Legislative Update 7.1

July 1, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

I won't sugarcoat it. From our governor vetoing two excellent bills -- one on housing, one extending worker's rights -- to extremely troubling Supreme Court decisions and the Big Ugly Bill coming out of Washington, these are some very challenging times.

But I, along with my legislative colleagues, will continue to fight for what's best for the 37th District and for the residents of Connecticut. We have no other choice but to push back against infringements on women's reproductive health care, health care in general (with the proposed gutting of Medicaid to give billionaires a tax break they don't need), and transgender rights, among others.

And there still is a lot to look forward to this summer locally, with classes, events, and community groups you can take part in. In this week's update, we'll go over what you can look forward to.

As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns about my work in Hartford and the changes you hope to see in the 37th District.

Sincerely,

Nick Menapace
State Representative

Governor Vetoes Housing, Striking Workers' Benefits Bills

I was extremely disappointed that HB 5002 (housing) and SB 4 (striking workers receiving unemployment benefits under limited conditions) were vetoed recently by the governor.

No legislation is perfect, and there certainly were things that I wish had been different in the housing bill, but this proposed law that would have provided needed (and asked for) technical and planning supports for municipalities and was a step in the right direction overall.

There was a lot of misinformation disseminated about the housing bill, so I understand if there was confusion and am happy to try and clear up any questions.

To start: this did not take away local control, it did not penalize anyone, and simply asked municipalities to make their own plan and ‘try’ to make progress with housing in their communities.

If there were any teeth at all in this bill, they weren’t very sharp.

If we want to grow our economy, reduce homelessness, and give our own kids the chance to come back and live in their hometowns, we need to address the very serious housing concerns across the state.

While not at the same scale, I was also disappointed, though not surprised, about SB4 being vetoed. I will simply say I will continue to work tirelessly to represent the working people of our district and the state, to level the playing field between labor and management. Right now, the thumb is clearly pressed down on the scale in favor of large corporations. This has to change for residents to not only get by, but to thrive.

New Laws that Took Effect July 1

Several new laws that were passed during the 2025 legislative session took effect on Tuesday. Please see below to read about some of them.

Our two-year, $55.8 billion budget took effect July 1. This bill reflects our shared values, marked by historic investments in children through expanded funding for special education and childcare.

Our budget strengthens support for working families and ensures that the essential work of nonprofits is both valued and financially supported.

Another bill that went into effect is our bond package, which provides nearly $10 billion for Connecticut municipalities to fund projects in school construction, transportation infrastructure, housing assistance, and many more local initiatives.

Our students will learn about three essential topics in the classroom: civics, media literacy, and Asian American and Pacific Islander history. Under two bills passed in 2022 and 2023, students will gain an understanding of what it means to be an active and engaged citizen, how to analyze the modern media landscape, and the rich history of the AAPI community in our state and the entire country.

Our elections will be more secure and transparent as video recording technology will be added to every absentee ballot drop box in our state. This new law will record the drop boxes from the first day that ballots are issued up through when the clerk retrieves the final ballots, and all of these recordings will be made available to the public.

A novel, landmark bill supporting public libraries struggling to afford the skyrocketing costs of e-books and digital audiobooks will go into effect July 1. The bill bars libraries from entering into or renewing expensive contracts and licensing agreements with publishers. The measure positions Connecticut as a national leader in this arena and marks a significant step toward transparency, equity, and sustainability in how libraries acquire and provide digital resources to the public.

Many more bills are going into effect July 1, including one that reforms Connecticut's towing system, one that requires financial literacy instruction in school, and more.

Please click the link here for the full list of laws going into effect.

Future Summit

What happens when you connect the most promising leaders of a generation? You get Future Summit — a launchpad for real solutions, bold ideas, and lasting impact, which I attended last week.

I was honored to be in Washington, D.C., with fellow young state legislators nationwide, including many from New England and the Northeast. Hearing from others facing similar challenges in their states and learning how they address them was incredibly valuable.

This is more than a gathering, it’s a movement, and I’m excited to bring what I’ve learned back home to Connecticut.

Around the 37th

I had the privilege of attending Time in 2, a moving production of song, dance, and skits performed by women at York Correctional Institution. The Justice Dance Performance Project, which has been doing this work at York for over 20 years, organized the event.

Through their performances, these women shared their stories, struggles, and how time continues to shape their lives.

It was a powerful reminder of the humanity, resilience, and creativity that exist even in the most difficult places and of the transformative power of the arts.

I had a paws-itive start to summer by picking up trash with the Montville Animal Welfare Initiative Inc. It's just one of the many things I plan on doing in the district, as I look forward to volunteering in the community and knocking on doors to get residents' feedback that I can take to the State Capitol for my second session, which starts in the winter 2026. (But we don't need to think about cold weather now, do we?)

Reproductive Rights Under Siege

As a member of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Reproductive Rights Caucus, I stand with our co-chairs Rep. Matt Blumenthal and Rep. Jillian Gilchrest in their powerful statement on the supreme court’s decision in Medina v. Planned Parenthood.

This ruling underscores why our work to protect reproductive freedom in Connecticut is more vital than ever. I'm grateful for colleagues who lead this fight every day.

Please read the statement below.

CT State Library Offers Summer Reading List

Reminder: Our libraries have a lot of books, and through resource sharing, we have access to even more books! For the first time, the CT State Library is offering a Suggested Summer Reading List for all grade levels.

The Suggested Summer Reading list has been compiled around this year's theme, Level up at Your Library, an all-ages summer reading program. The suggested list is just that, suggested!

The list has been created with accessibility in mind and it's a guidance that matches the age breakdowns and number of titles as the Department of Education reading challenge lists.

Click here to access the list.

Reminder: Join My Email List

I am already preparing for the next session and I look forward to seeing people in the community this summer.

In the meantime, if you haven't already please sign up for my email list.

Tell your friends!