Jillian Gilchrest

The virtual platform of this year's session, although a learning curve, increased accessibility and participation throughout the legislative process. Many of you spoke or submitted testimony during public hearings, followed the budget from its initial drafts to the House floor, and even increased your communications with me to ensure your voices were heard. As we adjourned last week, I am proud to say my legislative colleagues and I worked hard to pass a number of necessary pieces of legislation that our community will benefit from.

The property tax burden has become a financial hardship for some members of the aging community. This will ease the potential hardships for some of the aging community.
 
Red Flag Law 
HB 6355 works to temporarily remove firearms from those deemed by a court to be a danger. This bill bolsters our current statute also known as the "Red Flag Law," which has fallen behind the curve since its initial enactment in 1999.This law, also known as a Risk Warrant or a Risk Protection Order, established a legal procedure for the temporary removal of firearms from a person who may pose a danger to themselves or others.
 
The bill will also ensure individuals whose firearms are removed cannot acquire additional firearms or ammunition and requires individuals to apply to have the order revoked. It is a life-saving bill that will only help our state mitigate gun violence.
 
Domestic Violence
SB 1091 makes various changes in the laws relating to domestic violence, civil restraining orders, family violence, assistance programs, and certain crimes by introducing a working definition of coercive control into Connecticut Law to protect partners and children.
 
This helps courts recognize that intimate partner violence and abuse doesn’t always look like a bruise or a broken arm and allows victims subject to coercive control by a family or household member to be eligible for civil restraining orders. This also establishes additional protections for tenants who are protected by certain orders of protection and requires a landlord to change a dwelling unit’s locks upon the tenant’s request or allow the tenant to do so within a certain time period.
 
Bottle Bill 
With recent and proposed changes to the state's waste management, Connecticut's recycling program is ready for reform. Commonly known as the "bottle bill," S.B. 1037 makes changes to increase the redemption and recycling rates for bottles and cans to save our communities money and protect our environment. It will also invest in redemption centers to make recycling more convenient and viable.
 
Clean Slate Bill 
After years of advocacy, we passed S.B. 1019, the “Clean Slate” bill, which erases an individual’s misdemeanor offenses and minor felonies after a certain period of time if they have not committed another offense.This is groundbreaking legislation will help thousands of formerly incarcerated citizens in Connecticut by clearing their records and paving the way for a full re-entry into society with access to good paying jobs, education, and quality housing.
 
Studies show that a very small percentage of those once-incarcerated become repeat offenders. However, those with prior criminal convictions can carry the burden of their record for the rest of their lives – a burden that falls disproportionately on people of color. 
 
This bill is a game-changer for those in our community who have long since paid their dues to society. 
 
Zoning and Affordable Housing
H.B. 6107, includes zoning reforms that give our towns and cities the ability to effectively drive the inevitable change our communities are facing. It allows communities to regulate to explicitly protect the state’s historic, tribal, cultural, and environmental resources. It requires regulations address significant disparities in housing needs and access to educational, occupational, and other opportunities. Cities and towns must also affirmatively further the purposes of the federal Fair Housing Act and promote efficient review of proposals and applications.
 
Finally, H.B. 6107 establishes a Commission on Connecticut's Development and Future to evaluate policies related to land use, conservation, housing affordability, and infrastructure.
 
This will ensure that our zoning rules and regulations continue to evolve with our ever-changing world. 
 
Telehealth Access
Telehealth services have been immensely beneficial to both patients and providers during this pandemic and have been crucial to our most vulnerable residents. H.B.5596 extends telehealth services for Connecticut residents for the next two years, allowing individuals in the state to have access to in-depth healthcare from the comfort of their home.

Telehealth services ensure that all patients have access to effective assistance from their provider, whether it be in-person or virtually. 
 
Opioid Epidemic
The opioid epidemic has devastated our state. Though the focus on opioids tends to shift to cities, none of the communities throughout our state are immune from the effects of opioid abuse. 

HB 5597 would help combat this epidemic by creating a task force to study the response protocols used by emergency responders and medical personnel following an opioid overdose death. It also requires the Department of Public Health to develop guidelines for the use of non-pharmaceutical methods of treating chronic pain and conduct community outreach to raise awareness. This bill could save lives and address the stigma of opioid use disorder.

While this is just a short list of highlighted bills passed – they will all make great impacts for our town. To see the full list of bills passed by the House this session click here.
 
Although the legislative session has come to a close, I want to encourage you to stay connected to the legislative process in the future. I am always available to help, so please feel free to contact me at any time with your thoughts, suggestions, questions, or concerns.