Connecticut continues to work on voter protections to make voting as easy, safe, and accessible as possible. The House also passed two resolutions focused on voting rights earlier this month: HJ 58 which calls for no-excuse absentee voting, and HJ 59 which allows for early voting. All three of these voting reforms are awaiting further action in the Senate.
While other states are passing legislation to disenfranchise voters, Connecticut is acting to support participation in the democratic process.
SB 840: This bill would restore shellfish beds, but also would expand them. In the Public Hearing for this bill, I asked about any expansion of shellfish beds. It is important that we begin to slow down and really pay attention to the impact of these initiatives on the local marine ecosystem. Thinking of ourselves first will do us disservice in the long run and this is why I voted against this bill.
HB 6622: During a plan year, health care insurers are free to add or remove drugs from their formularies or shift individual drugs between tiers leading to potential higher costs or complete loss of coverage for consumers. HB 6622 would offer piece of mind to consumers by modifying the carrier's ability to impose these potentially confusing changes.
HB 5677: Treating the root causes of violence is one of the most important pieces to making our communities safer. HB 5677 supports new models for community safety by investing in violence prevention services which focus on intervention and aftercare to reduce violence and save lives.
HB 6597: This bill provides funding to support the resources and tools to support accountability measures, in addition to clarifying job protections for law enforcement officers undergoing the mental health exam required under the Police Accountability Act.
SB 908: Unions have the right to organize. SB 908 will help public-sector unions grow and maintain their membership by baring public employers from deterring new or existing employees from joining a union and allowing efforts to ease access to unions for new employees.
HB 6436: For children in communities with concentrated poverty and under-resourced schools, opportunities can be significantly limited. Open choice programs allow children to attend higher resource schools – but one step further, just passed by the House, HB 6436 will assist families with moving to that higher opportunity community where their child already attends school to allow the entire family to become a true part of the community.
HB 6374: To more effectively combat sexual assault on our college campuses, we must work to gain a comprehensive understanding of student's insights and concerns. HB 6374 allows for a step toward this understanding by ensuring that universities regularly survey students to better understand campus climate and the accessibility of resources.
HB 6441: Combatting and adapting to climate change must be a priority in the coming years – HB 6441 implements a plan from the Governor's Council on Climate Change to provide Connecticut's towns and cities with the resources needed to effectively fight climate change.
HB 6344: Unemployment services became a vital necessity during the pandemic as an unprecedented number of workers turned to the CT Department of Labor for support and guidance. This increased need also exposed areas for improvement. HB 6344 creates the Office of Unemployed Workers' Advocate to better assist unemployed individuals with processing claims and understanding available programs and benefits.
HB 6476: Social and economic disparities have existed in our policies and budgets for years but have been recently highlighted by the ongoing pandemic. HB 6476 creates a study to better understand the difficulties these disparities have created, and the opportunities for change to create more equity moving forward.
HB 6524: Fuel cells can offer a cleaner, more efficient, and affordable option to supplying and storing energy. HB 6524 will require electric companies to solicit proposals for new fuel cell electricity generation projects. Further expanding the benefits of fuel cell technology is an essential investment in our state's environment and future.
HB 5312: We are rapidly transitioning to a digital world, but not only does this transition raise privacy concerns, it also can leave many behind. A cashless society disproportionately hurts low-income communities where individuals lack the funds and resources to obtain bank accounts or credits cards. HB 5312 would prohibit cashless transactions for in-person retail transactions to reduce harm to underbanked communities.
HB 6520:Domestic violence victims often find themselves trapped in potentially tragic situations because they lack the independent financial security to leave a relationship – and for too many, access to the resources needed to leave are defined by their household income. Through temporary benefits, HB 6520 will give survivors the opportunity to financially detach themselves from their abusers and begin the steps to safely move on with their lives.
HB 6399:Early intervention and adequate resources are essential to keeping our children safe. HB 6399 would require the Department of Public Health to administer a statewide approach to the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey to better assess the potential risks our children may be facing and provide data-driven details for possible resources.
HB 6558:Early childhood education and services offer support and a solid foundation to allow our children to flourish as they grow – but Connecticut faces a significant shortage of infant and toddler care. To offer parents, children, and providers a stronger approach to child care, HB 6558 offers student loan forgiveness for early childhood educators, expands Care4Kids, and establishes a pilot program for new childcare entrepreneurs.
HB 6646:The state has worked incredibly hard over the past few years to provide relief and assistance to hundreds of families in northeastern Connecticut following the devastating discovery that their homes had crumbling foundations. HB 6646 will expand on this work by extending the life of the captive insurance company, require annual reports from quarries, and develop concrete standards.
HB 6470:Throughout the pandemic, emergency orders to expand telehealth services offered significant relief to our most vulnerable residents and allowed flexibility for patients and providers. HB 6470 maintains this impactful access to health care services and extends access to HUSKY Health participants.
SB 1019: Even after someone has repaid their debt to society, they are left with a criminal record that carries a lasting impact making it harder to find a job, secure housing, go to school, or even obtain a license. To give people the clean slate needed to move on with their lives and get back to work, the House passed SB 1019 to allow for automatic erasure and anti-discrimination for certain low-level crimes.
I supported and voted for the bill, however as a member and proud Co-chair of the CT Animal Advocacy Caucus, I testified to remind my colleagues that instances of animal cruelty are often linked to instances of domestic violence. Our task will be to elevate statute 53-247b from class D felonies to class C felonies. It took decades to get where we are and we need that support the from Chairs, Ranking Members, stake holders, and the sentencing commission to make sure those felonies become class C. |
