Hubert Delany

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
 
I hope you and your family have been staying warm and healthy through these winter months.
 
These past few weeks have been a combination of some of the brightest and darkest times.
 
Our government is in the midst of benefiting from the fruits of well-crafted and responsible legislation, and I have personally been honored by being sworn in for another term as your State Representative. However, I have also experienced the loss of a friend and colleague only a few hours after our swearing in ceremony together.
 
As I reflect on his passing, and the impact he had on our community, I am taken aback by the sheer capacity that each of us has to be a force for joy, growth, and change.
 
I have been blessed throughout my life to be surrounded and uplifted by family, friends, and mentors who hold a special place in my heart. And I would ask that each of us take more time to be present and appreciate the ones we love in the upcoming weeks and months.
 
Below you will find more detailed information on the start of the legislative session, the passing of Representative Williams, my work with our state agencies, and new policies that I hope will be useful to you and your family. 

Last week Yani and I attended the official opening day of the 2023 Legislative session when all returning legislators and representatives elect were sworn in to begin serving a new term.
 
I encourage you to follow our work in the legislature and participate in the democratic process by attending public hearings and voicing your opinion on issues that you care about.
 
Please remember that there are several ways to stay engaged and resources available to you as the new session gets underway.
 
As a reminder, you can always contact me to suggest a bill that the legislature should consider. If you have ideas for what we should be working on at the State Capitol, please do not hesitate to share them with me via email or my cell phone: Hubert.delany@cha.ct.gov / 203-397-6167

IIn the morning after the swearing in ceremony I woke to tragic news. Connecticut had lost State Representative Quentin Williams (or "Q" as we called him). 
 
He was a champion for Middletown and Connecticut and had just been sworn in and appointed House Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee the day before.
 
He was an exceptional lawmaker, but he was an even better person. I valued his friendship, and the loss has been deeply felt amongst our colleagues.

CT is making history! Yesterday was opening day for recreational cannabis sales, with 7 dispensaries ready to sell to those over the age of 21.
 
Also, thanks the newly crafted legislation that went into effect on January 1, we have now marked 43,754 low-level cannabis convictions as erased.
 
An old conviction for possession should not hold our citizens back from pursuing their careers, owning a home, or aspiring to their professional and educational aspirations.
 
Please Keep in Mind! - Although cannabis is now recreational, it is still a controlled substance. If you drive high, you will get a DUI! 
 
Also, many of the same rules that apply for smoking a vape or tobacco apply to cannabis use. In short, if you can’t smoke a cigarette somewhere, you can’t smoke marijuana there, either! 
 
Some examples:
🚫 State-owned property, such as state parks, state beaches and state waters
🚫 Restaurants
🚫 Workplaces
🚫 Schools