Keith Denning

It’s been another exciting day in the House Chambers at the State Capitol. Session is growing more intense as we come together to make Connecticut a better place to work, live, and retire. We are continuously hearing debate on bills, taking different opinions into consideration, and voting on measures. Here is a look at what we accomplished on Wednesday.

The House of Representatives passed House Joint Resolution 1 on Wednesday, which means you will get to decide if we amend the state constitution to allow no-excuse absentee voting. 

Connecticut's rules for absentee voting are among the most restrictive in the U.S. and are enshrined in its constitution. A constitutional amendment is required to remove restrictions on absentee voting. 

Absentee voting works, which we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic in an effective and safe manner.

Voting is a fundamental American right. Eligible voters in Connecticut should have the freedom to choose how they vote whether it’s in-person on Election Day, in-person for two weeks prior to Election Day, which just passed the House last week, or by absentee ballot without needing to provide an excuse. 

My colleagues and I also passed House Bill 6823, which puts elections in the hands of the Constitutional office that manages elections. This commonsense bill designates the Secretary of the State as the state official responsible for certifying presidential electors. CLICK HERE to learn more.

We also passed House Bill 6891, which contains a small but mighty change for taxpayers to allow charge card, debit card, or electronic payment of municipal taxes or penalties. CLICK HERE to learn more.

House Bill 6590 makes it easier for families to get access to the childcare they need.

Endometriosis is an under-studied disease impacting 10% of women in our state. The House passed House Bill 6672 to create the Endometriosis Data and Biorepository Program and associated endometriosis research lab.

From 1647 to 1697, several individuals in Connecticut, primarily women, were hanged for suspicions of witchcraft. The accusations against the victims were often unfounded and based in misogyny, just like at the Salem trials. By passing House Joint Resolution 34, we recognize the trauma caused by the witchcraft trials in the Connecticut colonial courts and absolve those accused and convicted of "witchcraft" and "familiarities with the devil."