Patricia Dillon

As expected, it has been a busy week in Hartford. My colleagues and I have been working late into the night to pass meaningful legislation. I wanted to take a moment to spotlight two bills that have passed in the House.

Many of you have reached out to express your displeasure about the rapid increase of vape and smoke shops in our community. We took a step towards addressing this problem on Monday by passing  HB 5228, An Act Concerning Electronic Nicotine Delivery System and Vapor Product Dealers.  If passed, this bill will reduce the number of available e-cigarette dealer licenses. The bill will now move to the Senate for further consideration. Click here to read a CT Insider article about the proposed bill. 

Earlier today, we passed a gun violence prevention bill aimed at strengthening public safety and closing dangerous gaps in current law. If passed, House Bill 5043: An Act Concerning Convertible Pistols and Unfinished Frames or Unfinished Lower Receivers, would ban convertible pistols, firearms that can be easily modified to function like automatic weapons, sometimes with minimal tools such as a screwdriver or knife. By addressing these modifications, the bill targets a growing concern among law enforcement and public safety officials.

It would also make it easier for individuals to safely surrender firearms to local police. Current law primarily applies to assault weapons, but this change would expand that option, helping to ensure that more firearms can be removed from potentially unsafe situations.

Together, these measures are designed to reduce the risk of gun violence while promoting responsible ownership and safer communities across the state.