Important Updates on Our Legislative Session

May 3, 2024


 
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Dear Neighbor,
As the elderly population steadily grows, there is an urgency to provide resources and assistance to this community.  During Monday's session, we took a significant step to achieving that goal by passing HB 5001, a top priority for House Democrats this session. 

HB 5001, which passed with bipartisan support,  protects and prioritizes elderly residents in our state. This bill: 

  • Makes it easier for seniors to age in place
  • Creates a nursing home database, providing consumers with an easy and reliable way to compare locations around the state
  • Establishes incentives to encourage nursing homes to improve care

I am glad to support a bill that gives seniors the attention and resources that they deserve. The bill now moves to the Senate for its consideration.

 
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 in the House to make childcare and early childhood education more affordable and accessible.

This House Priority Bill:

  • 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

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.

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

 
Veterans put their lives on the line for our country and, as a small way to say “thank you for your service,” the House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill that would support Veterans who have been disabled during service.

HB 5491 establishes a property tax exemption for Veterans who have a service-connected permanent and total disability rating as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption will be used for a home that is a primary residence, but if a qualified Veteran does not own a home, the exemption will apply to a single motor vehicle that they own.

In CT, we have 1,209 Veterans who are totally and permanently disabled as a result of their service. These brave men and women have spent their lives fighting to protect our freedoms. It is our turn to support them when they come home with disabilities to ensure they live with dignity and without fear of losing their home.

The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration.

 
I'm committed to the health and well-being of our community’s families and children by joining my colleagues in the House of Representatives to unanimously pass HB 5003. This comprehensive legislation ensures mothers and children who are eligible for federal benefits, such as WIC, are enrolled in these programs with ease and confidence. This bill aims to reduce barriers to participation in WIC.

WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, Children) enrollment in Connecticut is among the lowest enrollment rates in the country at 46%. Not maximizing participation in this program is resulting in worse outcomes for the health and nutrition of young children.
This bill:
  • Keeps Connecticut families healthy: It allows Connecticut agencies to more easily enroll children and parents who qualify into federal nutrition assistance programs to keep our families healthy.
  • Promotes outreach and information to access these federal programs that Connecticut underutilizes.
  • Promotes Connecticut farmers by supporting them to participate in these programs at farmers markets.

When we grow healthy children, they are less likely to develop nutrition-related chronic diseases, they are at a lower risk of cavities/tooth decay, they have improved mental health, and they have improved participation in other social service programs. In general, children are better off when their families participate in WIC.

The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
 
Connecticut is committed to mitigating the climate crisis. The first step is acknowledging there is a crisis.

This week, I joined my Democratic colleagues and voted to pass one of our top legislative priorities this session, HB 5004, also referred to as the 2024 Connecticut Climate Protection Act. Protecting the environment and working to combat the effects of climate change should be a shared priority because the act of doing nothing is far-reaching and touches every aspect of life on Earth.

This bill:

  • Updates the state's Global Warming Solutions Act to make our greenhouse gas emissions targets more in line with other states in the region;
  • Creates incentives for businesses and municipalities that engage in clean economy sectors or engage in environmentally sustainable projects;
  • Plans for transition to clean economy, workforce training and long-term policy implementation; and
  • Supports and expands nature-based solutions, such as preserving marshlands and forests

We can make a difference in the quality of life for future generations of Connecticut residents. The time to start making necessary changes is now. 

The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. 
 

After some long nights at the Capitol, we passed a lot of bills on the House floor this week:

  • HB 5408 – Supports CT businesses by requiring executive branch state agencies to purchase a certain percentage of procured print or digital advertising from in-state commercial or nonprofit news publishers
  • HB 5458 - Maximizes efforts to aid housing insecure and homeless persons
  • HB 5198 – Protects healthcare patients and providers by expanding telehealth provisions adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic until June 30, 2027
  • HB 5320 - Improves hospital financial policies
  • HB 5365 - Enhances the Human Services Career Pipeline program
  • HB 5455 – Improves the efficiency of the Department of Social Services in making eligibility determinations for medical assistance and responding to requests for information or assistance
  • HB 5300 - Authorizes the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to consider certain businesses that do not have their principal business operations in Connecticut to be eligible businesses under the invest CT fund program
  • HB 5398 - Requires a study of the use of communication systems by public safety personnel and the sharing of private information
  • HB 5175 - Provides that purple painted property borders serve as a warning to trespassers
  • HB 5487 - Makes various revisions relating to the processing of claims filed with the Office of the Claims Commissioner
  • HB 5239 - Expands the Collegiate Awareness and Preparation program
  • HB 5142 - Requires the Department of Banking to study and submit a report concerning banking issues in the state
  • SB 132 - Prohibits the issuance of new licenses for dog racing by the Department of Consumer Protection
  • HB 5196 - Expands the podiatric scope of practice
  • HB 5434 - Authorizes the Community and Economic Development Fund to expand business scope
  • HB 5222 - Establishes a no-wake-zone on the Pawcatuck River
  • SB 293 - Requires a waste characterization study and needs assessment and increases certain transportation weight limits for vehicles hauling solid waste
  • HB 5272 - An Act Concerning The Expiration Of Certain Land Use Approvals And The New Home Construction Guaranty Fund
  • HB 5500 - Revises juror compensation, ignition interlock devices, the Department of Correction, judicial retirement salaries, and criminal law and procedure
  • HB 5279 - Expands eligibility for families of firefighters and police officers who die in the line of duty to receive benefits
  • HB 5399 - Protects victims of sexual assault by improving the training and responsibilities of first responders and the Office of Victim Services
  • SB 396 - Implements task force recommendations for the elderly nutrition program
  • HB 5422 - Strengthens the response to hate and bias crimes
  • HB 5226 - Protecting our environment: Establishes a state stewardship program to manage the collection and recycling of certain batteries
  • HB 5280 - State law enforcement will join the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) databank making firearms easier to track
  • HB 5430 - Requires a study on migraine treatment for women and veterans, who disproportionately are affected by migraine disorders
  • HB 5200 - Improves access to healthcare for disabled people
  • HB 5436 - Makes it easier to become a teacher in Connecticut
  • SB 395 - Prohibits Connecticut healthcare entities from reporting medical debt to credit agencies
  • HB 5182 - Makes technical revisions to the education and early childhood statutes
  • HB 5199 - Establishes a task force to study the shortage of athletic trainers in the state
  • HB 5227 - To require the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to release liens within a certain period of time when such lien has been satisfied
  • HB 5283 - To classify parole officers as peace officers
  • HB 5330 - Implements the recommendations of the Department of Transportation concerning certain environmental hearings, the Office of the State Traffic Administration, bicycle traffic, traffic authorities, variable speed limits, public transportation, motorcycle helmets and reckless driving
  • HB 5437 - Creates the Educator Professional Development Mandate Review Advisory Council, which will advise on the costs and effects of mandates related to educator professional development and in-service training
  • SB 222 - Expands Paid Family Medical Leave to include employees who work at businesses that operate on federally recognized tribal land

You can find the full list at cga.ct.gov/2024/lbp/lobp.pdf
As always, please feel free to contact me to share your ideas and concerns.
Sincerely,

Roland Lemar
State Representative
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