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SB 935

AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR RENOVATIONS TO ST. MARY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION IN THE VILLAGE OF BALTIC.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Cathy Osten

Connecticut bill authorizes state bonds to fund renovation of Catholic church in Baltic, raising church-state separation and public funding equity concerns.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Finance, Revenue and Bonding
#clergy #sprague #statebondsforcommunitydevelopment
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Bill Summary · SB 935

Legislative bill overview

SB 935 authorizes the state of Connecticut to issue bonds to fund renovation work at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, a Catholic church located in the village of Baltic. The bill allocates public debt financing for the capital improvement project at this religious institution.

Why is this important

This represents a direct use of state bonding authority—money borrowed by Connecticut taxpayers—to fund improvements at a private religious organization. The outcome affects both state finances (adding to public debt) and raises questions about the appropriate use of public funds for religious institutions.

Potential points of contention

  • Church-state separation concerns: Using state bonds (taxpayer money) to fund religious facility renovations raises constitutional questions about whether this violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, which restricts government support of religion
  • Precedent and fairness: If approved, it could establish precedent for other religious organizations to seek public bond funding, raising equity questions about which institutions receive taxpayer support
  • Fiscal priorities: State bonding capacity is limited; funding a single church's renovations may compete with other public infrastructure needs like schools, transportation, or municipal services

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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