Dear Neighbor,
The pandemic has produced numerous challenges and exacerbated existing institutional inequities. Throughout the 2021 session, my colleagues and I worked to address these new challenges and the existing injustices by passing over 350 bills and resolutions.
I know the past year has been difficult for each individual and family in our community, and I believe the legislation passed in Hartford will empower everyone in our district. This session I advocated for equitable public health policies, increased access to mental health resources, and additional support for our seniors, schools, and small businesses. I also worked with my colleagues to pass a bipartisan budget that will strengthen our economy and invest in our infrastructure, sustainability efforts, and education. I have fought to ensure New Haven will see an increase in funding in both Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 through this budget. I am confident that these state investments will see our community recover and thrive as we move out of this pandemic.
Please continue reading for more information on legislative highlights and resources developed this session that will benefit your family, our district, and our state.
Best,
Juan Candelaria
State Representative
Fighting For Equity And Fairness
- Declared racism a public health crisis and created a Commission on Racial Equity tasked with eliminating health disparities (PA 21-35)
- Championed new zoning reforms to address rising housing costs, affordability, equity and opportunity in our communities (PA 21-29)
- Guaranteed legal representation if you’re facing eviction (PA 21-34)
- Voters will get to decide in 2022 whether CT will allow in-person voting, and in 2024 whether CT will offer no-excuse absentee ballots to all registered voters. (PA 21-1 & PA 21-2)
- Ended prison gerrymandering – the practice of counting prisoners as if they were registered voters when determining what districts our elected officials represent (PA 21-49)
- I was proud to introduce a bill which later became a committee bill to restore voting rights for individuals in community facilities or on parole. (SB 1202)
New Haven State Aid
| Town Budget Summary | FY 22 | FY 23 |
|---|---|---|
| Money For Our Schools | $165,735,873 | $168,121,331 |
| Non-Education Aid | $113,716,828 | $113,768,828 |
| Total State Funding For New Haven | $279,452,701 | $281,890,159 |
A Few Session Highlights
- Improved fair balance of hospitalization and medical services to those in need.
- Bi-partisan budget increased funding for education.
- Aid in Municipalities including Fair Housing, land use regulation and Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Program.
- The Bonding Act increased funding for school construction, housing and rehabilitation programs.
- Economic & Community Development implementing the Small Business Express Program along with Community Investment Funds.
- School Lunch Debt which prohibits public shaming of any unpaid meal charges.
- Constitutional amendment for voters to decide to allow for early voting and no-excuse absentee voting.
- Foreclosure Mediation, Emergency Lien Assistance Programs and the Right to Counsel in eviction proceedings.
- The legislature passed several measures aimed at addressing the impact COVID-19 has had on children’s mental health.
Land Of Steady Habits Gets With The Times
After years of debate and hard-work, I was proud to lead passage of legislation to legalize cannabis and lift our communities, especially those that have paid the highest price for marijuana possession and use. (SB 1201):
- Only for those 21 and older starting July 1, 2021
- Balanced health, treatment, public safety and equity
- Erasure of past marijuana convictions
- Home grow in 2023
- Majority of state proceeds go to advancing equity and substance abuse treatment. By FY (fiscal year) 2029 100% of the Cannabis tax revenue will go to social equity or substance abuse treatment. In FY 2024-2025, 85% goes to social equity and treatment, FY 2026-2028 90%.
More bills passed:
- Legalized sports betting and online gaming (PA 21-23)
- Paved the way for our state’s first Inspector General to independently investigate police-involved shootings (PA 21-8)
- Opened up year-round trout fishing (PA 21-12)
- Modernized our breastfeeding laws (PA 21-27).
- Allowed student athletes to make money from their name, image and likeness (HB 6402)