State Budget Overview, Roe v. Wade Draft Opinion & More

gilchrest
May 16, 2022

The 2022 Legislative Session has come to a close. In this historically short session, we've passed critical pieces of legislation in regards to reproductive rights and children's mental health and backed a $24 billion state budget that offers $600 million in tax cuts for our residents. I am extremely proud of the work that we accomplished to enhance our community and our state. 

There are many pieces of legislation to highlight and I will continue to communicate those throughout the coming weeks. I want to thank you for trusting me to bring your ideas and concerns to the Capitol. It is an honor to represent the 18th district. 

 
State Budget Overview
On Monday, we passed the state budget proposal which provides $600 million in historic tax relief to meet this moment of need for so many residents in our state. It also makes vital investments in our municipalities, nonprofits, child care providers, and more. I've provided some highlights below to help you better understand how this will impact you and your family. 

State Budget Overview

  • Cuts state income taxes for retirees
  • Lowers property taxes on homes and cars
  • Extends tax cuts for workers in low-paying jobs (EITC)
  • Establishes the first state child tax credit for income-eligible taxpayers for up to 3 dependent children under age 16
  • Extends 25-cent cut to gas tax and extends free bus service until December
  • Makes a historic $4.2 billion payment to CT's pension debt, saving taxpayers considerable money
  • Provides a significant tax break for businesses on unemployment insurance
  • Offers health insurance coverage to children under 12, regardless of immigration status
  • Increased pay to childcare workers to attract and retain more educators
  • Assist local schools in expanded mental health staff and access to care

State Funding for West Hartford

  • $25,871,045 in total funding for West Hartford during the 2023 fiscal year
    • $22,253,668 for West Hartford Public Schools
    • $1,590,998 for PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Local Property Taxes) 
  • $10 million for the Children's Museum
  • $100,000 for Noah Webster House
  • $15,000 for Playhouse on Park
  • $10,000 for Senior Jobs Bank

You can read more about the budget here. Please reach out to me if you have any questions!
 
Leaked Supreme Court Opinion on Roe v. Wade
Earlier this week, I joined my colleagues in the Reproductive Rights Caucus, State leaders, and pro-choice advocates for a press conference in response to the leaked Supreme Court opinion on Roe v. Wade. While the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is one that we anticipated, I am devasted by the misogyny and anti-choice rhetoric in the leaked opinion. This is a devastating moment for our country, and I am heartbroken for those who will lose access to abortion care. Click the photo below to listen to my remarks from the press conference:
I am proud to say that during the 2022 Legislative Session, the Connecticut General Assembly passed the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, which legally protects medical providers and patients traveling to Connecticut seeking abortion care. This legislation also allows for advanced practitioners for whom abortion care is part of their scope of practice to perform abortions.
 
Roe V. Wade was codified into the Connecticut Constitution in 1990, but now with its fate looming, the legislature has provided a safeguard protecting that right to an abortion and protecting a person's right to choose. Governor Lamont has signed this legislation into law, putting Connecticut at the forefront of protecting reproductive rights.

The fight does not end here. We will keep moving forward.
 
Women's Health Bills
We passed critical pieces of legislation to address disparities in women's health, many of which originated from Breast Cancer Working Group and the Endometriosis Working Group recommendations. 

I am so proud that HB 5278, An Act Prohibiting An Unauthorized Intimate Examination On A Patient Who Is Under Deep Sedation Or Anesthesia Or Unconscious, passed and is headed to the Governor's desk. This bill requires consent for intimate exams when a patient is sedated and furthers Endometriosis training and research. It also expands breast cancer screenings offered to high-risk populations under the Department of Public Health's early detection and treatment referral program. 

We also passed SB 358 which mandates insurance companies to cover diagnostic ultrasounds for early detection of breast cancer and also includes coverage for MRIs, biopsies, prophylactic mastectomies and breast reconstruction surgery, as well as routine ovarian cancer screenings. Early detection saves lives and this legislation works to make sure individuals have access to adequate screenings.