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One of my favorite annual events of the session took place at the state Capitol on Tuesday: Norwalk Day.
Local businesses joined lawmakers, city officials and other guests to highlight just some of the incredible things the city has to offer. (Let's be real, we could make it Norwalk Year at the Capitol if we highlighted everything great about the city.)
Thank you to Mayor Harry Rilling, restaurant owners, workers, oystermen, health care providers, and others who attended and made the event special. |
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House Democrats passed a critical education bill on Tuesday that honors civically engaged students, reforms crisis response drills, and much more.
Establishing the Connecticut State Seal of Civics Education and Engagement recognizes graduating high school seniors who demonstrate civic engagement both inside and outside of the classroom school. By reforming school crisis response drills through new standards, we continue to protect and prepare students and staff while being sensitive to mental health needs.
Other provisions include requiring school districts to have policies limiting the use of smart devices, addressing antisemitism, providing curriculum on Islamic and Arab Studies, allowing districts to decide whether to allow children under the age of 5 to begin kindergarten early, raising the standard for when a student in pre-K to grade 2 can get an out-of-school suspension, and requiring same-day notification of any use of restraint or seclusion of a student.
This legislation thinks holistically about success and support for our students and schools |
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| Minors and Social Media Bill |
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The House of Representatives took a step toward addressing the mental health crisis facing Connecticut teens using social media by passing HB 6857 -- a bill that I led before the House chamber and co-sponsored -- with bipartisan support.
The statistics are stark, frightening and sobering. According to the American Psychological Association, U.S. teens, on average, spend 5 hours a day on the seven most popular social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok. While that's alarming enough, a majority (60%) of teenage high-frequency social media users who had low parental oversight reported they had poor or very poor mental health.
Social media companies have algorithms designed to keep their youngest users' eyes glued to their screens, so much so that teens often exhibit addict-like behavior in continuing to use the apps.
To address the issue, HB 6857 requires, among other things, age verification methods for minors and limits on the times when social media platforms can send minors notifications.
Connecticut took a major step forward as a national leader with this new effort to reign in big tech’s predatory practices that are reinforcing addictive and harmful choices in minors. |
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| Other Bills that Passed the House |
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We passed a bill on Wednesday to crack down on the legalized scalping of online ticket sales and resales by requiring the disclosure of hidden fees and markups while banning lookalike companies that profit off speculation and jacking up the price.️
These new rules put CT fans first! It's all about transparency and protecting your wallet. |
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On Tuesday, House Democrats voted to improve interagency communication and collaboration on homeless services by establishing an interagency council on homelessness.
This council will bring together representatives from state agencies, nonprofits, public housing authorities, and individuals with lived experience of homelessness to ensure that our state agencies are coordinating and developing long-term solutions.
We are always looking at ways to improve government efficiency and address homelessness head-on. |
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Also on Tuesday, Connecticut joined more than 50 countries worldwide in banning shark finning — an inhumane practice that threatens marine ecosystems and pushes many shark species toward extinction. We are proud to be part of a growing international movement for ocean conservation.
This legislation:
- Protects ocean biodiversity
- Promotes sustainable marine practices
Stands against cruelty in our global waters
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| Norwalk River Valley Trail Progress |
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The northern section of the Norwalk River Valley Trail will be completed thanks to a $1.5 million state grant, Gov. Ned Lamont said at a press event in the city. The money from the Community Investment Fund 2030 will support the 30-mile trail linking Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk to Rogers Park in Danbury.
The trail will pass through Wilton, Ridgefield, and Redding. The investment will improve transportation and recreation for Fairfield County residents. I'm thrilled with the progress being made on the project.
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| Concord 'Shrek the Musical' Performance |
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Concord Magnet School K-8 will present two performances of “Shrek the Musical Jr.” later this week.
Shows will take place Friday, May 16, and Saturday, May 17, at 7 p.m. in the Concord Magnet School auditorium, located at 21 Hunters Lane.
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Norwalk ACTS has launched a podcast series to build connections through our local stories.
The podcast, "Norwalk TALKS," will focus on city youth, community leaders and residents who have a positive impact on Norwalk.
Episodes are available on Spotify, YouTube, and other major platforms,
For more information, visit norwalkacts.org.
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As always, feel free to call me at 1-800-842-8267 or email me at Travis.Simms@cga.ct.gov if you have any questions or concerns. Also, please like my official Facebook Page for regular updates.
Sincerely,
Travis Simms
State Representative
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