Keith Denning

It’s a busy time at the State Capitol as the legislative session ramps up. As your voice in Hartford, I'm voting on a number of measures that would improve our community. In the past couple of weeks, the House of Representatives has passed a series of bills that would bring much-needed support to Wilton, New Canaan, and Ridgefield. Here's an overview:

On Wednesday, the House approved HB 6689 to make a career in health care a realistic option for more Connecticut students. The Nursing and Mental Health Care Professionals Loan Subsidy Program will mean lower interest rates for students looking to go into health and mental health care.

This bill is particularly important to me as a retired Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Nurses are the backbone of our medical care system. We currently do not have enough nurses, and we are not educating enough to meet our future need. The next step is to make sure the program is funded.

Horseshoe crabs are ecologically and medically vital. We took another step to protect their decimated population. I'm proud to co-sponsor this bill! CLICK HERE to learn more.

A workforce training plan for green jobs is essential to support Connecticut’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. HB 6354 includes several provisions to accomplish those goals and a strategy to market and recruit individuals, especially from underrepresented populations.

HB 6678 ensures that nursing home organizations statewide are more transparent about their financial situation. Transparency is an important first step towards meaningful elder care reform.

The House proved our commitment to all Connecticut mothers having access to specialized lactation healthcare. HB 6819 will require the DPH to provide a full list of international board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLCs) in the state on their website and will establish a taskforce to study licensure.

Diaper insecurity, food insecurity, and housing instability… HB 6587 creates a task force to develop a plan that utilizes Medicaid funding to support these health-related social needs, seek federal approval for services, and report how the proposed coverage will impact current recommendations.

House Bill 6479 contains a key provision to maximize federal funds designated for state and municipal climate change resiliency projects, including coastal resiliency projects.

The House approved AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP ON THE RESTORATION OF EEL GRASS. Eel Grass is an important component of seagrass meadows that improve water quality and protect from erosion.

We passed HB 5575, a necessary measure to ensure the humane treatment of animals in municipal animal shelters. We set municipal regulations establishing guidelines that maintain the health and safety of both the animals and the individuals working in the facilities.