Workers' Compensation Bill, Medicaid Shortfall Covered, Mental Health Awareness

May 21, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

As of today, we only have two weeks left until the end of session. Each day, we continue to debate legislation and some bills have passed the House and are headed to the Senate for passage.

This week, we passed a workers’ compensation bill that had we not acted would have seen a potential 265% increase in workman’s compensation, saving CT businesses millions of dollars. We also approved a bill to cover the Medicaid shortfall that occurred in the current budget. Like many other bills we have to pay, covering the cost of this shortfall is critical to future budgets.

We also celebrated Mental Health Awareness Week, rallied for non-profits, and reminded people it’s also National Public Works Week.

I spent time yesterday speaking to Canton High School seniors about voting and about the Democratic party (more on that below). I am also busy preparing to help bring out our upcoming House priority bill HB5002 on housing. While there has been significant misinformation about what this bill does and doesn’t do, it will be great to finally discuss it on the House floor before passing it and moving on to the Senate.

As always, if there is anything I can help you with or any questions you may have about upcoming legislation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at Eleni.KavrosDeGraw@cga.ct.gov.

Have a great week,

Eleni

Regarding Workers' Compensation

House Democrats passed legislation on Monday that saves money for EVERY EMPLOYER in the state since all of them faced skyrocketing workers’ compensation claims costs after a CT Supreme Court ruling.

This legislation was a top priority of businesses and municipalities and will save millions of dollars. Business advocates estimate workers’ compensation costs would have increased 265% absent any action.

Protecting Our Kids on Social Media

Protecting our kids from data harvesting and predatory advertising on social media platforms. Connecticut took a major step forward as a national leader by passing legislation this week to reign in big tech’s predatory practices that are reinforcing addictive and harmful choices in minors.

We are proud to join a nationwide movement that prioritizes youth mental health over tech profits.

Coordinating Care for Kids

It’s great to have another educator in the House! First-term State Representative Patrick Biggins secured a big legislative win with this new effort to coordinate care for students returning to the classroom after being discharged from inpatient care. This means a smoother transition and better support for our kids!

Mental Health: Reel to Real

Please click on the image below to watch a short reel from my colleagues on addressing mental health as we round out Mental Health Awareness Month.

Bills Passed in the House (So far)

For a look at bills passed in the House during the 2025 legislative session so far, please click on the image below.

Speaking to Soon-to-Be Voters

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of speaking to around 100 Canton High School seniors who would be registering to vote for the very first time.

This event, organized by fantastic teacher Nora Morcaski, had a keynote address from Canton’s Chief Administration Officer and then the students heard from someone representing the Democratic and Republican parties as well as someone representing those people who choose no party, unaffiliated voters.

I talked about the Democratic Party, Andrew Lavery spoke on the Republican party and Warren Humphrey represented the unaffiliated voters.

I’m glad this event is finally back (post-pandemic) for these soon-to-be voters and that we are encouraging them to exercise their civic duty.

$300 Million in Cuts to SNAP?

After speaking to Canton High School students, I joined Senator Matt Lesser and Representative Jillian Gilchrest (co-chairs of the Human Services committee) to speak about the proposed Trump administration cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The cuts would amount to a $300 million loss for Connecticut and there could be additional penalties.

SNAP is a critical program that helps feed poor people, the overwhelming majority of them working people. The remaining percentages are people who cannot work because of disability, seniors, or children. While we have an excellent foodbank partner in Connecticut Foodshare, there is no way for them to make up the shortfall we could see. The state would most likely not be able to make up those losses and the cost of running a program on our own would be unsustainable.

You can view my comments from the press conference below, but what I want to draw particular attention to is that SNAP cuts hurt grocery stores. Some local stores say 15-20% of their business. Why should you care? If they lose that business, they will have to raise already high grocery prices.

And, at some point, if prices become too high, that will only increase the number of people who need food assistance in our state. It’s an incredibly slippery and dangerous slope. I truly hope the current Congress and administration think before enacting this.

Celebrate Public Works Week!

Public works is all around you! Join me in celebrating National Public Works Week.

It's EMS Week, Too

In Connecticut:

20,000+ certified EMS personnel
450,000 emergency calls annually
75 volunteer ambulance services providing EMS support
58 volunteer fire departments providing EMS support
24/7 dedication to our communities

Join me this EMSWeek, in honoring the dedication, courage, and lifesaving care of Connecticut’s EMS professionals. Thank you to every EMT, paramedic, dispatcher, and first responder who makes the difference between life and death.