May 10th Newsletter - Sine Die Edition

May 10, 2024
Dear Friends,
 
Another legislative session in the books!  I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you and looking forward to the next chapter ahead.
Sine Die is Latin for without any future date being designated (as for resumption) but we will reconvene in January 2025 for our long session, which will go until June.

Please take a look below for more news and notes, and thanks for reading! 
 
Bipartisan Spending Stabilization Plan Passes

I'm proud to say on Tuesday that we passed a bipartisan spending stabilization plan that will ensure our two-year state budget's historic tax cuts are protected, and we invest in the priorities that matter to you.
Remember, the two-year budget includes:
  • The Largest Income Tax Cut in State History
  • Investments in Public Education
  • New supports for the IDD community
  • Expansion of Debt-Free Community College
  • A Strong and Vibrant Safety Net of Programs

We used remaining federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide support to some important priorities such as

  • Higher Education - $160 million
  • Early Childcare - $21.8 million
  • Mental Health - $24 million
  • Nonprofits - $50 million

Federal APRA funding that will directly benefit us here in the 13th District includes:

  • $900,000 for the Town of Manchester for motor vehicle tax mitigation
  • $450,000 for the Town of Glastonbury for motor vehicle tax mitigation
  • $1,000,000 for youth sports programs including the OAKC Golf program at Manchester Country Club
  • $400,000 for Charter Oak Park
  • $250,000 for Cheney Hall
  • Funds to support 34 new preschool seats at Odyssey School in Manchester
  • $50,000 for Glastonbury Little League
  • $25,000 in grant funding available for the Manchester Arts Commission through CT Humanities

All that and we are putting more than a billion dollars into the state's Rainy Day Fund and paying down pension debt.

I am proud to report that Connecticut is set up to succeed financially in the present as well as the future. 
 
Advancing Affordable Childcare
High-quality and affordable early childhood care and education contribute to a robust economy and help ensure the success of families and future generations. Connecticut has one of the highest costs of childcare in the country. It's why we crafted and passed HB 5002 last Friday to make childcare and early childhood education more affordable and accessible.
This legislation:
  • Creates the “Early Childhood Care and Education Fund,” to be used for childcare and early childhood education programs
  • Establishes the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund Advisory Commission that will report on the health of the Fund and annually update recommendations on how to best use its resources
  • Invests in teachers and assistant teachers in state-funded school readiness programs and state-funded childcare programs
  • Requires a study on the availability of space in state-owned properties that may be used for early childhood care and education programs
  • Directs Office of Early Childcare to establish the Tri-Share Child Care Matching Program as a pilot initiative in New London County with childcare expenses for participants split evenly between employee, employer, and the state.

These are sound investments in our state’s future and will go a long way toward helping parents earn a living and provide for their children’s care and education.
 
Banking Committee Bills Update
Also last Friday, the House of Representatives, I led unanimous passage of two major pieces of Banking Committee legislation:

SB 123 - An Act Concerning Coerced Debt, which will help victims of domestic violence from debts incurred by the coercive control of an abuser.
HB 5211 - An Act Concerning Virtual Currency that will enhance consumer protections from fraudulent transactions conducted through crypto ATMs.

Both bills required a tremendous amount of work and negotiation and just a few days ago, both even seemed questionable to get done. 
Other bills of note (from all committees) that passed during the final few days of session include:
SB 5 - Makes improvements to our public schools and indoor air quality, increases access to early childhood education, and enhances school nutrition programs.
SB 341 - Establishes a fallen officer fund to provide health insurance coverage to survivors of a police officer killed in the line of duty.
SB 292 - Further protects our environment and health by phasing out the sale of certain products containing the dangerous and forever chemical PFAS.
SB 253 - Prohibits foreign governments from spending money on political campaigns.
HB 5367 - Provides gene testing coverage for critically ill infants.
SB 308 - Improves the timeliness of wheelchair repairs.
SB 432 - Further supports Connecticut nonprofits.
SB 13 - Expands the CHESLA student loan employer repayment and tax credit program.
HB 5512 - Requires the Commissioner of Revenue Services to study the Department of Revenue Services' collections processes.
SB 339 - Requires anyone convicted of intentionally injuring or killing a police officer’s animal or a volunteer canine search and rescue team’s dog to pay restitution.
SB 396 - Implements task force recommendations for the elderly nutrition program.
SB 439 - Expands the eligibility criteria for compensation of persons wrongfully convicted.
SB 420 - Authorizes municipalities to adopt an ordinance regarding illegally passing a school bus.
You can find the full list of bills that passed at cga.ct.gov/2024/lbp/lobp.pdf.
 
Grand Opening of Putnam Bridge Trail Connection
Joined Governor Ned Lamont and Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto, along with legislatives colleagues from the House and Senate on Thursday for the long-awaited grand opening of the Putnam Bridge Trail Connection.

The trail provides non-motorized access across the Connecticut River by linking the shared-use path on the Putnam Bridge to Great Meadow Road in Wethersfield and Naubuc Avenue in Glastonbury. Sidewalks were also installed on both sides of the Naubuc Avenue and new connections were linked to the Goodwin College trails in East Hartford.

The expanded trail connection provides a safe, convenient, and functional transportation option to meet the regular travel needs of the public. It is officially open for public use.
 
Connecticut Siting Council Proceeding and Legislation
I was happy to have the recent opportunity to participate in the Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) proceedings and remain optimistic that the CSC will make the right decision to deny the application for a solar array on Carter Street in Manchester.

I was also proud to work on and co-sponsor two bipartisan pieces of legislation related to the CSC process and procedures, which will hopefully help to provide more protections and an opportunity to be heard for neighbors and abutters for future projects such as this one:

  • HB 5507 will provide greater insight and transparency into the process, allow for greater municipal participation, reduce undue influence from the utilities, protect private property and environmental justice communities and force the Council to consider the economic impact of its decisions. This bill passed the House and Senate and is awaiting the Governor's signature.
  • HB 5361 would provide additional protections for the public on new solar projects specifically. This bill passed the House but unfortunately the Senate failed to act on it before adjournment. We will try again next session.
For more on the solar array in Manchester, check out this story in the Journal Inquirer by clicking here.