House Democrats continue to fight for the residents of Connecticut. This session, we have crafted legislation that focuses on job growth and economic development, assisting small businesses, and promoting fairness and compassion to all of our citizens.
Here is a list of our legislative accomplishments in 2018. As the session continues, this list will grow, so be sure to check back here for more updates. To see a list of list of our accomplishments last session, click here.
We Helped Protect Women from Wage Discrimination
HB 5586 - AN ACT CONCERNING PAY EQUITY
This year, we passed legislation that will help ensure women in Connecticut are paid the wages they deserve. Connecticut women working full time are paid 83 cents for every dollar paid to men working full time. The pay gap is even greater for African-American and Latina women. The legislation, which was supported by the business community and advocates alike, would prohibit employers from asking prospective employees about their previous wages.
We Ensured More People Can Exercise Their Right to Vote
HJ 28 - A RESOLUTION PROPOSING A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PERMIT EARLY VOTING
We passed a resolution that moves us forward toward amending the state’s constitution to allow a system of early voting during elections. This will help many people, for example those who have to work two jobs while caring for their families, with the ability to vote early and increase participation in elections.
We Helped the Dreamers
SB 4 - AN ACT ASSISTING STUDENTS WITHOUT LEGAL IMMIGRATION STATUS WITH THE COST OF COLLEGE
With bipartisan support the House passed the so-called “Dreamers Bill” allowing access to financial aid by undocumented college students. This is great news because financial aid at colleges and universities is funded with a portion of tuition and fees paid by students – undocumented, or not. This new common-sense law is fair to all students and has been a top priority in the House of Representatives for several years.
We Reinforced the 10 Essential Health Benefits
HB 5210 - AN ACT MANDATING INSURANCE COVERAGE OF ESSENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS AND EXPANDING MANDATED HEALTH BENEFITS FOR WOMEN, CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Under current federal law, health insurance plans must cover 10 essential benefits that include many basic services that families rely on. House Bill 5210 ensures that even if the federal health care law changes in the future, Connecticut residents will maintain these benefits in their health care plans. The bill also expands access to contraception by requiring insurance companies cover a 12-month supply of contraception, a measure that would benefit women taking the birth control pill.
We Moved Towards a National Popular Vote
HB 5421 - AN ACT ADOPTING THE INTERSTATE COMPACT TO ELECT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BY NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE
We voted to allow Connecticut to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact because we reject the notion that the citizens of the United States, in the year 2018, cannot be trusted to directly elect their president. The winner of the presidency should be the candidate who gets the most votes in the election.
We Passed a Ban on Bump Stocks
HB 5542 - AN ACT CONCERNING BUMP STOCKS AND OTHER MEANS OF ENHANCING THE RATE OF FIRE OF A FIREARM
Bump stocks became part of vernacular after the Las Vegas massacre last year on the grounds of the Mandalay Bay Resort. The gunman, who murdered 58 people and injured more than 500, had 12 semiautomatic weapons that were fitted with bump stocks - a simple accessory that is designed to multiply the killing power of a firearm. This bill, which bans them in our state, was approved in the House by a bipartisan vote.
We Stopped the "Dual Arrest" Practice in Domestic Violence Incidents
SB 466 - AN ACT CONCERNING DUAL ARRESTS AND THE TRAINING REQUIRED OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL WITH RESPECT TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The threat of dual arrest discourages victims of domestic violence from calling for help. This bill, passed in the House in concurrence with the Senate, allows a police officer, in responding to a family violence complaint, to arrest the person the officer determines is the dominant aggressor.
We Ensured Incarcerated Women are Treated With Dignity
SB 13 - AN ACT CONCERNING FAIR TREATMENT OF INCARCERATED WOMEN
This important legislation passed both the state House of Representatives and the state Senate unanimously. It will prevent the state from shackling incarcerated women during pregnancy or labor; require the state to provide incarcerated women with sufficient menstrual supplies; create family-centric visitation policies; ensure imprisoned women are able to shower and perform other bodily functions without non-medical staff of the opposite sex viewing their bodies; and establish prenatal and postpartum support, including lactation policies, for pregnant and postpartum incarcerated women.
We Held Big Pharmaceutical Companies Accountable
HB 5384 - AN ACT CONCERNING PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS
This bill will require drug companies to justify price increases when the price of a drug jumps by 20 percent in one year or by 50 percent over three years. It will create groundbreaking transparency requirements for drug manufacturers and quickly lead to consumer savings at pharmacies upon enactment.
We Kept Kids with Food Allergies Safe
HB 5452 - AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK FORCE ON LIFE-THREATENING FOOD ALLERGIES IN SCHOOLS
This bill requires the state Department of Education (SDE) to revise guidelines for the management of students with life-threatening food allergies and glycogen storage disease and to make these guidelines available to each local and regional board of education.
We Helped Residents with Crumbling Foundations
HB 5209 - AN ACT CONCERNING LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PREMIUM RATE INCREASES
This bill sets up a fund that will go towards helping Connecticut residents whose homes are afflicted with crumbling foundations. People should not work hard their whole lives only to have the American Dream ripped out from underneath them through no fault of their own.
We Made Sure Students Are Taught by Teachers of All Races and Backgrounds
SB 455 - AN ACT CONCERNING MINORITY TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
It’s not right for a child to go through school without understanding and seeing that there are educators with knowledge, wisdom, influence and power who are people of color. This biil will help ensure that students in our schools are taught and led by teachers of all races, creeds and ethnicities.
We Mandated Holocaust Education in Our Public Schools
SB 452 - AN ACT CONCERNING THE INCLUSION OF HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS IN THE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM
We must be sure to remember history if we are to ever learn from it. This bill ensures that all students will be taught about the Holocaust and mankind's tragic propensity to succumb to its darkest nature.
