Jennifer Leeper

Legislation Passed This Week

Being our second to last week in session, this was a very busy week at the capitol. Below I’ve highlighted some major pieces of legislation that passed the House. If you have any questions on any of the below or any other legislation taken up, please don't hesitate to reach out about it by emailing me at jennifer.leeper@cga.ct.gov.

HB 6205: Currently, if you are working all day and can’t make it to the polls, that is not a valid excuse to request an absentee ballot. These voters are forced to choose between perjury and not voting. Forty-four other states across the country allow early voting and with the passage of HB 6205 we have updated the language in existing statutes to allow voters to more easily access absentee ballots.   HB 6441: You may have heard me say it before- Fairfield is projected to be the hardest-hit community in CT by climate change. Combatting and adapting to climate change must be a priority in the coming years because the cost of inaction is too high – HB 6441 implements a plan from the Governor's Council on Climate Change to provide Connecticut's towns and cities with the resources and tools needed to effectively fight climate change.     HB 6374: This bill was proposed and led by college students who were survivors of sexual assault. The sad truth is that sexual assault on college campuses is far too common. HB 6374 requires universities to survey students every other year to better understand campus climate, incidence of sexual assault, and the accessibility of resources so that colleges can effectively combat it.    SB 1019: Historically, individuals with a criminal record struggle to find jobs or secure housing long after they've paid their debt to society. This makes it more challenging to get back on your feet and resume a productive life in your community. This legislation, known as "Clean Slate", allows people with certain low-level criminal records to serve their time to society and then prove for a set number of years that they are rehabilitated and crime-free and then expunges their records so they are not punished into perpetuity. This policy is estimated to increase CT’s GDP annually by $1.2B.   HB 6034: One of the most effective ways to reduce community gun violence to have community members join together with law enforcement and social service providers to implement antiviolence strategies collaboratively with highly active street groups. Project Longevity offers communities and law enforcement comprehensive, evidence-based resources to work together to reduce chronic violence. A number of Connecticut's cities and towns have seen success with this program, and HB 6034 will expand the community-based solution across the state.   SB 1083: Prior to the passage of SB 1083, food trucks needed separate permits and licensing from each health district in which they operated. This legislation leverages the Dept. of Health's ability to recognize reciprocal licensing to streamlines the health permitting process for our food trucks. This makes it easier and cheaper for food trucks to operate and sell their food across the state.     HB 5598: Going forward, property owners will be liable for the expense of removing a fallen tree or limb from their neighbor's property.   HB 6344: Unemployment services became a vital necessity during the pandemic as an unprecedented number of workers turned to the CT Department of Labor for support and guidance. This increased need also exposed areas for improvement. HB 6344 creates the Office of Unemployed Workers' Advocate to better assist unemployed individuals with processing claims and understanding available programs and benefits.    HB 6524: Fuel cells can offer a cleaner, more efficient, and affordable option to supplying and storing energy. HB 6524 will require electric companies to solicit proposals for new fuel cell electricity generation projects. Further expanding the benefits of fuel cell technology is an essential investment in our state's environment and future.