Mental Health Parity bill signed by the governor

July 11, 2025


 


 

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out on Tuesday and Wednesday night for our End of Session Town Halls in West Hartford and Newington. It was a valuable and engaging conversation—an opportunity to hear directly from residents, share updates on our work, and collaborate on how we can better serve our community.

Not surprisingly, there were a lot of questions about the federal budget bill that was passed in Washington, D.C. This bill is a betrayal to the vast majority of Americans. It takes away health care from more people than any bill in American history, it forces more children and families into hunger, it superfunds ICE to allow them to remove more innocent people without due process, it permanently gives billionaires and the wealthy more tax cuts - all while saddling future generations by increasing the federal deficit by trillions of dollars. I will be working closely with my legislative colleagues, state agencies, and the Governor's office to assess the impact and take action to do everything I can to diminish the harm of this law to the people of the 20th District and Connecticut. 

To everyone who attended and participated in the town halls: your feedback, questions, and perspectives truly make a difference. Your voices help shape our priorities and strengthen our work moving forward. Please reach out to me anytime with your questions or ideas: kate.farrar@cga.ct.gov 

Although legislative session is over there are so many pressing needs in our town and state and we need to keep working together to build a community and state where everyone can thrive. 

 West Hartford End of SessionTown Hall

Newington End of Session Town Hall
 

LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS

On Thursday the governor signed legislation that strengthens the state's mental health parity laws. This legislation addresses deficiencies in the prior 2019 Mental Health Parity Law, which lacked robust enforcement mechanisms.

This new law significantly improves enforcement of the existing law by:

  • Enabling the state to fine insurance companies that do not comply with mental health parity laws, which require insurance companies to provide the same coverage for mental health as they would for any medical or surgical condition.
  • Increasing transparency by requiring public annual reports that disclose whether insurers are complying with the law.
  • Limiting insurers' ability to use "step therapy," a protocol that requires patients to try less expensive (and potentially less effective) treatments before accessing those recommended by their doctors. 

This legislation makes Connecticut's mental health parity laws among the strongest in the nation.
 

During Celebrate! West Hartford the West Hartford Fire Department raised over $800 for the Department of Social Services Food Pantry. On Wednesday it was great to join Sen. Derek Slap as well as members of the West Hartford Fire Department to deliver the funds raised. You can learn more about how to access the food pantry or donate to the food pantry here. 
 

STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES

Towns and local nonprofits are encouraged to apply for aid through the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) CT Livable Communities grant program. Applications are due by August 15 and must make our communities more livable for all ages and abilities.

Grants can range from small, short-term activities to larger, permanent solutions, but the maximum amount of any single grant will be $5,000.

For more information visit: AARP Connecticut Now Accepting 2025 Livable Communities Grant Program Applications
  
Lastly, nominate an outstanding volunteer age 50-plus for the Andrus Award for Community Service. The award winner’s charity of choice will receive a $3,000 donation from AARP CT.  The nomination deadline has been extended to September 1.  AARP Seeks 2025 Andrus Award for Community Service Nominees
 

The Got Lunch Newington food drive will be held on Saturday, July 12 from 9:00 A.M.- 1:00 P.M. at the Church of Christ, Congregational (1075 Main St.).

Donations are being asked for peanut butter, jelly, tuna cans, chicken cans, and mayo.
 

In a conversation with State Historian Andy Horowitz, State Librarian Deborah Schander will discuss the Connecticut State Library’s unique role in government throughout time, consider the significance of its non-partisan mission, speak to the uncertainty of humanities funding, and examine why libraries and museums still matter in the digital age. 

The discussion will take place on Thursday, July 17 from 12:00 P.M.-1:00 P.M. in the Museum of Connecticut History at the Connecticut State Library (231 Capitol Avenue, Hartford).

Admission is free and open to the public. Registration is requested: https://forms.office.com/g/Ua8pVFWq1V.

For more information, please contact the Museum of Connecticut History at museumofcthistory@ct.gov or (860) 757-6535.