SB 176 Passes House

May 2, 2022

During Thursday's session, the House passed SB 176.This bill further illustrates the Connecticut General Assembly's emphasis on creating clean energy focused future. SB 176 expands local deployment of solar power and creates several clean energy jobs. It also protects farmland, expands solar programs, supports local businesses and protects the environment. This bill passed through the Senate on April 26 - all that is left is the Governor's signature. 

SB 176 is proof that we can create legislation that balances  green energy with farmland preservation. Finding that middle ground is greatly important to our district. Last year, I held a discussion on this very subject. I am thrilled to see a piece of legislation reflect some of the topics discussed during that conversation. 

In this email, I have highlighted a few other the bills we've worked on this week. Keep reading or watch the video to learn more.

Well Water Contamination - H.B. 5484 and SB 456

There are two bills that were done in collaboration with the Department of Public Health in relation to well water contamination: H.B. 5484 An Act Concerning the Department Of Public Health's Recommendations Regarding Private and Semipublic Well Testing and S.B. 456, An Act Concerning Clean and Safe Well Water. 

As of today, the bills have not been called to the House and Senate floor, respectively. But I am holding out hope that they are called before sine dine. 

One bill related to well water contamination that did pass out of the House was HB 5201. This simple bill would direct the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to consider public health concerns when analyzing the acquisition of small water companies by larger ones.  

HB 5044

Our fight for justice continues. The state's settlement with Purdue Pharma and other manufacturers for their role in creating the opioid epidemic requires companies, and the Sackler family, to provide funding to the state for opioid victim and survivor services. HB 5044 establishes an Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee to administer funds directly into Connecticut's continuing efforts to reduce substance use disorders, not into the state’s General Fund.

HB 5045

HB 5045 passed in the House on Tuesday. Here's how CT will use federal funding to address the lead crisis:

✅ Lowering thresholds for blood levels
✅ Reporting of lead poisoning cases to DPH and local health departments by health care institutions and clinical laboratories
✅ Informing of parents about a child’s eligibility for Birth-to-Three, and lead poisoning dangers / risk reduction, as well as lead abatement laws
✅ Conducting of epidemiological investigations of the source of a person’s lead poisoning
✅ Conducting of on-site inspections and remediation for children with lead poisoning by local health directors
✅ Requiring primary care providers to conduct annual lead testing for children ages 36 to 72 months who have been determined by DPH to be at a higher risk of lead exposure.
✅ Requiring DSS to seek federal approval to amend the state Medicaid plan to add services deemed necessary to address the health effects of high childhood blood levels.

CT Dept. of Agriculture Local Food Purchase Agreement Announcement