Patricia Dillon

These laws mark the tireless work put in by my colleagues and me throughout the 2021 and 2022 Legislative Sessions to address your concerns and make necessary changes in Hartford.

With many families in Connecticut facing added financial strain due to rising prices, the legislature went into special session earlier this week to provide some relief. A bipartisan bill passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Lamont extends the current suspension of the gasoline tax, provides additional funding for energy assistance programs, and continues premium pay for frontline workers.

The state has announced a five-year, $46.6 million investment to expand small business assistance programs across Connecticut, specifically supporting small business owners who may have previously experienced barriers to accessing financial support.This initiative will also support startup businesses, which is great news for our economy.

An additional $1 Billion boost in federal funding to the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), allowing for more households to receive the benefit in the state, has been allocated as part of an emergency supplemental aid package recently approved by Congress.

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) will implement new eligibility benefit levels in the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beginning October 1, 2022, which will result in an estimated 44,000 additional Connecticut residents in 17,600 households becoming eligible for the food assistance program.

State Comptroller Natalie Braswell announced that her office will transfer $3.1 billion into the rainy-day fund. This move triggers a statutory mandate that requires a one-time, special payment of $2.8 billion to be made toward the state’s unfunded pension liabilities.

Good news!  The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved the State of Connecticut’s request to extend Medicaid (known in Connecticut as HUSKY) and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage for twelve months after pregnancy..

As of July 1, 2022 CoveredCT is now available to adults without children AND it now provides dental coverage and non-emergency medical transportation! Visit AccessHealthCT.com to see if you qualify for the Covered Connecticut Program.