Mary Fortier

Dear Neighbor,



I hope you are well.

 

Another week of work in the legislature is complete, and we are one step closer to the end of the legislative session.      

Below I have provided a legislative update.



If you have any questions or comments about any policy or the legislative process you can email me.



Have a great weekend!

The House of Representatives passed HJ 1 on Wednesday, which means you will get to decide if we amend the state constitution to allow no-excuse absentee voting.

Connecticut's rules for absentee voting are among the most restrictive in the U.S. and are enshrined in its constitution. A constitutional amendment is required to remove restrictions on absentee voting. 



Absentee voting works, which we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic in an effective and safe manner.



Voting is a fundamental American right. Eligible voters in Connecticut should have the freedom to choose how they vote whether it’s in-person on Election Day, in-person for two weeks prior to Election Day, which just passed the House last week, or by absentee ballot without needing to provide an excuse.

Missed coverage of session this week? Here's a quick recap of what bills were passed. 



 HB6699: An act concerning cannabis regulation.



 HB6614: An act concerning debit cards and cash discounts for gasoline purchases. 



HB6638: An act revising the State's antidiscrimination statutes.



HB6642: An act concerning a Title IX compliance toolkit for school districts. 



HB6877: An act concerning risk protection orders or warrants and disqualifiers for firearm permits and eligibility certificates based on temporary commitment under a physician's emergency certification.



HB6823:Putting elections in the hands of the Constitutional office that manages elections makes sense. This bill designates the Secretary of the State as the state official responsible for certifying presidential electors.



HB6891: A small but mighty change for taxpayers to allow charge card, debit card or electronic payment of municipal taxes or penalties.



HJ No. 34: From 1647 to 1697, several individuals in Connecticut, primarily women, were hanged for suspicions of witchcraft. Similar to the Salem trials, the accusations against the victims were often unfounded and based in misogyny.   With House Joint Resolution 34, we recognize the trauma caused by the witchcraft trials in the CT colonial courts and absolve those accused and convicted of "witchcraft" and "familiarities with the devil."



HJ No. 1: CT's restrictive voting system is codified in the state constitution. Today's vote is to get a resolution to amend the constitution to allow no-excuse absentee ballots on the ballot in 2024.



HB6672: Endometriosis is an under-studied disease impacting 1-in-10 women in CT.  The House passed HB6672 to create the Endometriosis Data and Biorepository Program and associated endometriosis research lab.



HB6590: This bill makes it easier for families to get access to the childcare they need

For the past 20 years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has recognized Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM) every May to increase awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health and well-being.



If you or someone you know is mentally struggling, please know that you are not alone and no-cost help is available by phone, when and if it's needed. 

In 2022, the Connecticut legislature passed three transformative mental health measures.

 

The three laws – HB 5001, SB 1, and SB 2 – strengthen Connecticut's mental and behavioral health system, which experienced unprecedented strain during the COVID-19 pandemic. These laws:

• Expand 24/7 emergency mental health response and create walk-ins for mental health emergencies
• Address shortages of mental health staff in our schools by offering grants to local schools to hire social workers, counselors, and psychologists
• Provide mental health training to parents, students, and pediatricians
• Expand school-based health centers to develop mental health programming
• Create a state oversight and coordination of a state response to kids' mental health needs

It is more important than ever that we continued to invest in mental health. As state legislatures across the country cut funding for these vital services, in Connecticut, we chose to make critical investments in mental health for our state’s future.

Please feel free to contact me at the Capitol at 1-800-842-8267 or by email at Mary.Fortier@cga.ct.gov if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,



Mary Fortier