Kate Farrar

Governor Lamont took action to protect Connecticut's environment by signing major climate legislation into law on Tuesday. These two key environmental bills address climate change and environmental protection.
 

House Bill 5004 (Public Act 25-125): 

• Establishes a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target for Connecticut by 2050, with a new interim target for 2040
• Includes incentives for solar canopies and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems
• Supports the growth of the green economy through workforce development and sustainable business incentives
• Requires studies on heat pumps, solar canopies, nature-based solutions, and renter access to state energy efficiency plans

Senate Bill 9 (Public Act 25-33): 

• Strengthens state and local planning for flood and other climate-related emergencies
• Focuses on making infrastructure like bridges and roads better able to withstand severe weather
• Requires insurance companies to inform homeowners about flood coverage and provides resources for communities to invest in climate resilience planning and project development
• Includes tougher restrictions on certain rodent poisons and neonicotinoid pesticides

These bills are seen as significant steps towards addressing climate change and protecting Connecticut's environment, particularly in light of actions by the federal government that environmentalists believe hinder climate progress.

I’m proud to stand with colleagues and advocates who fought for a cleaner, fairer future. This is a win for our environment, our economy, and our kids.

Last week, Governor Ned Lamont signed into law legislation (Public Act 25-61) modifying the state’s Fallen Officer Fund, which was created last year and provides survivor benefits to the families of fallen police officers, by expanding its availability to include the families of all first responders, including firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and paramedics, and correspondingly renames it the Fallen Hero Fund. This legislation went into effect on July 1.

The legislation also modifies state law to allow the surviving family members of firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics who were covered by that first responder’s health insurance at the time of their own death to remain on that coverage for up to five years, similar to existing state law concerning fallen police officers.

Established in May 2024 through legislation signed by Governor Lamont, the Fallen Officer Fund provides a lump sum, non-taxable payment of $100,000 to the surviving family members or beneficiaries of any Connecticut state or local police officer killed in the line of duty or who sustained injuries that are the cause of an officer’s death. That 2024 legislation also created a law allowing the surviving family members of police officers killed in the line of duty who were covered by that officer’s health insurance at the time of their own death to remain on that coverage for up to five years.

Connecticut has passed legislation expanding the eligibility for the Connecticut Family Medical Leave Act (CT FMLA) and Connecticut Paid Family Medical Leave Insurance (CT Paid Leave) to include non-certified employees at K-12 schools, both public and nonpublic. 

Here are some key aspects of this expansion:

• The new law becomes effective on October 1, 2025
• This includes employees whose positions do not require professional certification, such as bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria staff, and paraprofessionals
• Non-certified employees can be eligible for CT FMLA if they have worked for their school or district for at least three months in the prior 12 months, which is a shorter requirement than the standard
• These employees are considered covered for CT Paid Leave and can apply for benefits for covered conditions. Eligibility requires earning at least $2,325 in their highest earning quarter within the base period and being employed by a covered employer within the 12 weeks before their claim
• CT Paid Leave provides income replacement and can run with CT and Federal FMLA, but it does not guarantee job protection
• Schools covered by this law must register with the CT Paid Leave Authority and deduct and send the 0.5% contributions from eligible employee wages quarterly
• School employees requiring professional certification, like public school teachers, are generally not covered by CT Paid Leave unless their union negotiates for their inclusion

This legislation provides non-certified school employees in Connecticut with access to both job-protected leave via CT FMLA and paid leave benefits through the CT Paid Leave program. 

Click here for more information.

A series of webinars will be held from July-September for public and private schools to learn more about their responsibilities as newly covered employers and for their workers to understand their rights to CT Paid Leave and CT FMLA.

Next week the West Hartford and Newington delegations will be hosting End of Session Legislative Town Hall events.  We will share information and answer questions about all the important bills passed this session. 

We hope to see you there and look forward to hearing your feedback!