Environmental Bills Passed & More

michel
May 4, 2022

We spent many long days in the House last week working on several important pieces of legislation. Below is an update on bills passed. 

✅ SB 176 AN ACT CONCERNING CLEAN ENERGY TARIFF PROGRAMS
The House is continuing to prioritize a clean energy focused future by passing this bill to continue building out local deployment of solar power and creating several clean energy jobs. I had a few questions for the proponent of the bill about whether this would apply to residential buildings. Click below to watch:

✅ SB 10 AN ACT CONCERNING CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION, reaffirms our commitment to slowing the acceleration of the climate crisis by codifying into state statutes the 2040 zero-carbon electric grid goal.

✅ SB 93 AN ACT CONCERNING THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM, expands financing for zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and resiliency measures – helping the state to build out the infrastructure needed to support the increasing demand and putting Connecticut on the road towards a greener future.

✅ SB 6 AN ACT CONCERNING PERSONAL DATA PRIVACY AND ONLINE MONITORING, limits the collection of user data by digital companies and establishes a consumer's right to view, delete and opt out of the collection of their personal information by online businesses.

✅ H.B. 5214 AN ACT CONCERNING THE CLOSING OF ACCOUNTS AT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, requires banks to provide customers with notice and a reason for the closure of an account.

✅ HB 5386 AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR EPINEPHRINE CARTRIDGE INJECTORS, HEALTH CARRIERS AND PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS, works to cap out-of-pocket costs for EpiPens so that families aren't financially strained in accessing these life-saving devices.

✅ HB 5468 AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CRIME OF HARMFUL COMMUNICATION WITH A MINOR, creates a new law prohibiting harmful communication with a minor and sets additional penalties to keep our kids safe online.
 
Last week, I voted against the juvenile justice reform bill, HB 5417, due to concerns with the GPS monitoring aspect of the bill. Please see below for remarks from me and my good colleagues, Reps. Porter, Kahn, Williams, and Winkler, expressing concerns with the provisions of this bill and the disproportional impacts it would have on our youth. 
I also voted against ratifying the agreement between Lockheed Martin and the State of Connecticut. While I have a huge appreciation for aerodynamics, I believe this funding could have been allocated toward other areas of need, such as non-profits, nursing homes and expanding HUSKY for undocumented children. I believe there are other priorities for funding, instead of a $65 million corporate tax giveaway for Sikorsky.

I will continue to update you about bills passed and my votes in the upcoming days.