Today is a day that will go down in Connecticut history as the 2021 legislative session convenes not from the packed House floor, but in an outdoor ceremony.
Due to the pandemic, the ceremony was outdoor on the north steps of the State Capitol.
All 20 freshman lawmakers were sworn in outside.
"It will be brisk enough to keep the speeches short, but it will be bearable enough to be outdoors I think," said Senate President Martin Looney.
Instead of Governor Ned Lamont delivering his opening address in the chambers, he will do it virtually from his office.
The pandemic is also expected to force a lot of the early session into the digital realm and limit the number of bills.
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Lamont has been running the state largely through his executive authority since March.
"The voters spoke in November about who they want to send up there. So I think it's important for the public to know the legislature is back in session," said incoming Speaker of the House Matt Ritter.
"I think it's time, as we're coming out of this pandemic, hopefully, that we begin to act as a legislative body and a co-equal branch of government again," said Rep. Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford and incoming House Republican leader.
Following the 2020 election, Democrats hold a 97 to 54 advantage over Republicans in the House of Representatives and a veto-proof majority of 24 to 12 in the Senate.
