Tracking My Proposed Bills this Session

February 20, 2025

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Session is in full swing and I’ve received notes from a lot of you about a bill that the Environment Committee is hearing this week. Raised bill 6916, AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF NEONICOTINOIDS.  As currently written the bill restricts the use of neonicotinoids for certain commercial and agricultural applications.

Since I don’t sit on the Environment Committee, I don’t have a vote to get it out of committee.  I encourage you to not only send your emails to me, but also submit your written testimony here. It can be as brief or as long as you would like. I love to hear from you about policies we are considering.
Another bill I’d like to share with you this week is a proposal I received based on constituent frustrations. The concept has been taken up by the General Law committee and had a public hearing this week.

Bill 5744, AN ACT PROHIBITING CERTAIN BUSINESS CONDUCT REGARDING STORAGE OF CONSUMERS' CREDIT CARD AND DEBIT CARD INFORMATION, is intended to tackle the long term storage of your personal financial data.  If you would like to submit written testimony on your experiences, either in support of this policy or against, visit this link.
 
To keep up with all the committees, the variety of bills we are considering and other legislative business visit the Daily Bulletin here. Additionally, the graphic below can help you get started on tracking your interests.


 
 
Mental Health Parity
Mental Health Parity is another priority of mine and I joined many familiar faces for a press conference to discuss the issue. In 2019, then Representative Sean Scanlon as chairman of the Insurance Committee, led the passage of the mental health parity bill.

Over the years advocates and lawmakers believe that some insurance companies have found loop holes around the current laws. There is a bill this year that, if passed, would allow the Department of Insurance to apply fines when companies are out of compliance. This is the second year the bill has been put forward.


 
 
Fair Haven Community Health Center Services
The Fair Haven Community Health Center provides services to many students and families in our community. They serve inside elementary schools and have a large center, Shoreline Family Health Care on West Main St./Route 1 on the Branford town line.

They are an incredible resource for our community providing fully integrated medical care, behavioral health care and substance use treatment under one roof. They offer adult, geriatric, and pediatric services and have a pharmacy on site.

Grand Pharmacy is open to anyone in the community for prescriptions and refills. If you have to pay out of pocket for a prescription, you may want to check the prices at Grand Pharmacy as they fall under a federal pricing program.


 
 
Natalia's Nest Fundraising Campaign
Over the weekend I joined my neighbors for the launch of Natalia’s Nest, a fundraising campaign to support the Rubio family, owners of Genaro’s Pizza & Restaurant in Branford. Six months ago their daughter Natalia was born with an extremely rare disease, Bohring-Opitz Syndrome.

Connecticut is leading the way on rare disease research and we collaborate to highlight innovation, accelerate patient access, and improve outcomes for patients. We have also passed laws to improve early identification of these genetic diseases.

The strain of the healthcare costs is enormous and intensive day to day care is often necessary. It is, and will continue to be, a very tough road for the Rubio family. Thank you to the caring community and volunteers that will be participating in upcoming events and activities that will support the family.
 
School Facilities Master Plan
Coming up on Tuesday February 25th from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. you will have a chance to take part in the first of three community conversations on the School Facilities Master Plan.  

While we are planning for the future of Education here in Hartford, Branford Public Schools is asking for your participation on developing the master plan for future school facilities. I hope you will take some time to either attend one of the upcoming Community Conversations.

For more information about the project Click Here.


 
 
Branford Microfund
On March 1st from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. the Blackstone Library is holding a session where residents can learn about The Branford Microfund, a 501c3 non-profit organization providing interest-free loans of up to $3,000 for unexpected financial challenges to Branford residents.

Members of the organization will be there to answer your questions on how to apply for a loan. Find their table in the Rotunda area!

For more information, visit https://www.branfordmicrofund.org/ or contact info@branfordmicrofund.org.

 
 
Expanding Access to Contraception
Connecticut is continuing our commitment to expand access to comprehensive reproductive health care. Thanks to a new law, a training program developed by the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, received final approval from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. The continuing education program is expected to take four hours to complete and is optional for all pharmacists. There are 671 licensed pharmacies and more than 6,500 licensed pharmacists in the state who are eligible to complete the course and begin prescribing birth control.
 
In addition, the state’s first vending machines providing access to emergency contraception and other over-the-counter medications are also now available in Connecticut. I am working with students and campus health providers on House Bill 6078 this year to support the implementation of this law to help launch more vending machines on more campuses. 
 
 
Students Can Apply to Join CT Board of Education
Do you know of a public school student who wants to participate in statewide education policy? If so, please encourage them to apply now to potentially serve on the Connecticut State Board of Education! The selected students, who will soon enter their senior year, will serve a one-year term, beginning July 1, 2025.

Take a look at the graphic below for application requirements.

 
The governor will appoint two public school students who will lend an important perspective to deliberations on the State Board of Education. The selected students will not have voting privileges.
  
Participants must complete their application, and it must be received by mail or email by Monday, March 17.
 
Click Here to learn more and apply
 
Community Events
 
United Way of Greater New Haven will host its largest Read Across America event to date and volunteers are needed!

You can read to pre-k through fourth-grade students across Branford, Guilford, Hamden, New Haven, North Haven, Orange, and West Haven. 


 
Click Here To Sign Up
 
 
On Wednesday, February 26th from 12:30 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. there will be a zoom presentation on Medicare.
 

To join the zoom click on the following link or scan the QR code below: