Products and Services


OLR is here to help you get the information you need. The following describes our products and services and how they can help you. To find out more, call our office at (860) 240-8400, talk to our staff, or visit us in Room 5300.

Product Description Can Help You
OLR Reports Concise, readable research reports on topics that you request Answer questions ... Understand issues ... Develop legislation ... Debate bills ... Conduct legislative oversight
Bill Analyses (BAs) Plain language summaries of all bills reported to the House or Senate, except Appropriations bills, which are summarized by the Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA) Understand bills and the changes they undergo during the session ... Prepare for debate and discussions with colleagues and lobbyists
Combined Fiscal Note/Bill Analysis FN/BA Produced in collaboration with the Office of Fiscal Analysis, FN/BAs provide plain language summaries and fiscal impacts for each section of selected multipart bills Break down large omnibus bills ... Receive all relevant information on each bill section in a single document
Backgrounder Detailed research report on a topic of general interest Understand the complexities of a major issue the legislature is likely to address
Major Issues Report Summaries of major issues that may arise in the upcoming session Identify upcoming issues of particular interest ... Prepare for what lies ahead
Public Act Summaries Plain language summaries of each new law. Published annually in book form and online at CGA Lites bill status page Keep track of what passed during the session ... Inform constituents ... Prepare for public appearances
Major Public Acts Report A short summary of the session's most important legislation issued within a week of adjournment Write newsletters and prepare for media interviews and public appearances
Acts Affecting...Reports Easy-to-read summaries of new laws that affect education, the environment, children, seniors, and others Write newsletters and prepare for media interviews and public appearances
Bill Tracking Report List of bills whose provisions were incorporated and enacted as part of another bill. Published annually after each regular and special session, as appropriate Find out whether a provision from a bill that died passed as part of another bill
Selected Reports Emailed list of OLR reports of general interest issued monthly, with links to each report Get information on topics that are timely ... Find out what your colleagues are interested in
Veto Package A packet of vetoed bills, OLR BAs and OFA fiscal notes, and the governor's veto messages that's sent to you just before a veto session Understand what each vetoed bill does and why the governor rejected it
Service Description Can Help You
Compile and Send Materials OLR Staff and the Legislative Librarians will cull our files for OLR reports, journal and newspaper articles, and government and other reports on any topic Identify and learn more about issues ... Prepare for meetings, floor debate, and public appearances
Screen Bills and Amendments OLR analysts and LCO attorneys meet with committee leaders to discuss a bill's language and effect, provide background, and identify potential problems and options Become familiar with the substance and background of the committee's bills
Brief Members, Committees, and Staff Presentations on issues and bills to individual members, committees, caucuses, and staff Become familiar with the substance and background of issues and bills
Prepare Questions OLR analysts can prepare questions for all types of committee hearings and meetings Raise issues and get the information you want at public, confirmation, or oversight hearings
Accompany You to Meetings OLR staff can go with you to meetings with other legislators, agency staff, and others at the LOB or elsewhere Understand the background to issues ... Answer questions ... Develop options as you work on bills and resolve problems
OLR Websites Internet (http://www.cga.ct.gov/olr/) and intranet sites (http://cgalites/olr/) Stay up-to-date on issues with the latest OLR reports ... Search older OLR reports by subject ... Understand changes to amended bills by reading on-line special analyses
Legislative Library Professional staff provide reference services for members and staff, using the library's books, journals, OLR and other reports, and computer-based databases Learn about issues ... Research legislative histories ... Answer constituents' questions
Staff a Task Force Help task forces identify goals, develop work plans, and frame issues; provide research; and write task force reports Organize a task force ... Work with members ... Focus on the issues and task force progress