Amy Morrin Bello

This is a busy week with a lot of important legislation passing the House and still more to come.

Monday

I took out a Government Administration and Elections Bill HB 5408 that aims to support Connecticut-owned media outlets and news companies while helping to maintain local news coverage by investing some of our government advertising dollars into local media. It passed the House and now heads to the Senate.

One of the House priority bills, HB 5001, 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 and establishes incentives to encourage nursing homes to improve care.

Here’s what else passed on the House floor:

✅HB 5491 - Establishes a property tax exemption for veterans who have a service-connected permanent and total disability
✅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

Tuesday 

I was disappointed that after a 3 ½ hour debate, a good GAE bill didn't move forward and only "passed temporarily," which means it likely won't be voted on this session. HB 5312 would have helped our public libraries and school libraries with their purchasing of eBooks.

Thankfully, other good bills moved, including House priority bill HB 5003 which passed unanimously and ensures young children and families have increased access to all available nutrition programs in the state. In addition, HB 5150 had bi-partisan support and properly regulates beverages containing THC that currently fall through a federal loophole.

Here’s what else we passed in the House on Tuesday:

✅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

Wednesday 

Connecticut is committed to mitigating the climate crisis. The first step is acknowledging there is a crisis.

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

Other bills that passed, include: 

✅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

Thursday

The House passed a number of great bills that support Connecticut educators, working families, and patients
 
✅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.pd