The Session Has Started!

February 9, 2024

It’s official; the Connecticut General Assembly is back in session! Wednesday was our opening day, and we will go right through to midnight on May 8th.

Being an even numbered year, this is our short session, in which we have only 90 days to raise bills, hold hearings, vote proposals out of committee, and pass them on the floor of our respective chambers. This session, I will be picking a bill that has a good chance of making it all the way to the House floor, and taking you through each step of the process in real time. Look for those videos in the weeks to come!

Footage Courtesy of CT-N
 
Wearing Pink for the First Day
On Opening Day we wore pink to support our women colleagues in the legislature. Women make up only 37% of the Connecticut General Assembly.
 
Pre-Session Legislative Town Hall Meeting

My fellow members of the Ridgefield delegation, Sen. Ceci Maher, Sen. Julie Kushner, Rep. Keith Denning and I joined First Select-person Marconi last weekend at a Town Hall to discuss upcoming legislation and to hear concerns from the residents in attendance. Hearing from our community is such a critical part of this job. Thank you to everyone who came out or watched from home.

Below, you will find resources to stay up to date as this session continues. If you missed it, you’ll have another chance on Saturday, February 24 at the Ridgefield Library, when we come together once more for the League of Women Voters’ annual “Meet Your Legislators” event.
 
Learning the Legislative Process
As I stated at the top of this newsletter, I will be demonstrating the legislative process in real time, following one bill from beginning to end. See below for a general overview of the process here in Connecticut.

The resources below will help you stay updated on crucial developments, events, proposed policies, and key discussions as they happen in Hartford. I urge you to please follow along and get involved.

Here's how you can stay connected and actively participate:  

  • The non-partisan Office of Legislative Research (OLR) recently released the 2024 Major Issues Report. This comprehensive document highlights and summarizes key issues the legislature could take up during the session. 
  • You can view the Connecticut General Assembly's upcoming events by checking out its schedule on the CGA official website. 
  • Follow CT-N for live coverage of committee meetings, as well as House and Senate floor debates. 
  • You can register to monitor any bill's journey as it goes through the legislative process. By signing up, you can enter the bill number and receive real-time updates. Stay informed with email notifications whenever there's a change in the bill's progress. 
  • Visit this website for information on how to testify on a bill at a public hearing.

Together, we can make a positive impact and ensure that our community's needs are represented. 

 
Women's Pain Roundtable and Working Group

On Monday, January 29th, I participated in a roundtable discussion with some of my women colleagues and a number of medical professionals whose practices revolve around treatment and care of women. The primary focus of the discussion was improving patient experiences relating to a pervasive problem – generations of gender bias have lead to unnecessary suffering in female patients.

Attached are some of my comments as well as an article on the roundtable from the Hartford Courant.