Substitute Bill No. 1522 proposes to rename the existing Community Investment Account to the "Donald E. Williams, Jr. Community Investment Account" and significantly increase its funding. The bill repeals the current Section 4-66aa and introduces new provisions that allocate increased funding to various programs, including raising the annual funding for the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation from $380,000 to $475,000 and for the agricultural viability grant program from $500,000 to $625,000. Additionally, it allocates $125,000 annually for initiatives promoting the sale of Connecticut-grown food. The bill also modifies the fees collected by town clerks for recording documents, increasing the fee from $40 to $50, and adjusts the distribution of these fees to ensure a larger portion is directed to the newly named community investment account.

Moreover, the bill aims to enhance the promotion of Connecticut-grown farm products through a comprehensive advertising campaign, which includes media advertisements and a continuously updated website listing local farmers' markets and agri-tourism events. It also seeks to connect farmers with institutional buyers by creating a platform for interaction and organizing promotional events. The commissioner of agriculture is tasked with utilizing the allocated funds for these initiatives and is required to report annually on the progress, including details on private matching funds received. The bill removes the previous reference to subsection (a) of section 4-66aa, streamlining the legal framework for these promotional activities, and is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 4-66aa, 22-38a
GAE Joint Favorable Substitute: 4-66aa, 22-38a
File No. 641: 4-66aa, 22-38a
APP Joint Favorable: 4-66aa, 22-38a