Mary M. Mushinsky

I was happy to serve as a co-sponsor and to support HB 6486, which passed in the House on Wednesday. Next, it heads to the Senate for consideration.

We are more than halfway through the regular session, and this is the time of year when legislative activity picks up in the Connecticut General Assembly.

I am pleased to report that responsible budgeting and major structural changes made to pension and teachers' retirement plans are putting Connecticut on much more solid fiscal ground and saving taxpayers billions in debt payments.

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.

Earlier this summer, the Biden Administration announced student loan debt relief, and I'm pleased to share that the application is now open!

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.

This weekend, several new laws in Connecticut will go into effect on October 1. These laws are a result of my colleagues' hard work during the 2022 session. Below are just some of the laws that will take effect and what they mean for you.