One Week To Go In The 2021 Legislative Session

June 2, 2021

As teachers, students, and families rush toward the end of the year and local businesses get ready for the busy summer season ahead, the Connecticut General Assembly is also in high gear, working hard to finish up our business before the end of our session on June 9. 
 
With just a week left to go in my first legislative session, I’m proud of some important progress we’ve made—from education to healthcare to environmental protections—and I’m excited to bring many outstanding threads together before next Wednesday with a balanced budget that invests in our communities, pays down outstanding liabilities, lowers taxes for middle class families, and makes the most of our unique opportunity to leverage federal relief funding here in Connecticut.
 
Here are some of the legislative highlights of our last few weeks:

  • Investing in our families and supporting our communities
    • SB 1 and HB 5596: Ensuring comprehensive access to mental, behavioral, and physical health care in response to the pandemic—including the use of telehealth services
    • HB 6458: Extending property tax relief for seniors
    • HB 6441: Empowering municipalities to adapt to climate change
    • HB 6374: Protecting college students who report being a victim or witness of sexual assault, stalking or violence

2021 legislative update

  • Strengthening our civic institutions—and our democracy
    • HB 5653: Strengthening the legislature’s role in public health and civil preparedness emergencies
    • HB 6321: Adopting the Uniform Parentage Act to ensure equal treatment under the law for children born to same-sex couples and to expand recognition of non-biological parents
    • HJ 58, HJ59, and HB 6205: Expanding voting access through no-excuse absentee ballots and early voting
  • Growing CT’s economy 
    • HB 6603 and HB 6119: Supporting the arts, culture, and tourism industry
    • HB 6121: Creating a workforce development pipeline for persons with disabilities
    • HB 5481: Providing access to capital for women and minority-owned businesses
    • HB 6344: Assisting unemployed individuals with processing claims and understanding available programs