Rebecca Martinez

People who live in Connecticut currently pay the second-highest electricity prices in the country, placing an undue financial strain on families, businesses, and communities. Our goal in the legislature is to implement policies that lower prices and enhance transparency that would benefit all ratepayers.

There are two important pieces of legislation, House Bill 1531 and House Bill 7206, aimed at tackling the rising cost of utility bills while ensuring greater accountability for public utilities. Both bills passed out of the Government Administration and Elections Committee and now move to the House and Senate floors for further consideration.

I want to start off by giving you an update on where things stand this legislative session.

Most committees have reached their "joint favorable" (JF) deadlines, meaning they have voted bills out of their specific committees to then be voted on by the entire House and Senate.

If both chambers vote in favor of a bill, the Governor will then have the opportunity to sign the bill into law.

Over the next few weeks, the entire General Assembly will start meeting to debate and vote on these bills. It has been a tremendous honor representing you so far, and I can't wait to keep you update on the great bills we pass.

This week, I spent over 12 hours in a Public Health Committee public hearing - but it brought progress for Connecticut.

We took a monumental step in addressing the maternal health crisis, working to improve safety and equity in healthcare.
Senate Bill 7 was passed, protecting our state’s rights and shielding residents from harmful federal overreach.
We upheld reproductive rights in Connecticut, ensuring these essential protections remain strong despite shifting national policies.

Tuesday's Medicaid rally at the Capitol was part of a nationwide day of action by members of Congress that brought together state and federal leaders, healthcare workers, advocates, and Medicaid recipients. The rally aimed to warn of the consequences should Congress approve drastic reductions to Medicaid funding.

This week, we held a public hearing in the Public Health Committee, and this one held a special place in my heart.

We heard testimony on SB 1451 - An Act Concerning the Recommendations of the Working Group to Study Staff Safety Issues Affecting Home Health Care and Home Health Aide Agencies.

This working group was formed after the heartbreaking loss of my coworker, Joyce Grayson, who was tragically murdered at work last year.

It was another great week at the Capitol, filled with public hearings, committee meetings, and some bills approved by the whole legislature to be signed into law!

Last week, I was proud to vote for a bill allocating $40 million in funding to special education, giving immediate support to more than 140 school districts in our state and helping to provide the highest quality education for our students.

These critical resources will help ensure students receive the specialized support they need to thrive.

I want to bring to your attention an upcoming public hearing that you may be interested in.

In the next few weeks, the General Law Committee will be holding a public hearing on HB 5428, An Act Concerning Mobile Manufactured Home Parks. This bill, which I sponsored, would provide protections for residents living in manufactured home parks.

This bill comes as a direct result from conversations I've had with constituents in our district. If you're interested in testifying via written testimony, phone, or in person, you can click here for more information.