Connecticut Legislative Update: Key Changes & AI Developments

Christopher Davis, Connecticut Business & Industry Association

Chris Davis CBIA VP, Public Policy

860.244.1931 | chris.davis@cbia.com |

Chris Davis is vice president of public policy, leading CBIA’s advocacy team of in-house and contract lobbyists at the state Capitol.

He oversees the planning and execution of public policy strategy and initiatives to strengthen CBIA’s mission to boost Connecticut’s economic competitiveness and growth while providing opportunities for all residents.

Davis previously represented the General Assembly’s 57th House District (East Windsor and Ellington) for five terms from 2011 to 2021, serving as assistant leader and ranking member of the key Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee.

Known for his willingness to work collaboratively in a bipartisan manner to achieve meaningful policy reforms throughout his tenure in the legislature, Davis was one of the architects of the 2017 bipartisan fiscal reforms that led to the state’s current fiscal strength.

Prior to CBIA, Davis served as manager of public affairs for the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, overseeing the quasi-public agency’s government affairs and public relations activities.

Davis earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from the University of Connecticut, and has previously served as an adjunct professor of political science at the University of Bridgeport.

Louis Schatz served as chair of Shipman’s Tax and Employee Benefits Practice Group for more than 20 years and, from 2007 to 2017, served on the firm’s Management Committee. A past chair of the Tax Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, Lou draws on his decades of experience in federal and Connecticut tax matters to help clients understand the real-world impact of complex tax laws and regulations, make effective tax-planning decisions, and resolve disputes with tax authorities.

In addition to being a tax-specific counsel, Lou serves as a trusted, primary relationship partner for many of his clients. He has developed strong relationships within the accounting community and has a deep understanding of the connection between business performance and tax strategy. Lou uses these insights to help clients identify and assess potential opportunities and challenges and engage appropriate counsel and other advisors to address a broad range of legal, financial and business issues.

Lou advises clients from across the spectrum — including high-net-worth individuals, family-owned and privately held businesses, and national and multinational, companies. He has particular experience representing closely-held businesses organized as limited liability companies, partnerships and S corporations; real estate joint ventures; and taxpayers involved in federal and Connecticut tax controversies. In recognition of his experience and legal acumen, he has been appointed to several State of Connecticut tax panels, advisory boards and special committees tasked with reviewing and providing recommendations on a range of state tax laws.

Lou was a primary organizer of the firm’s Opportunity Zones team, a multidisciplinary group that advises clients on the federal program that provides incentives to invest in economically distressed urban and rural communities. In this regard, Lou counsels clients — including institutional investors, developers, banks, private equity and venture capital firms, fund sponsors, private investors, family offices and nonprofits — from across the country on opportunity zone matters both within and without the State of Connecticut.

Committed to educating business leaders as well as the next generation of legal and tax professionals, Lou is a frequent lecturer on Federal and Connecticut tax, partnership and limited liability company issues. For many years, he has provided annual updates on Connecticut tax developments to accountants practicing in New York and New Jersey. His recent lectures include presentations to the Connecticut Bar Association, the Connecticut Society of CPAs, the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, the National Conference of CPA Practitioners, the New York State Society of CPAs, the Long Island Tax Practitioner Symposium, the National Business Institute, the University of Connecticut Income Tax School, the New England Tax Institute and the Foundation for Accounting Education in New York City. He is frequently asked to author articles about state and local tax developments, such as the Tax Notes article entitled “Big Changes Coming to Connecticut’s Passthrough Entity Tax” which was published in 2023.

Lou is widely published; among numerous articles, book chapters and commentaries, he authored the latest edition of Connecticut Limited Liability Act: Forms and Practice Manual, the leading treatise in Connecticut on limited liability companies.