Robin Comey

I'm writing to share some legislative updates from the past week. Two important pieces of legislation have been signed into law:

1. Mental Health Parity Improvements – The existing Mental Health Parity Law has been significantly strengthened to ensure better access to care and coverage for mental health services.

2. CT Farm Bill – This new legislation provides a substantial boost to our state’s agricultural sector, supporting local farmers and promoting sustainability.

Keep scrolling to read more about each of these new laws, the End-of-Session Community Forum coming up on July 24th and much more!

Please join me and the Branford delegation for an End-of-Session Community Forum on Thursday, July 24 at 6:00 P.M. at the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library. 

Come learn about the impactful legislation we passed this year to help improve the lives of the people in Branford and the rest of the state. Everything from increased investments toward special education, child care, improved access to healthcare, and road safety.

We will share information and answer questions about all the important bills that passed this session. 

We hope to see you there and look forward to hearing your feedback!

Click here to RSVP or scan the QR code below.

I had a meaningful visit to the Branford Food Pantry this week alongside Senator Cohen. We met with dedicated board members and volunteers who are working tirelessly to serve our community, even as they face challenges from recent federal budget cuts.
 
The work being done here is essential, providing not just food, but hope and support to the 200 families they serve each week. We discussed their infrastructure needs, and I'm committed to finding ways to support this vital program.
 
Our communities are strongest when we come together to help our neighbors. Thank you to everyone at the Branford Food Pantry for your incredible service. 

I know everyone loves a parade, but if you've never seen the Nepal Day parade, you are really missing out.  On Saturday morning I joined Branford's Nepali families as we walked from the Branford Community Center to the Town Green. We are so fortunate to have our Nepali friends willing to share their culture and traditions with our town bringing a multitude of vibrant colors, music, and authentic cuisine that enriches our understanding of Nepal's beautiful heritage. 

I was out for a run at Branford Point last week and ran into the Way Back Wednesday night held by Branford Parks & Recreation. There were a lot of great cars but this was my favorite. Grab some lawn chairs and bring the family down, dates only scheduled through July!

Last week 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. Those who don’t comply can face fines up to $625,000.
• 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.

Governor Lamont's newly signed CT Farm Bill provides a significant boost to Connecticut's agricultural sector by introducing a broad suite of incentives and protections aimed at strengthening local farms.

Here's a breakdown of what this legislation means for farm owners:

• A 20% Tax Credit for “Farm Investment Property”
• Crop Loss Reimbursement
• Drone Regulations to Boost Innovation
• Support for Shellfish, Agritourism & More
• Expanding Land Access Grants