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Dear Neighbors,
Bills are being voted on in the CT General Assembly. I want to be sure you know about them—they represent real progress for our communities and residents.
The following important bills have passed out of the House and will move to the Senate for a vote.
Holding the gun industry accountable:
One bill I’m especially glad about is HB 7042, the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act. It empowers individuals to bring civil action against firearm manufacturers and dealers who fail to exercise reasonable control over their products—especially when guns end up with traffickers or people who shouldn’t have them. Holding the industry accountable is key to reducing gun violence and making our neighborhoods safer.
Expanding reproductive health care:
The House also passed HB 7213, expanding access to reproductive health care for young people. As a parent of four daughters, this hits close to home. The bill ensures better access to contraception and pregnancy-related care—because young people deserve the tools to make informed decisions about their health.
Getting serious about climate change:
On the environmental front, HB 5004 is a landmark climate bill that also boosts our economy. It sets ambitious goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions, including a net-zero target by 2050, without adding costs for ratepayers. It supports clean energy jobs, offers tax incentives for green businesses, and invests in climate resilience.
The summer of 2024 demonstrated how climate change is affecting Connecticut residents. Torrential rain, flooding and cycles of heat waves caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage, skyrocketing electricity bills, and harm to people’s health. With more of that kind of extreme weather expected, bold action like this is long overdue.
Looking out for our veterans
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, the House passed the Connecticut Hero Act (HB 6442) to better support our 131,000 veterans. The bill prioritizes nursing home placements, expands dental care access, ensures special education continuity for military families, allows school stability for military kids, and creates special license plates for Puerto Rican and women veterans.
Once these bills pass both chambers, they’ll head to the governor’s desk. I’m hopeful and energized by the steps to build a safer, healthier, and more just Connecticut.
Last Friday, Governor Lamont signed SB 1426 into law. This is an important measure that strengthens the Firefighters Cancer Relief Program, expanding coverage to include skin cancer and extending benefits to more firefighters and their families. I’ve long supported presumptive cancer coverage—occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths among firefighters, and they deserve our full support.
My best regards,
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