During a special session Wednesday, the state Senate voted to allow the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority bid on Aquarion Water Company.

If the sale happens, rate increases would no longer need state approval.

Instead, a new Aquarion Water Authority would be established.

"An item that no one's ever heard of before the last several days -- that's never received a public hearing that is extremely controversial and could ultimately impact the water rates for hundreds of thousands of people across our state," says state Sen. Rob Sampson (R) Wolcott.

The bill also includes tightening rules on school construction, following Gov. Ned Lamont's former budget deputy, Kostas Diamantis being charged with bid-rigging.

The house will take up the bill Thursday.