State of Connecticut - House Democrats

HOUSE APPROVES DRIVERS LICENSES FOR UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS

23 May 2014 08:00:00 EST

Amidst strong Republican opposition, legislation (HB 6495) touted by Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey (D-Hamden) that would allow undocumented residents to get Connecticut drivers licenses was approved by the House of Representatives.

HOUSE APPROVES SWIMMING POOL SAFETY BILL

22 May 2013 08:00:00 EST

State legislators Jason Rojas, Joe Diminico and Henry Genga, who represent East Hartford and Manchester where two high school students drowned last year in separate swimming pool accidents at their schools, joined their colleagues as the House of Representatives approved a bill that establishes a uniform pool safety policy.

M.O.R.E. COMMISSION ANNOUNCES RECOMMENDATIONS

21 May 2013 08:00:00 EST

An eventual phase-out of the local motor vehicle property tax, eliminating the mandate that towns publish public notices in newspapers, and a common school year calendar are among the recommendations of the M.O.R.E. Commission.

REP. URBAN AND SEN. BARTOLOMEO UNVEIL COMPREHENSIVE CHILD MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY

20 May 2013 08:00:00 EST

State Representative Diana Urban and State Senator Dante Bartolomeo unveiled a comprehensive early childhood mental health proposal today that is intended to serve as a complement to House Bill 1160.

BLUE ALERT BILL OK'D, SENT TO MALLOY FOR SIGNATURE

15 May 2013 08:00:00 EST

Legislation initiated and championed by Rep. Henry Genga that would create a Blue Alert system to help in the apprehension of dangerous criminals gains unanimous approval by both chambers of the legislature and is sent to the governor.

REP. SEAR HAILS HOUSE PASSAGE OF E-BOOK BILL

05 May 2013 08:00:00 EST

A bill that Rep. Sear has been working on all session has passed the House of Representatives.

REP. LESSER PRAISES THE HOUSE'S PASSAGE OF A BILL EXPANDING USE OF PROVISIONAL BALLOTS

14 May 2013 08:00:00 EST

The House of Representatives passed HB 5599 that would allow voters to use provisional ballots for state and municipal elections instead of only federal elections, as current statutes provide.

REP. ALEXANDER SAYS BILL WILL HELP VETERANS TO GET JOBS

09 May 2013 08:00:00 EST

Getting jobs for returning veterans has been a major priority for State Representative David Alexander whose bill establishing a task force to study the use of military occupational specialty training as a substitute for various licensing requirements in the state.

HOUSE PASSES BILL TO KEEP TOWNS FROM DISCRIMINATING WHEN MAKING DOG ORDINANCES

09 May 2013 08:00:00 EST

Breed specific ordinances tend to be the reaction after a dog bite or attack, but there is no evidence that these ordinances prevent dog attacks.

BILL INTRODUCED BY REP. FOX CLOSING SEXUAL ASSAULT LOOPHOLE PASSES HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY

08 May 2013 08:00:00 EST

Gerald Fox III introduced a bill that closes a loophole in Connecticut's sexual assault statutes that makes it easier to prosecute offenders who sexually assault people with severe physical and developmental disabilities. He said the bill will better serve victims and helps prosecutors in dealing with these special cases.

REP. MEGNA LEADS PASSAGE OF AUTO GLASS BILL TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES

07 May 2013 08:00:00 EST

Compared to 15 years ago, there are about half the number of small, independent companies left in the state that replace glass in motor vehicles, but legislation championed by Rep. Robert W. Megna and passed by the House May 7 would prohibit insurance companies from steering customers away from the 34 remaining businesses. House Bill 5072 provides more choices to consumers who are looking for a company to replace their auto glass and levels the playing field for small businesses, Megna said.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS APPROVED BY HOUSE

07 May 2014 08:00:00 EST

Popular sport would bring revenue to state, help local economies.

IDEA FOR TATTOO BILL CAME FROM HAMDEN RESIDENT

07 May 2014 08:00:00 EST

Legislation (HB 6590) I introduced this year requiring tattoo artists to be licensed by the state Department of Public Health was the brainchild of one of my Hamden neighbors.

HOUSE PASSES MATTRESS STEWARDSHIP BILL

02 May 2013 08:00:00 EST

Recycling Program Looks to Save Money and Reduce Landfill Issues.

LICENSES FOR ALL DRIVERS

29 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EST

I was proud to join the CONECT coalition along with other state and local leaders at the Capitol today in support of legislation to allow all CT residents to get drivers' licenses.

STAMFORD'S REP. PATRICIA BILLIE MILLER NAMED DEPUTY SPEAKER OF STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

10 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST

State Representative Patricia Billie Miller has been appointed to the position of Deputy Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives by Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey.

LEGISLATURE HOLDS HISTORIC GUN SAFETY VOTE

4 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EST

The strongest gun safety law in the country was approved early this morning 105 � 44 by the House in an historic bipartisan vote.

AUTISM AWARENESS DAY AT CAPITOL IS ABOUT FAMILIES

3 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST

Speaker Sharkey joined State Representative Cathy Abercrombie, other state leaders, autism advocacy groups and families at the 8th annual Autism Awareness Day at the State Capitol.

SPEAKER SHARKEY AND MINORITY LEADER CAFERO

3 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST

Appeared on the CBS Evening News last night to talk about today's historic vote.

SHARKEY TALKS ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE LEGISLATION

02 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST

Speaker Sharkey appeared on Nicole Sandler's program at Radio Or Not this morning to talk about the historic agreement reached yesterday on gun violence measures that will be the strictest in the country once passed.

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM GETS FUNDING INFUSION

21 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST

The successful Small Business Express (EXP) Program now has the necessary resources to continue to create jobs throughout the state, thanks to bipartisan legislation that just became law.

FEDS BACK REP. CONROY'S PLAN TO EXPAND ADVANCE PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES' ROLE IN PATIENT CARE

20 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST

In a letter to Rep. Theresa Conroy, officials with the Federal Trade Commission say advanced practice nurses play a significant role in improving the delivery of health care.

MORE COMMISSION BEGINS WORK TO HELP TOWNS MEET CHALLENGES

14 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST

Municipal taxes, education funding, regionalism and mandates will all be looked at by the MORE (Municipal Opportunities & Regional Efficiencies) Commission over the next six weeks with an eye to help our cities and towns better meet their budget challenges.

WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATED AT STATE CAPITOL

13 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST

State officials, including Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey of Hamden and State Representative Auden Grogins of Bridgeport participated in the annual Women's Day forum held at the State Capitol complex.

SANDY HOOK WORKERS FUND BECOMES LAW

13 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST

Legislation sponsored by Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey and House Majority Leader Joe Aresimowicz and unanimously passed by the General Assembly March 6 creating the Sandy Hook Workers Assistance Fund became law when Governor Malloy signed the bill at a ceremony in the State Capitol.

NEW BRITAIN DELEGATION APPLAUDS FUNDS FOR HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL CARE

12 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST

New Britain Legislators announce the expected approval of funds for the Hospital for Special Care (HSC) in New Britain to implement an electronic medical records system.

STATE BUDGET, GUN SAFETY TOP LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

06 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST

As the 2013 legislative session gets into full swing, I wanted to share a few recent news articles that I think do a good job of laying out some of the major issues the General Assembly is facing.

LEGISLATURE TO ESTABLISH FUND FOR SANDY HOOK WORKERS

06 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST

Speaker Sharkey and other legislative leaders announced the formation of a special fund to assist individuals who suffered psychological trauma as a result of their work related to the Sandy Hook tragedy. The Sandy Hook Workers Assistance Fund will be funded through private donations and provide support to volunteer and professional workers who are suffering from mental health issues as a result of the tragedy.

REDUCED COSTS, INCREASED EFFICIENCIES CAN HELP TOWNS LOWER PROPERTY TAXES

28 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST

In 2010, Speaker Sharkey chaired a panel called the MORE Commission, which stood for Municipal Opportunities and Regional Efficiencies. That effort resulted in new laws encouraging inter-town regional cooperation to reduce costs. The MORE Commission was resurrected last week because a lot more can and needs to be done in this area.

REGIONAL COOPERATION CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, ECONOMIC GROWTH

24 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST

During a State Capitol budget forum, Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey explained how economic growth and lower property taxes can result from towns cooperating on the delivery of services to their residents.

A SAFER CONNECTICUT

22 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST

A special bipartisan task force recently announced by legislative leaders and charged with developing recommendations designed to reduce gun violence, enhance school safety and increase access to mental health care has a new website: www.cga.ct.gov/asaferconnecticut.

BIPARTISAN TASK FORCE ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND CHILDREN'S SAFETY SCHEDULES HEARINGS

18 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST

REP. GENTILE HONORED BY COUNCIL OF SMALL TOWNS

17 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST

Honored for Her Efforts to Reduce State Mandates.

HOME HEATING HELP IS AVAILABLE

15 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST

State Representative Theresa Conroy today reminded residents that no one should be left in the cold this winter and help is available through the state's home heating assistance programs.

CHILDREN'S COMMITTEE IS ELEVATED TO FULL STANDING COMMITTEE

14 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST

The legislature's Children's Committee, co-chaired, by State Representative Diana Urban, has been elevated by legislative leaders to a full standing committee in the General Assembly.

HAMDEN'S BRENDAN SHARKEY SWORN IN AS NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

09 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST

Brendan Sharkey was sworn in yesterday as Connecticut's new Speaker of the House. Sharkey urged his fellow legislators to continue to work together in the bipartisan spirit with which they passed legislation in the previous special session.

REP. HENNESSY AND SPEAKER SHARKEY ANNOUNCE HIGHER STANDING FOR VETERANS COMMITTEE

09 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST

House Chair of the Veterans Committee Rep. Jack Hennessy (D-Bridgeport) and Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey (D-Hamden) announced that the General Assembly's Veterans' Affairs Committee has been elevated to a permanent standing committee from its prior "select" temporary status.

19 FRESHMAN LEGISLATORS SWORN IN; NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM BEGINS WORK

09 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST

19 new legislators joined the House Democratic Caucus on Wednesday, representing districts all across the state. The new Leadership team was also announced.