingly digitally connected, but far less-private, world. 

The legislation sets in place new safeguards against eavesdropping by televisions, home appliances, and toys, as well as curtails the targeting of junk fees and price gouging in consumer goods. 

Specifically, Senate Bill 3 requires companies to provide users with privacy notices before enabling microphones in home appliances, televisions and toys, and gives consumers the option of declining to activate cameras and microphones.

The bill also provides consumers the opportunity to opt out of targeted advertisements based on these voice recordings and requires companies to maintain security measures to safeguard users’ information.

Senate Bill 3 seeks to address the affordability of goods and services by expanding the state attorney general’s ability to crack down on price gouging during disasters. While current price gouging statutes apply only to retailers, the bill broadens the policy to include the entire supply chain.

Additional provisions of Senate Bill 3 will do the following:

• Protect consumers from junk fees by generally requiring advertisements to present customers with upfront pricing that does not hide additional fees.
• Prevent junk fees on long-term rental properties by requiring advertisements to include any fee or charge the tenant will be required to pay, with some exceptions like pet fees and certain utility costs.
• Create a right to repair products by requiring companies to make consumer tools and parts available to ensure their products can be repaired by people who are not associated with the company.
• Require Connecticut municipalities to use “.gov” web domains by July 1, 2026 and connect towns and cities with federal grants to assist with this transition.
• Requires businesses with automatic renewal to send consumers an annual reminder allowing them to stop the renewal of service.

The bill passed with bipartisan support, and I am proud to have voted in favor of its passage.

I am proud to announce that Newington will receive a $485,610.60 Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant for Phase II of the Candlewyck Park Playground project.
 
The funds, which the town of Newington will match with $121,365, will enable the completion of an inclusive playground, which will:

• encourage early childhood development;
• enhance youth social skills, particularly those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic;
• offer an accessible outdoor experience for visitors with disabilities; and
• create a modern, easy-access public space for families. 

As a state representative and a Newington resident, I am committed to fostering our town's sense of community. I recognize the importance of creating inclusive, safe, and interactive spaces for children and families that adhere to ADA standards. Thank you to the Lamont administration for approving the funding.

Candlewyck Park, which has more than 40,000 visits annually, is located on Lamplighter Lane, east of the Berlin Turnpike, with over 300 new housing units under construction nearby.
 
The funds the town is receiving are part of $30 million in state grants to 46 small towns in Connecticut to complete a wide variety of infrastructure improvements. STEAP is a state program managed by the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM) that delivers grants to small towns for economic development, community conservation, and quality-of-life capital projects.