Kai Belton

The 4th Annual Mental Health & Wellness Fair at the Capitol will be held on Friday, May 1st, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.

We will kick off the fair with a press conference at the North Lobby of the State Capitol at 9:30 AM, and the fair will begin shortly after at 10:00 AM.

There is no vendor fee. We will provide one 6-foot-long table with two chairs for staff members. We encourage your agency to bring a tablecloth, a backdrop if you have one, free handouts, business cards, pamphlets, merch, samples, interactive displays or games for attendees, along with any other resources your organization is willing to provide for attendees.

Please enter through the Capitol’s public visitor entrance on the west side of the state Capitol. Booth set-up begins at 9:00 AM. Free parking is available on Capitol Grounds on the north & south sides of the Capitol. Please park in any unmarked or untagged parking spot. Alternatively, we also have free parking located on the first floor of the LOB garage. 

More details to come!

Another section creates a state seal of civics education and engagement to be earned on high school diplomas for students who demonstrate civics mastery in the classroom and community engagement.

At a time when civic engagement is alarmingly low in our country, this recognition will encourage students to learn more about the way our government works and the role they play in shaping society.

This seal also sends a powerful message that civics isn't just a class to pass; it's a way to make a difference and give back to your community. 
 
Other key aspects of this bill include:

• Addressing antisemitism in schools
• Adding additional public reporting on student outcomes for our multi-lingual learners
• Providing curriculum on Islamic and Arab Studies
• Phases out the waiver for children under the age of 5 to begin kindergarten early.
• Raising the standard for when a student in pre-K to grade 2 can get an out-of-school suspension
• Requiring same-day notification of any use of restraint or seclusion of a student.

The legislation we passed is an important bill that encourages civic engagement and protects our students' mental health.

Strengthening and Modernizing Our Elections

We advanced legislation to strengthen and modernize Connecticut’s election laws. These reforms take important steps to protect the integrity, security, and transparency of our democratic process by:

• Safeguarding private voter data
• Requiring that ballots cast during early voting be securely stored in a voting tabulator
• Preventing individuals convicted of election-related crimes from serving as election moderators

Addressing Antisemitism in Our Schools

We also passed education reform legislation responding to rising antisemitism in schools.

The bill establishes a working group that will equip educators with tools and guidance to combat anti-Jewish hate and foster inclusive, respectful learning environments for all students.

Cracking Down on Bottle Redemption Fraud

In addition, we approved legislation targeting bottle redemption fraud, an issue that has grown since Connecticut increased its bottle deposit from five cents to ten cents. Some out-of-state actors have exploited the higher refund value by transporting large quantities of containers into Connecticut, leading to reported losses in the millions for beverage distributors.
The new law addresses this abuse by:

• Increasing fines for violations of the state’s bottle bill
• Requiring redemption centers to record identifying information for anyone redeeming more than 1,000 bottles and cans in a single day
• Granting law enforcement clear authority to pursue out-of-state violators

These changes protect legitimate consumers and small businesses while preserving the integrity of Connecticut’s recycling system.