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On Monday and Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed a total of three pieces of legislation that originated in the Aging Committee.
The first, HB 5142, extends protections for the use of technology to residents of residential care homes and sets a penalty for violation of the protections. It ensures residents in residential care homes can set up virtual monitoring systems so families have peace of mind and they can keep an eye on their loved ones. In the case of roommates, permission must sign off on paperwork, which can change at any time. With the support of many stakeholders, the legislation passed unanimously, 150-0-1 in the House.
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The second, HB 5143, requires homemaker companion agency employees to complete eight hours of basic training each year, including training on topics such as: helping individuals with Alzheimer’s, identifying abuse, identifying when care is above capacity of a homemaker companion, and hygiene assistance. Currently, there isn’t a set training for homemaker companions. The bill also had overwhelming bipartisan support, passing 149-1-1 in the House.
Please take some time and watch my comments in support of the measure before it passed. |
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Finally, the House passed HB 5140, which will allow dental hygienists to treat underserved homebound patients in private residences, such as seniors, veterans, and the disabled, who would likely go without dental care.
Dental hygienists currently are allowed by law to work in facilities such as senior centers and preschools without the oversight of a dentist, and this legislation expands upon that.
The dental hygienist will have worked under the supervision of a dentist for more than two years. With the support of stakeholders such as the CT Oral Health Initiative (COHI) and the Connecticut State Dental Association, the bill passed unanimously, 144-0, with seven absent/note voting.
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| Tackling Cellphones in Schools |
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Cellphones have become a major part of the lives of adults and children. While these devices can be useful at times, they have also proven to be addicting, distracting, and are robbing our children of important opportunities to create connections and develop relationships, particularly at school.
This week, the House took action to remove these harmful devices from our schools. HB 5035 implements a bell-to-bell ban on students' cellphones during the school day. This policy will allow our children to further connect with their peers and educators, strengthen their attention spans, and enhance their learning ability.
While this bill does not fully remove technology as a distraction, it is a great step in the right direction to give our students the best school experience possible.
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| Addressing DDS Neglect/Abuse |
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We also made good on our Department of Developmental Services abuse/neglect hearing by passing HB 5558 out of the Human Services Committee.
The bill requires DDS to share reports of alleged abuse or neglect with a parent or legal guardian — so long as they are not the person accused — and to provide families with a guide to help them understand and navigate the process.
The bill also ensures DDS staff members receive training on maintaining confidentiality when handling complaints. In addition, it expands the department’s annual reporting requirements on abuse and neglect and mandates a yearly public hearing to review those reports, helping to keep families and the public informed.
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Starting May 1, Connecticut residents can expect some welcome relief on their energy bills. Last week, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approved an interim decision to lower residential electricity rates across the state.
Under this change, rates will decrease by approximately 4.3 cents per kilowatt-hour, about $30 per month for the average Eversource customer, and 4.9 cents per kilowatt-hour, or roughly $34 per month, for the average United Illuminating customer.
This reduction is largely driven by a drop in the public benefits charge, which will now appear as a credit on customers’ bills rather than an added cost, at least through September. Much of this shift is tied to long-term energy contracts negotiated by Millstone and Seabrook nuclear power plants. These agreements provide electricity at stable, fixed prices, helping shield ratepayers from the volatility of fossil fuel markets.
The state’s continued investment in a diversified energy portfolio has helped cushion the impact of rising natural gas prices this winter, underscoring the value of a balanced and forward-looking energy strategy.
Customers should begin seeing these lower rates reflected in their bills starting May 1, with the reductions expected to remain in place through at least September for most households. |
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| I am proud to support those rallying for non-profits to be included in our state budget negotiations, as these services have been critically harmed by the federal cuts to our state. CT must step up to protect our vital services for our most vulnerable neighbors |
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| Working in the People's House |
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The session ends at midnight on May 6, which means my colleagues and I have been working diligently to pass legislation before the constitutional deadline.
Democracy is often messy and frustrating. But my commitment in the People's House to the 135th District and the rest of Connecticut is unwavering. I will continue to fight for what is right for Easton, Redding and Weston residents, as well as those in the entire state! |
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| Electronics, Appliances Recycling Event |
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| Bring your old or unwanted electronics and appliances for recycling on Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drive around to the back of Samuel Staples Elementary School in Easton and your items will be removed from your car for you. In a separate collection at the same location, the Task Force will also be collecting used hand tools and small power tools to benefit Nourish Bridgeport. |
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| Resilience Planning by WestCOG |
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While Connecticut has enjoyed a period of relative calm over the last five years, the tropical systems of 2021 (Elsa, Fred, Henri, and Ida) and the severe flood of August 2024 were reminders of the risks posed by natural disasters. The region’s communities have shared in the development and adoption of a “natural hazard mitigation plan” for two decades, with updates incorporated every five years.
WestCOG is performing resilience planning to inform future hazard mitigation plans. Efforts will lead to mitigation actions that can be taken to reduce losses of property and life due to natural disasters like floods, severe wind events, winter storms, wildfires, droughts, extreme heat events, and earthquakes.
People living and working in the WestCOG Planning Region can take the short online survey (2min, 5 questions) and sign up for updates for upcoming public meetings. https://arcg.is/1W1TvC0 |
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| Weston's Semiquincentennial Celebration |
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From the town of Weston's website:
Weston has officially kicked off our celebration of the Semiquincentennial founding of America and the creation of the Declaration of Independence. The celebration will continue all year long with dozens of events to enjoy throughout the year; you can learn more about our plans, including a live reenactment, historic house tour, musical performances, Family Field Day and Town Picnic, a time capsule burial and many more events on the Weston Celebrates America 250 website. You can also show your spirit by picking up commemorative merchandise, designed by a Weston resident and available from Bonfire. You can learn more about this incredible year of events by checking out the website on the town website. |
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