Jason Doucette

Thanks for taking the time to read this and the news and notes below! 

Early voting options are now available thanks to the work of the Connecticut General Assembly last session, and later this month, voters in the state will take to the polls to vote in the 2024 presidential primary.

This legislation was made possible by a state Constitutional amendment approved by a wide majority of Connecticut voters in 2022. It will provide you – and voters across the state – with more flexibility and access to cast your vote with the confidence that your voice is heard and your civic duty is fulfilled, while avoiding large crowds and scheduling conflicts.

Anticipating that you may have questions about this new process, I hope the guide below will be helpful in providing information to answer them.

Here's what you need to know:

When is early voting?
For the April 2 presidential preference primary election, early voting will take place from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on March 26, 27, 28, and 30. Due to Good Friday and Easter, there will be no early voting Friday, March 29 or Sunday, March 31.

Early voting for the August 13 primary elections will take place between August 5 and August 11.

Early voting for the November 5 general election will take place between October 21 to November 3.

In Manchester, Early Voting will be held at Mahoney Recreation Center between 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on March 26, 27, 28, and 30.

In Glastonbury, Early Voting will be held at The Academy Building in Multi-Purpose Room 1 across from the offices of Parks and Recreation.

Are there deadlines to be aware of?
Monday at noon is the deadline to register with a political party to vote in the early voting period for the presidential preference primary.

Monday, April 1 at noon is the deadline for registering in person with your registrar of voters or town clerk to vote on April 2, and for unaffiliated voters to enroll in a party for in-person voting.

If you are not yet registered to vote, file your registration application with your town's registrar of voters by noon on the business day before the day you want to vote or click here to register.

Voting is one of our country's most privileged and fundamental rights, and your participation is crucial in shaping the future. Let’s amplify the impact of our collective voice – start voting early!

The Banking Committee finished its work for the 2024 Legislative Session and advanced 17 bills to the House and Senate floors for further consideration.

Some of the notable legislation includes:

• HB 5344: Creates a first-time homebuyer savings account and a related tax deduction and credit.
• HB 5211: Regulates cryptocurrency kiosks
• SB 121: Establishes procedures for the Attorney General to enforce the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
• SB 123: Concerns coerced debt 

In HB 5344, first-time homebuyers would be allowed to contribute to a tax-deductible savings account on their path to homeownership in addition to employers claiming tax credits for making contributions to their employees' accounts. According to the Office of Legislative Research, savings accounts similar to the proposal in HB 5344 have been established in 14 states.

The Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), Connecticut Bankers Association (CBA), Council of Small Towns (COST) and Connecticut Realtors Association all testified in support of HB 5344, which passed unanimously out of the committee. For more on the bill, check out a recap from CTNewsJunkie by clicking here. 

HB 5211 looks to add further regulations on the cryptocurrency kiosk industry by putting fee caps and requiring licenses among other regulations. There is a growing concern about the regulation over virtual currencies and the kiosks that dispense them. Scammers are using cryptocurrencies more because there aren’t enough rules, and kiosks help them do it easier. The aim of HB 5211 is to better protect consumers in the cryptocurrency kiosk sphere. 

A Connecticut State Police detective testified that HB 5211 creates an "information trail" of cryptocurrency kiosk transactions, which will enhance law enforcement capabilities to detect, investigate, prosecute and impose judgments against financial criminals exploiting vulnerable populations.

As chair of the Banking Committee, I want to thank the legislators on both sides of the aisle for their diligent work this session to produce a robust slate of bills during a short session. Additionally, our nonpartisan and partisan staffers, whose contributions are so valuable to the legislative process, deserve plenty praise for their collective and individual efforts.

I will keep you up to date as these bills progress through the House and Senate. 

Great news! The Aging Committee approved HB 5001, an omnibus bill that I proudly sponsored, which will provide further support to our seniors. 

This proposal is a priority for the House Democrats, and I am thrilled it is progressing through the legislative process. 

Issues impacting seniors are often ignored. Our elderly residents need support and access to resources that will provide them with the best quality of life possible. HB 5001 does this by: 

• Requiring additional training of home care workers 
• Creating a more efficient process for accessing Medicaid
• Expanding the Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Click here to read an article that explores additional details of the bill. 

Our aging population faces a growing list of challenges that are not isolated incidents. As our society gets older, these issues will only become more pronounced. HB 5001 not only acknowledges these complexities but also paves the way for crucial improvements. This legislation will ensure that our seniors will age gracefully. Next stop, the House Floor! 

Nate Agostinelli was a giant in Manchester and legend throughout Connecticut. He was the first and only person from Manchester to be elected to statewide constitutional office (Comptroller), a Manchester Mayor, and longtime bank president. Thank you, Nate, for your many contributions to our state and our community. My sincere condolences to his family. You can read the obituary here.

Spent this week with students from Manchester High School who were at the State Capitol to advocate for suicide prevention and mental health awareness. These impressive young people participate in Change Collaborative of Manchester through the Youth Service Bureau and the Peer Advocate program at MHS.