House Passes Gun Reform, Education, and Road Safety Bills

May 26, 2023


 
The House of Representatives debated and voted on bills during session on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week. We are running out of time to move legislation forward as the June 7 deadline quickly approaches. Please read below to see which proposals the House passed this week. 
 

MAY 23 SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Education is a top priority. HB 6880 makes critical revisions to our education laws that support parents, teachers, families, and most importantly our students.
HB 5441, which I co-sponsored, is an effort that improves the state's workforce pipeline by including an extension of the existing teacher loan subsidy program for more educators in Alliance Districts.
I co-sponsored HB 5917, which implements the recommendations of the Vision Zero Council to make roads safer for drivers and pedestrians alike. This bill addresses the spike in roadway fatalities in our state.
HB 6755 establishes a working group to develop a plan for an advanced manufacturing technology center in the state and to maximize the economic, educational, and workforce benefits provided.
 

MAY 24 SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
HB 5628 allows us to study hydropower as a clean and renewable energy alternative that our state could potentially utilize.
HB 6486 establishes a statewide stewardship program for discarded tires and ensures access to tire collection while promoting recycling efforts and holding producers accountable.
HB 6768 takes another step to protect reproductive rights in our state by ensuring access to emergency contraceptives at pharmacies. The bill gives pharmacists the ability to prescribe medications and medical devices to patients. It also protects pharmacies from prosecution from states whose laws do not allow such activity.
 

MAY 25 SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed HB 6667, which I am proud to co-sponsor. The proposal is the most comprehensive update to Connecticut's gun violence statutes since the historic reforms we passed after the Sandy Hook tragedy.

While Connecticut remains one of the safest states in the nation because of our previous legislative action, it does not make us immune to the continuing epidemic of gun violence. HB 6667 is a step toward making Connecticut even safer.

This legislation targets mass shootings by tightening restrictions on assault weapons and large capacity magazines and expands the ban on the sale of semi-automatic guns to those under the age of 21. HB 6667 additionally requires the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) to update its mass shooting response plan.

The bill also directly deals with the issue of gun violence by requiring the registration of any ghost gun manufactured prior to 2019. HB 6667 cracks down on repeat firearm offenders by giving judges more tools to set higher bail and prosecutors more tools to seek revocation of probation, plus increases the penalty for failure to report a stolen firearm.

HB 6667 also:

  • Strengthens safe storage to address home invasions, and if a firearm is stolen and reported within 72 hours, the owner will not be held liable for crimes committed by the offender
  • Increases the number of family violence crimes as disqualifiers for purchasing a firearm
  • Tightens the definition of open carry, which is prohibited unless a person is on their own property or their own business
  • Increases accountability for gun dealers, giving DESPP more accountability tools
  • Updates permit requirements
  • Prohibits the sale of more than three guns per 30-day period to prevent straw purchases and to provide more flexibility for those who purchase guns lawfully
  • Increases the penalty for not reporting stolen firearms which is one of the leading causes of firearm deaths

We have seen states around the nation recklessly retreat from sensible gun regulations, but Connecticut continues to lead and stand strong in the push to make our communities safer. I want to thank Gov. Ned Lamont for his leadership on this bill in addition to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the Judiciary Committee for their work on it.
We are committed to protecting our marine ecosystems. I'm proud to co-sponsor HB 6813, which ensures the safety of seabirds and shorebirds by establishing a protection program, including designated protection areas. All of these bills now head to the Senate.