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Dear Neighbors & Friends,
I hope this message finds you and your family well! This week, the House was in Session Monday through Thursday, and we passed numerous bills, which you can read more about further down in this email. I was honored to lead the House Chamber in the Pledge of Allegiance Monday morning to kick off the remaining three weeks of the legislative session.
It has been a productive week, from debating on the House Floor to meeting with advocates in the final weeks of the session. Next week, we will be back up at the Capitol for Session every day. Be sure to follow along all day on CT-N or YouTube and stay updated with the weekly CGA calendar here: www.cga.ct.gov
Click on the links below to go to each section, and as always, if I can be of service to you, please be in touch!
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Connecticut House Democrats passed legislation to make sure our 2026 elections are free and fair.
In 2024, voters overwhelmingly approved the expanded use of absentee ballots, HB 5001 will modernize our absentee ballot system by:
- Replacing the second envelope with a more reliable barcode system
- Setting up a system to check the status of your absentee ballot online
- Allowing more people who request a ballot to be automatically sent one for each election
- Expanding where town-supervised voting by absentee ballot takes place (currently it is only in nursing homes and hospice)
- Letting anyone who will be 18 by Election Day vote early or by absentee ballot
Additionally, we’ll keep ICE and people with weapons away from our polls, increase penalties for tampering with vote counts and intimidating poll workers, and empower the Attorney General to prevent people from interfering with our elections, among other provisions.
People’s right to vote is under constant attack around the country, but here in Connecticut, we’re making sure elections are free and fair.
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| Connecticut Adopts Common-Sense Vaccine Policies |
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This week, the House passed HB 5044: An Act Establishing Connecticut Vaccine Standards.
In the past, Connecticut's vaccine policies and standards have been tied to the expert recommendations developed by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC). Unfortunately, the CDC has recently abandoned its standing as the premier resource of medicine and science guidelines.
HB 5044 seeks to update Connecticut's vaccine policies so they are based on science, not political agendas. The bill will:
- Allow the Connecticut Department of Public Health to promote COVID and flu vaccines
- Require private insurance companies to cover the cost of your vaccinations
- Allow Connecticut to buy vaccines from suppliers other than the CDC
- Establish an adult vaccine program for uninsured and under-insured individuals
- Tighten loopholes around unvaccinated children and public schools
This bill makes vaccines more accessible and more affordable, and it will keep our communities healthier.
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| PURA Approved Financial Relief on Electric Bills |
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Starting May 1, Connecticut residents can expect some welcome relief on their energy bills. Earlier this week, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approved an interim decision to lower residential electricity rates across the state.Under this change, on average, rates will decrease by approximately 4.3 cents per kilowatt-hour, about $30 per month for the average Eversource customer, and 4.9 cents per kilowatt-hour, or roughly $34 per month, for the average United Illuminating customer.This reduction is largely driven by a drop in the public benefits charge, which will now appear as a credit on customers’ bills rather than an added cost, at least through September. Much of this shift is tied to long-term energy contracts negotiated by Millstone and Seabrook nuclear power plants. These agreements provide electricity at stable, fixed prices, helping shield ratepayers from the volatility of fossil fuel markets.The state’s continued investment in a diversified energy portfolio has helped cushion the impact of rising natural gas prices this winter, underscoring the value of a balanced and forward-looking energy strategy.Customers should begin seeing these lower rates reflected in their bills starting May 1, with the reductions expected to remain in place through at least September for most households.Visit EnergizeCT.com for more ways to save.
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| National Drug Takeback Day |
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As you begin spring cleaning, clearing out old medications is an essential step toward a refreshed and safe home. National Drug Takeback Day, administered by the DEA, will take place on Saturday, April 25. This event provides residents with a free, convenient way to safely dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medications at local collection sites. The DEA partners with local law enforcement agencies across the United States to host this event in local communities like ours.
The Stamford Police Department will host a Drug Takeback Site at 725 Bedford St. in Stamford from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 25th.
Host sites will collect pills and capsules, as well as prescription and over-the-counter medicines. The DEA cannot accept liquid, sharps, or needles. Trained volunteers will be present to handle collected materials and ensure safe disposal. Any medication you wish to dispose of should be presented in a clear, sealed bag. Loose pills or capsules will not be accepted.
If you are unable to attend the event, MyOldMeds.com offers a Locator Tool to help you find the nearest disposal site year-round. There are more than 29,000 verified locations in all 50 states that have secure unwanted or expired medicine disposal kiosks, and/ or provide free in-home disposal kits upon request. Additionally, the Locator Tool provides disposal site hours of operation, hours of collection, what is collected, and other helpful information. |
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| The Shippan Dog Parade hosted by Shippan Point Association will take place on Saturday, April 25th, at 9 a.m. at the corner of Lanark Rd. and Ocean Drive North. All proceeds go to Lucky Dog Refuge. |
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As always, whenever anything is top of mind for you and I can be of service to you, please contact me at (860) 240-8585 or on my cell phone at 203-249-1831 or email me directly at eilish.collinsmain@cga.ct.gov.
Warm Regards,
Eilish Collins Main
State Representative |
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