Travis Simms

The General Assembly’s regular session ended June 5th with a balanced budget and other significant legislation. I’d like to highlight some of the issues we addressed in the new state budget and other impactful legislation.

Connecticut has the third-highest accumulated student loan debt in the country and the financial burden that our college graduates must shoulder after growing up here is driving many of them to other states where housing and the cost of living is cheaper.

I am pleased to report the House passed legislation that will facilitate minority teacher recruitment and retention across the state.

We passed a bill requiring the instruction of climate change in our public schools. It would be included in the science curriculum and based on guidelines consistent with the Next Generation Science Standards.

After many hours of debate over the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) legislation, House Democrats passed a bill which was already approved by the Senate. It now goes to the governor for his signature.

Connecticut municipal law enforcement should not be tasked with the job of enforcing immigration laws. We must not allow hard-working residents, undocumented or not, to be afraid of law enforcement – this makes them an easy target for crimes, exploitation and abuse by authorities. I was pleased to work with my colleagues in passing this important legislation.

Hard-working families in Connecticut got a boost today with Gov. Lamont signing legislation to increase the state’s minimum wage. I believe anyone working a full-time job should earn enough to support themselves and their family. This legislation is a step in the right direction.

The House of Representatives are in session and we passed HB 5002 which is a comprehensive energy bill the will extend virtual net metering for two more years breathing life into the solar power industry.