Connecticut House Democrats passed legislation to make sure our 2026 elections are free and fair.
This bill:
Modernizes our absentee ballot laws and vote counting procedures
Creates more safeguards to ensure your vote counts
Protects our elections from corrupt outside forces
Additionally, we’ll keep ICE and people with weapons away from our polls, increase penalties for tampering with vote counts and intimidating poll workers, and empower the Attorney General to prevent people from interfering with our elections, among other provisions.
People’s right to vote is under constant attack around the country, but here in Connecticut, we’re making sure elections are free and fair.
Connecticut is advancing a gun violence prevention bill aimed at strengthening public safety and closing dangerous gaps in current law. House Bill 5043: An Act Concerning Convertible Pistols and Unfinished Frames or Unfinished Lower Receivers.
The proposal would ban convertible pistols, firearms that can be easily modified to function like automatic weapons, sometimes with minimal tools such as a screwdriver or knife. By addressing these modifications, the bill targets a growing concern among law enforcement and public safety officials.
It would also make it easier for individuals to safely surrender firearms to local police. Current law primarily applies to assault weapons, but this change would expand that option, helping to ensure that more firearms can be removed from potentially unsafe situations.
Together, these measures are designed to reduce the risk of gun violence while promoting responsible ownership and safer communities across the state.
In the past, Connecticut's vaccine policies and standards have been tied to the expert recommendations developed by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC). Unfortunately, the CDC has recently abandoned its standing as the premier resource of medicine and science guidelines.
HB 5044 seeks to update Connecticut's vaccine policies so they are based on science, not political agendas. The bill will:
Allow the Connecticut Department of Public Health to promote COVID and flu vaccines
Require private insurance companies to cover the cost of your vaccinations
Allow Connecticut to buy vaccines from suppliers other than the CDC
Establish an adult vaccine program for uninsured and under-insured individuals
Connecticut House Democrats are modernizing our cannabis laws—cutting unnecessary costs, expanding access, and strengthening a growing industry. HB 5350 does this by:
Expanding access to medical cannabis, including for out-of-state patients
Lowering costs for businesses through reduced testing and streamlined regulations
Aligning potency rules with neighboring states to stay competitive
Increasing the range of products made and sold in Connecticut, including coffee and tea
Strengthening consumer protections, including data privacy
Modernizing our laws, leveling the playing field, and supporting a growing industry—this is how Connecticut keeps jobs, investment, and innovation here at home.
This week, HB 5127 -- a measure designed to protect Connecticut consumers from high-pressure sales tactics involving third-party financial products in health care and veterinary settings -- passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Across Connecticut and the nation, consumers have reported being encouraged, and even pressured, to sign up for financial products such as medical credit cards, loans, and lines of credit while undergoing treatment, in pain, or under sedation. Many later face unexpected high-interest charges due to confusing promotional terms, leaving them burdened with significant and unforeseen debt.
HB 5127 addresses these concerns by establishing clear, targeted protections while preserving consumer choice and access to financing options.
Click here for a complete list bills that have passed this session.
Hamden’s Earth Day Celebration is this Saturday, April 25! Check out the flyers below to learn more about some of the events that will take place.
Starting May 1, Connecticut residents can expect some welcome relief on their energy bills. Earlier this week, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approved an interim decision to lower residential electricity rates across the state.
Under this change, rates will decrease by approximately 4.3 cents per kilowatt-hour, about $30 per month for the average Eversource customer, and 4.9 cents per kilowatt-hour, or roughly $34 per month, for the average United Illuminating customer.
This reduction is largely driven by a drop in the public benefits charge, which will now appear as a credit on customers’ bills rather than an added cost, at least through September. Much of this shift is tied to long-term energy contracts negotiated by Millstone and Seabrook nuclear power plants. These agreements provide electricity at stable, fixed prices, helping shield ratepayers from the volatility of fossil fuel markets.
The state’s continued investment in a diversified energy portfolio has helped cushion the impact of rising natural gas prices this winter, underscoring the value of a balanced and forward-looking energy strategy.
Customers should begin seeing these lower rates reflected in their bills starting May 1, with the reductions expected to remain in place through at least September for most households.
April 19-25 is National Library Week. This yearly celebration spotlights the importance of libraries and library workers to their respective community. While libraries are a great place to acquire knowledge, they offer much more than just books - patrons can utilize work spaces, access the internet, and attend programming made for the whole family - free of charge! It can also be a place to escape the brutal heat during the summer, the brittle cold of the winter, or just a quiet spot away from home.
I'd encourage you to check out Hamden's Public Library - they have three branches located throughout the town. Check out their website for more information.
In case you missed it, the Passport to Connecticut Libraries program is back and will run through April 30.
To participate, visit your local library to pick up your official program passport along with a list of participating libraries across the state. Then the adventure begins, explore as many libraries as you can throughout April!
Visit at least five different participating libraries and collect stamps from those locations (only official participating libraries count, be sure to check your list). Then, once you’re done, be sure to return your completed passport by May 11 to be entered into a prize drawing.
With nearly 200 public libraries in Connecticut—plus school, college, museum, and even church libraries—there’s an incredible variety to discover. Each library offers something unique, and this program is a fun way to check out all of the great libraries throughout the state. All three libraries in Hamden are participating.
So grab your passport and start exploring, your next favorite library might be just around the corner!
National Bike & Roll to School Day takes place on May 6 and offers a chance to celebrate the benefits of active commuting while building a sense of community, safety, and school spirit. Events can be as simple as a few families walking or biking to school together, or as elaborate as a large celebration with organized activities.
Helen Street and West Woods are participating. Click here to learn more.
The Hamden Public Library is looking for volunteers for the 3rd annual Juneteenth Read-In event on Saturday, June 13. They are looking for individuals who can help greet the public, register readers, or decorate before the event.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will take place Saturday, April 25. This event provides residents with a free, convenient way to safely dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medications at local collection sites. The DEA partners with local law enforcement agencies across the United States to host this event in local communities like ours.
Click here to use a locator tool to find a disposal site near you.
Host sites will collect pills and capsules, as well as prescription and over-the-counter medicines. The DEA cannot accept liquid, sharps, or needles. Trained volunteers will be present to handle collected materials and ensure safe disposal. Any medication you wish to dispose of should be presented in a clear, sealed bag. Loose pills or capsules will not be accepted.
If you are unable to attend the event, MyOldMeds.com offers a Locator Tool to help you find the nearest disposal site year-round. There are more than 29,000 verified locations in all 50 states that have secure unwanted or expired medicine disposal kiosks, and/or provide free in-home disposal kits upon request. Additionally, the Locator Tool provides disposal site hours of operation, hours of collection, what is collected, and other helpful information.
To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and the Town of Hamden’s 240th anniversary, the town is offering a series of programs highlighting the achievements and history of our nation and community. One of these programs is the Civics 101 lecture series, a monthly class that provides a thorough breakdown of the legislative process. I will teach a class on how to track legislation tomorrow from 1030 AM - 12:00 PM at Miller Memorial Library. Hope to see you there!
ICYMI
Connecticut’s Renters’ Rebate Program is now open to eligible renters who are elderly or living with a disability and meet certain income requirements.
Qualified applicants may receive rebates of up to $900 for married couples and $700 for single individuals. The rebate amount is determined using a graduated income scale, as well as the total rent and utility payments (excluding telephone) made during the previous calendar year.
Applications must be submitted through your local municipality’s assessor’s office or a designated social service agency. The application period is now open and will run through September 30. Please note that no extensions are permitted, and all applications must be received by the municipality no later than September 30.
Click here for more information about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
