Connecticut Senate elects leaders, adopts joint and chamber rules to start 2025 session

Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, acting as presiding officer, called the Connecticut State Senate to order on Jan. 8, 2025, citing Connecticut General Statute section 2-1 and opening the chamber for the 2025 session. "I, Stephanie Thomas, Secretary of the State, acting as President of the Senate, call to order the 20 25 Senate of the Connecticut general assembly," she said.

The Senate immediately moved through organizational business: the chamber elected Michael Jefferson as Senate clerk by acclamation, named Sen. Martin M. Looney president pro tempore by acclamation and adopted joint rules, chamber rules and several procedural resolutions to govern the session. The Senate also confirmed chaplains and appointed a three-senator committee to invite the lieutenant governor to the chamber.

Why it matters: Organizational actions set who controls the chamber calendar and how committee and floor business will be processed over the next two years. Objections from the minority highlighted two procedural questions that may shape committee operations this session: the partisan…