Session Updates, Lower Electric Bills, and more

April 24, 2026

Dear Friends,

Session Ramps Up

It's great to be back in the House chamber with my colleagues. In the coming weeks, the State House and Senate will be meeting much more frequently to give final passage to bills that advanced through committees. Bills that passed through the House and Senate will then be sent to the governor's desk to be signed into law. I will keep you updated on all of the important bills the legislature passes (and I supported), some of which you can read about in this eblast.

Connecticut Adopts Common-Sense Vaccine Policies

This week, the House passed HB 5044: An Act Establishing Connecticut Vaccine Standards.

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, and the bill contains no new mandates whatsoever. 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

Keeping Elections Free and Fair

In 2024, Connecticut voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the Connecticut State Constitution to allow voters to use absentee ballots for any reason in our elections. I was proud to vote in favor of HB 5001 to implement this policy and to make sure future elections are free, fair and accessible to all.

We took steps to:

Modernize our absentee ballot laws and vote counting procedures
Create more safeguards to ensure your vote counts
Protect 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.

Helping Prevent Gun Violence

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 the future sale of 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 and forces the gun manufacturers to change the design of these firearms (as they have already done in other states) so they can't be so easily converted to machine guns.

It would also make it easier for individuals to voluntarily and 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.

Modernizing Our Cannabis Laws

Connecticut House Democrats are modernizing our cannabis laws—cutting unnecessary costs, expanding access, and strengthening a growing industry.

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.

Lowered Electric Bills

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.

Drug Takeback Day

A reminder that as you begin spring cleaning, clearing out old medications is an essential step toward a refreshed and safe home. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, administered by the DEA, 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.

You can click here to use a locator tool to find your nearest disposal site.

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.

Sky's the Limit Challenge

The state’s 2026 Sky’s The Limit Hiking and Walking Challenge has been released, and it looks a bit different from previous iterations.

The challenge – with the theme “America’s 250th" -- invites you to explore some of Connecticut's State Parks and Forests, each with a story to tell.

This year’s challenge starts with 20 different hikes. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has said there could be additional missions to be launched as the year progresses.

To get started, you must download the Goosechase app on your phone and enter the code ZMUCP8 to take part in fun, interactive missions – such as checking in at designated locations, snapping photos, answering trivia, and discovering hidden gems along the way.

You get to choose missions to start and go from there.

The challenge started on April 16 and goes until Dec. 4 at 5 p.m.

For more information, visit ctparks.com.

Bike & Roll to School Day

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. Click here to check to see if your school is registered, and if not, sign up today!