Updates from State Rep. Gregg Haddad for April 27, 2026

April 27, 2026

Last week, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approved an interim decision to lower residential electricity rates across the state.

Starting May 1, rates will decrease by about $30 per month for the average Eversource customer; and 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.

HuskyTHON at the Capitol

I was pleased to introduce the organizers of HuskyTHON in the House chamber last Tuesday. The massive event at UConn has raised millions of dollars. I'm proud that it takes place in the 54th District.

Gun Violence Prevention

Connecticut House Democrats took action to prevent gun violence by banning convertible pistols — firearms that can be easily modified to function like automatic weapons — and making it easier to safely surrender firearms to local police.

Common-sense steps to keep our communities safer.

Protecting Voting Rights

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. Some of the key provisions:

Replacing the confusing second envelope with a more reliable bar code system
Setting up a system to check the status of your absentee ballot online
Allowing more people who request a ballot to be automatically sent one for each election
Expanding where town-supervised voting by absentee ballot takes place (currently it is only in nursing homes and hospice)
Letting anyone who will be 18 by Election Day vote early or by absentee ballot

Vaccine Policy Update

This is one of those issues that’s gotten a lot of headlines, and let’s be honest, it’s often used to divide us.

But, at its core, HB 5044 is about protecting public health and making sure Connecticut is prepared, informed, and guided by science.

Let me be clear: this is NOT a vaccine mandate. No one is being forced to take a vaccine. This bill simply establishes a standard of care for adults, guidance based on medical expertise that recommends certain vaccines, just like many other routine healthcare standards.

What this bill does:

Keeps vaccine recommendations in the hands of public health and medical experts, NOT politics
Establishes a standard of care for adult vaccinations (recommendations, not requirements)
Ensures insurance coverage so recommended vaccines are affordable and accessible
Expands access to vaccines, especially for vulnerable and underserved communities
Allows Connecticut to act independently if federal guidance is delayed or inconsistent
Strengthens our ability to respond quickly to emerging public health threats

The overwhelming science is clear: vaccines prevent serious illness and save lives.

We lived through a pandemic not too long ago. We can’t forget those lessons. Preventing the next one matters.

That’s why I voted YES on HB 5044.

Protecting public health should never be political.

Medical Credit Card Consumer Protections

Across Connecticut and the nation, consumers have reported being encouraged, and even pressured, to sign up for financial products such as medical credit cards, loans, and lines of credit while undergoing treatment, in pain, or under sedation. Many later face unexpected high-interest charges due to confusing promotional terms, leaving them burdened with significant and unforeseen debt.

HB 5127 addresses these concerns by establishing clear, targeted protections while preserving consumer choice and access to financing options. Key provisions of the legislation include:

Targeted safeguards during vulnerable moments: Providers are generally prohibited from advertising, soliciting, or offering third-party financing while a patient is under anesthesia, receiving care, or in treatment areas. Regulated discussion may still occur in waiting rooms and other rooms within health care facilities to ensure transparency
Empowering consumer decision-making: The bill prohibits providers from completing or submitting financing applications on behalf of patients, ensuring individuals maintain control over financial decisions.
Improved transparency and reduced confusion: Restrictions on co-branding prevent misleading associations between care providers and financial products, while required disclosures ensure patients clearly understand terms and conditions in their primary language.
Eliminating conflicts of interest: Providers may not receive financial incentives for promoting third-party financing options.
Preventing unexpected costs: The bill limits when charges can be applied to financing accounts and enhances transparency around ancillary products, including return options in certain cases.
Mandatory disclosure protections: Patients must sign a standardized disclosure form before engaging in financing discussions, ensuring informed consent.

The measure, which heads to the Senate, passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Taiwan Heritage Day, hosted in partnership with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, will take place on Wednesday, April 29, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 310 of the Capitol.

The program will feature brief remarks from myself, Sen. Tony Hwang, and Ambassador Tom Chih-Chiang Lee, as we commemorate the enduring partnership and shared values between Connecticut and Taiwan.