2022 Capitol Update

July 29, 2022

The 2022 legislative session was fast-paced and productive, resulting in historic tax relief, investments in children’s mental health, legislation protecting privacy and reproductive rights, and many other initiatives that will improve our quality of life.

Budget Adjustment Highlights

We cut taxes by more than $650 million – while also putting $3.6 billion toward paying down our state’s unfunded pension liability (that will save $400 million a year). Hamden will see additional property tax relief with a motor vehicle mill rate cap reduction from 45 mills to 32.46 mills – money that will not need to be paid by local property taxpayers. Hamden will also receive more than $43.8 million in total state aid including $32.9 million for our schools. While I know property taxes are high in Hamden (I pay them too!) every dollar of this state aid is a dollar we do not have to pay in local taxes.

Thank you to the residents of Hamden for the trust you have placed in me to be your state representative. It truly is an honor to represent your ideas and concerns at the state capitol.


Good News For Hamden

New Fire Station - For more than two years I have worked to secure funding for a new Fire Station 2, to be located on Putnam Avenue. The original station on Dixwell is 100 years old, and is in horrible condition. With $8.6 million in state bonding that I led the fight for, Hamden will be able to build a brand-new Emergency Operations Center with all of the modern necessities to honor our firefighters for the work they do.

The Keefe Center - Thanks to our delegation’s work we were able to have $1.35 million approved for much needed renovations. The Center provides so many great resources to our town as a meeting place, home for after-school activities, and a central location for many other vital town services.


 


 


Fighting for Reproductive Rights

Our state remains a safe haven for an individual’s right to choose. We set the standard in the nation for protecting reproductive rights by bolstering and establishing protections for both those seeking abortions and those who provide such services.

  • Expanded eligibility to perform abortion care to include advanced nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and physician assistants
  • Blocked Texas and other aggressive states from targeting CT patients, doctors and advocates
  • Protected medical privacy by preventing the disclosure of medical information related to reproductive healthcare
  • Protected individuals from extradition to other states for seeking, providing, or assisting others in obtaining reproductive healthcare

Gun Violence Prevention

All of us have been saddened by ongoing and recent news when it comes to gun violence. Although Connecticut has already enacted some of the strongest gun control laws in the country, more action needs to be taken, especially on the federal level. Since Sandy Hook, Connecticut has taken the lead to pass background checks for all gun purchases, ban high-capacity magazines, strengthen gun storage laws, ban ghost guns and pass an extreme risk protection law. This year we voted to fund gun violence prevention programs and created a Community Gun Violence Prevention and Intervention Program. I remain committed to working on initiatives to make sure our state continues to serve as a leader and model for other states and urging Congress to take strong action when it comes to protecting our children and community.


Auto Thefts and Juvenile Crime

This session we took a truly bipartisan approach to being smart on crime as well as investing in community-based programs to reduce recidivism.

  • Invested in Youth Service Bureaus and Juvenile Review Boards
  • Funded state & local task forces to address gun violence and auto theft
  • Expanded use of GPS monitoring for repeat juvenile offenders
  • Toughened penalties and definitions for car theft

Growing CT's Economy

  • Lowered the business tax rate for unemployment insurance
  • Established a JobsCT program with incentives and rebates for companies to grow in CT
  • Made direct investments in community nonprofits and community providers to keep up with inflation
  • Created additional student loan assistance programs
  • Expanded successful Manufacturing Pipeline program
  • Approved economic incentives for Sikorsky tied to new federal contracts and expansion

Securing Your Data Privacy

Working on this legislation the past few years, as chairperson of the General Law Committee, I was proud to shepherd through the House a comprehensive law to ensure that you will now have the power to decide what happens to your online data. This bill 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 personal information by online businesses. It also requires that written notice about these rights be provided to consumers when data is collected and authorizes enforcement by the Connecticut Attorney General for any violations.


Rep. D’Agostino with fellow General Law Committee Co-Chair James Maroney (left) and Rep. Dave Arconti (right) celebrating passage of An Act Concerning Personal Data Privacy and Online Monitoring


Expanding Voting Rights

Thanks to a resolution we passed proposing a constitutional amendment to allow in-person early voting - voters will have the chance to approve in-person early voting on the ballot for the November 2022 general election.