September 26th Newsletter

September 26, 2024
Dear Friends,
 
A number of new laws that were passed during the 2024 legislative session will go into effect on October 1.
New laws include increasing safety for home health care aides who are on the front lines of direct contact with clients, giving the elderly population more options for choosing nursing homes and preventing discrimination for those under mental health care.

The internet is a great informational resource, but can also be misused by thieves, bullies, predators, scam artists, and other criminals. To protect privacy, online services will be prohibited from collecting personal data without approval from those under 18, and those 13 years of age and younger only with parental consent.

Animal rights were on the radar with the banning of dog races and gifting of live animals at fairs, and increased penalties for hurting or killing a police dog. Also, the Siberian Husky will officially be the state dog on October 1!

Additionally, to help facilitate voting access for eligible voters, we included a question on the ballot in our next election that will allow voters to choose whether to implement a law for no-excuse absentee ballots.  With that in mind, the integrity of our electoral system is central to voter trust and participation in elections and to help safeguard that confidence we extended the time violations of state election laws can be referred to the State Elections Enforcement Commission for investigation.
 
There are several new laws in addition to the above – please follow the link below for the full list and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.


 
New Laws Effective October 1
As always, my legislative colleagues and I appreciate your calls, emails, and testimony at public hearings, all of which are an integral part of the lawmaking process. I encourage you to continue sharing your views and make your voice heard, especially as we ramp up for the 2025 legislative session that begins in January.
 
The Wall That Heals in Manchester
The Wall That Heals, a mobile replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, was in Manchester last week, and what a week it was. Our community really turned out to recognize this incredibly special event and honor the fallen. 
The Wall is a three-quarter size replica of the memorial in Washington D.C. and it bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. The traveling exhibit is 375 feet long and 7.5 feet tall. It is a program of VVMF, the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. It is a great honor for Manchester to be selected as a host. 

Thank you to the Committee who put in many months of tremendous effort and to all of the volunteers (I was happy to do my shift), who made this moving tribute happen!
 
Can and Bottle Drive This Saturday
Bring your bottles and cans down to Bennett Academy in Manchester on Saturday from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. for BSA Troop 27’s Can and Bottle Drive. I know they'll appreciate our community’s support!