Grant Money Awarded to Bristol, Mental Health Parity Bill, and CT Farm Bill signed

July 18, 2025


 



I hope this email finds you and your family well!

I'm writing to share some legislative updates from the past week. Grant money was awarded to the City of Bristol as part of the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grants, plus two important pieces of legislation have been signed into law:

  1. Mental Health Parity Improvements – The existing Mental Health Parity Law has been significantly strengthened to ensure better access to care and coverage for mental health services.

  2. CT Farm Bill – This new legislation provides a substantial boost to our state’s agricultural sector, supporting local farmers and promoting sustainability.

Keep scrolling to read more about each of these new laws plus the grant money.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at any time.
 

On Monday, Governor Lamont announced the awarding of more than $14 million in state grants to preserve 2,270 acres of open space and the creation of six new community green spaces in 22 towns and cities across Connecticut.

Scoring $420,000 (plus $8,700 in incidental costs) was the City of Bristol. Part of the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant, Hoppers-Birge Pond Nature Preserve Expansion (Perkins Street) is a 10-acre parcel which is southerly of the town-owned Roberts Dog Park and westerly of the town’s Pigeon Hill Preserve.

This funding will contribute to the viewshed, the trail system and unique geology of the area. It contains essential elements of ridgeline (glacial esker) and hiking trails, as well as part of a large glacial formation known as a kettle (locally referred to as “Hoppers”). A section of the Old Colonial Road, an historic native American trail and colonial road, runs through the property. Several endangered and species of concern are present on the property.

Hoppers-Birge Pond Nature Preserve

 
 

Last week the governor signed legislation that strengthens the state's mental health parity laws. This legislation addresses deficiencies in the prior 2019 Mental Health Parity Law, which lacked robust enforcement mechanisms.

This new law significantly improves enforcement of the existing law by:

  • Enabling the state to fine insurance companies that do not comply with mental health parity laws, which require insurance companies to provide the same coverage for mental health as they would for any medical or surgical condition. Those who don’t comply can face fines up to $625,000.
  • Increasing transparency by requiring public annual reports that disclose whether insurers are complying with the law.
  • Limiting insurers' ability to use "step therapy," a protocol that requires patients to try less expensive (and potentially less effective) treatments before accessing those recommended by their doctors. 

This legislation makes Connecticut's mental health parity laws among the strongest in the nation.
 

Governor Lamont's newly signed CT Farm Bill provides a significant boost to Connecticut's agricultural sector by introducing a broad suite of incentives and protections aimed at strengthening local farms.

Here's a breakdown of what this legislation means for farm owners:

A 20% Tax Credit for “Farm Investment Property”

  • Encourages investment in equipment, infrastructure, and technology.
  • Helps farmers offset costs of modernizing and expanding operations.

Crop Loss Reimbursement

  • Provides financial support for farmers hit by natural disasters or other crop-damaging events.
  • Aims to improve stability and risk management for growers.

Drone Regulations to Boost Innovation

  • Clarifies and potentially simplifies rules around drone usage.
  • Promotes precision agriculture through improved data collection, monitoring, and efficiency.

Support for Shellfish, Agritourism & More

  • Expands state-level backing for niche and value-added farm activities.
  • Recognizes the role of aquaculture and farm-based tourism in rural economic development.

Expanding Land Access Grants

  • Makes it easier for new and historically underserved farmers to acquire farmland.
  • Addresses long-standing barriers to land ownership and usage.
 

The Page Park pickleball courts as well as the tennis courts reopened to community members earlier this month.

Page Park (649 King Street) is undergoing the first phase of a multi-million-dollar revitalization project which includes the construction of new parking lots, pedestrian access, improved lighting and trail systems, infrastructure improvements to the pond, and watercourse and the construction of a new tennis/pickleball complex which includes a shaded cover, picnic pavilion, ADA accessible pathways and four new lighted pickleball courts.

Stay tuned for more information on the Pickleball Tournament coming up this August!