Author: Devin James

Maroney, Looney & Duff Oppose Trump Executive Order to Block State AI Regulations

Posted on by Devin James

Maroney, Looney & Duff Oppose Trump Executive Order to Block State AI Regulations

Today, state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford), Chair of the General Law Committee, Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) are releasing a statement following Trump’s new executive order blocking states from enforcing their own regulations around AI.

“With the gridlock in DC, states have been the only ones to act to defend their residents from harms of social media, and this executive order would prevent states from acting to defend their residents from potential harms of AI,” said Sen. Maroney. “We will not harness the full potential of this technology until the majority of people feel safe in using it, and this order is a major step in the wrong direction.”

“Connecticut and several other states have been leading the way in establishing common sense AI standards that protect workers, consumers, and children in everyday life,” said Sen. Looney. “Preventing states from regulating artificial intelligence exposes people to dangerous decisions, allows companies to operate without accountability, increases the likelihood of errors, and widens inequality. We will continue to champion strong, thoughtful regulation that ensures the public feels safe using these powerful technologies.”

“Donald Trump’s executive order on artificial intelligence is not about innovation or public safety. It is about enriching millionaires and billionaires at the expense of working people,” said Senator Duff. “States have stepped up where Congress has failed to protect people online, and Trump and his billionaire allies in Big Tech are afraid of that progress. By trying to strip states of their authority, this order would leave the public more vulnerable to discrimination, unsafe content, and reckless decision-making by powerful tech platforms. Executive orders are not law, and this unconstitutional overreach will be challenged in court. Like so many of Trump’s past wannabe authoritarian type actions, I expect this order to end up in the ash heap of defeated executive orders.”

Sen. Lesser Applauds Governor’s $70M Allocation for ACA Tax Credits

Posted on by Devin James

Sen. Lesser Applauds Governor’s $70M Allocation for ACA Tax Credits

HARTFORD – Today State Senator Matt Lesser, Senate Chair of the Human Services Committee, applauded news that Governor Ned Lamont has pledged $70 million to replace the federal Advanced Premium Tax Credits expiring this month that Republicans in Congress have failed to renew. Those who purchase healthcare on the exchange are expecting to see their premiums more than double.

In November, Senator Lesser and his Democratic colleagues voted to allow Governor Lamont to authorize $500 million to insulate Connecticut residents from the effects of President Trump’s attack on healthcare, nutrition programs and home heating assistance. This $70 million is the first allocation stemming from that action and will also provide funding to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) who are preparing for significant revenue cuts and an uptick in demand.

“I want to thank Governor Lamont for taking action to protect Connecticut residents from the unsustainable premium hikes coming in 2026. This funding represents a major attempt to protect the working poor and the middle class from the worst ravages of the Trump cuts, something I have been advocating for since the details of the Republican agenda were made clear in the spring. Today’s announcement from the Governor represents an act of moral courage and is a major step in the right direction. Still, many Connecticut residents, particularly in the middle class, will see astronomical rate hikes unless Congress acts before the end of the year.

“Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans are passing policies that take money from the poor and middle class to hand to their own cronies. The cuts to health insurance are appalling. While this funding will not insulate all residents from the effects of a hostile White House, here in Connecticut, we will do everything in our power to protect access to affordable, quality healthcare including individual coverage purchased through Access Health CT.”

STATEMENT OF INSURANCE COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR SEN. JORGE CABRERA ON CONNECTICUT FUNDING ACCESS HEALTH CT INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR 2026, DESPITE TRUMP & REPUBLICAN BUDGET CUTS

Posted on by Devin James

STATEMENT OF INSURANCE COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR SEN. JORGE CABRERA ON CONNECTICUT FUNDING ACCESS HEALTH CT INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR 2026, DESPITE TRUMP & REPUBLICAN BUDGET CUTS

“I and other legislators have been talking with the governor’s office for a while – including yesterday – about a solution to the Republican inhumanity coming out of Washington D.C. and their refusal to help Americans pay for their health insurance premiums. When Connecticut Democrats passed legislation in special session last month, that gave us the opportunity to do something about it. So, I’m happy with the governor’s announcement today, I think it’s a good bang for the buck coverage-wise, and it will help almost 2,000 people in my Senate District and about 143,000 in Connecticut afford their health insurance premiums next year. Governor Lamont has proven by his action today that Connecticut will step to help people pay for their health care, and we will do it again if necessary. It’s just immensely disturbing that Donald Trump and Republicans had to push us to this point by trading America’s health insurance for tax breaks for billionaires and corporations. Hopefully they won’t be a majority in Congress much longer.

SENATORS LOONEY, DUFF, ANWAR RESPOND TO HEPATITIS B VACCINE RECOMMENDATION CHANGE BY FEDERAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Posted on by Devin James

SENATORS LOONEY, DUFF, ANWAR RESPOND TO HEPATITIS B VACCINE RECOMMENDATION CHANGE BY FEDERAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Today, Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee, responded with concern and alarm to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s decision to end universal recommendations for newborn vaccination against hepatitis B.

The advisory committee, which saw its membership replaced earlier this year by Health and Human Services Secretary and known vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., voted to change a 34-year-old standard for all newborns to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, which can cause lifelong chronic injury and complications that can lead to death among those infected as infants. The new policy only recommends newborn vaccination if a mother tests positive for hepatitis B or does not test for the virus, ignoring that newborns and infants can be exposed to viruses in many other ways than maternal contact.

“I am deeply troubled by this morning’s CDC advisory panel vote to abandon universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns,” said Senate President Martin Looney. “This decision reverses decades of proven public health policy that has prevented millions of infections and saved countless lives. We will work to ensure that our state’s immunization policies continue to protect our most vulnerable infants from a preventable, potentially deadly disease. Secretary Kennedy and President Trump are turning the CDC into a platform for conspiracy theories and placing American lives at risk.”

“The CDC panel’s decision this morning to roll back newborn hepatitis B vaccine recommendations is a reckless departure from evidence-based medicine,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff. “The hepatitis B vaccine has reduced infections in children by 99 percent since the early 1990s, and there is no legitimate scientific reason to change course now. Connecticut’s healthcare providers and families deserve clear, science-based guidance that prioritizes children’s health and safety. Connecticut will not follow Trump and Kennedy down this dangerous path of vaccine denial.”

“Since universal newborn vaccination against hepatitis B was first recommended in 1991, rates of infection among children and teens have plummeted. That’s evidence of lives saved, illness avoided and the overwhelming success of this universal standard,” said Senator Anwar. “According to the American Public Health Association, this policy has prevented more than half a million infections and 90,000 deaths in the last 30 years. Ending a standard with such obvious benefits is outlandish and disturbing, and when even members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices itself are questioning their peers, it makes any future decisions from that body difficult, if not impossible, to trust.”

SEN. CABRERA WELCOMES NEW CONSUMER RESOURCE LIBRARY FOR CONNECTICUT INSURANCE CUSTOMERS

Posted on by Devin James

SEN. CABRERA WELCOMES NEW CONSUMER RESOURCE LIBRARY FOR CONNECTICUT INSURANCE CUSTOMERS

HARTFORD – Ever wonder why your homeowner’s insurance costs go up every year? Do you have questions about mental health insurance coverage in Connecticut? Do you want to file a consumer complaint online, but don’t know how?

Now there’s an answer: The Connecticut Insurance Department’s new Consumer Resource Library.

“The typical American family of four pays about $28,000 a year in insurance premiums for home and auto, health and dental, homeowner’s or renter’s, and life insurance and pet insurance. These policies can potentially save your life or keep you out of bankruptcy, but they’re enormously expensive, and sometimes prohibitively so,” said state Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden), who is Senate Chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee. “It’s not unusual to have questions about one of the most complex and costly aspects of modern living, and now you have a place to turn to answer most of your insurance questions.”

The state Insurance Department’s new Consumer Resource Library covers auto, health, homeowner’s, life and annuity,  flood, and general insurance topics, including:

  • Know Your Rights: Appealing a Health Insurance Denial
  • Consumer report card on health insurance plans in Connecticut
  • FAQs – Long-Term Care
  • Request a free copy of your auto claims history
  • Consumer Alerts
  • Video – Understand Your Flood Risk

SENATOR ANWAR RAISES HEALTH ALARM AS TRUMP EPA PROMOTES PFAS-LADEN INSECTICIDES

Posted on by Devin James

SENATOR ANWAR RAISES HEALTH ALARM AS TRUMP EPA PROMOTES PFAS-LADEN INSECTICIDES

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), raised the alarm for public health as the Environmental Protection Agency, under the current Trump Administration, continues to consider and potentially support pesticides for crops that would contain PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.”

As exposure to these chemicals has been tied to serious health problems including cancer and birth defects, Sen. Anwar, Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee, has extreme concerns over the approval of insecticides that would directly increase human contact to them.

Under the current Trump administration, the EPA has proposed at least five pesticides’ use that contain PFAS, in opposition to claims made in the 2024 Trump presidential campaign that use of pesticides containing pollutive chemicals would be reined in.

PFAS represents a group of chemicals that are known to not break down when released in an environment, previously used to support materials being resistant to water, stains and grease. They have been linked to serious health conditions when humans come into direct contact with them, including cancer, birth defects and kidney damage.

“Why is the federal government pushing for unsafe materials that were banned in states like our own and that can harm public health to be used on the crops we eat? Lobbyists for pesticide companies are now in leadership positions at the EPA,” said Sen. Anwar. “Yet again, short-sighted emphasis on profit over people runs rampant, with our communities most likely to suffer the consequences. The people of our nation deserve better, and I will remain vocal about these proposals until they are defeated – or, should they go through, take steps to protect food and water supplies here in our state.”

The potential use of PFAS in new pesticides comes despite numerous states, including Connecticut, passing laws to limit or ban their use. In Connecticut, starting in 2028, manufacturers will be required to mark items containing PFAS and many items containing the chemicals will be banned.

The Guardian noted that four of the five pesticides under consideration have ingredients that break down into a PFAS compound, but the EPA’s definition of PFAS omits those compounds. The EPA continues to claim that some of these compounds are not PFAS and “do not pose any risks of concern when used as labeled.”

Senator Maroney Opposes Trump’s Draft Order Targeting State AI Laws

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Maroney Opposes Trump’s Draft Order Targeting State AI Laws

Today, state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford) is releasing a statement in response to the Trump administration drafting an executive order that would direct the Justice Department to sue states that pass laws regulating artificial intelligence.

“It is outrageous that the federal government is going to prevent us from defending our residents online and once again putting the profits of big tech ahead of the people of Connecticut. We won’t back down from doing what’s right, no matter who tries to stand in the way. This upcoming legislative session I intend to introduce Artificial Intelligence legislation to ensure Connecticut residents are protected online and that technology is developed and used responsibly.“

SENATOR ANWAR RELEASES STATEMENT OPPOSING HAZARDVILLE WATER COMPANY RATE INCREASE REQUEST

Posted on by Devin James

SENATOR ANWAR RELEASES STATEMENT OPPOSING HAZARDVILLE WATER COMPANY RATE INCREASE REQUEST

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) released the following statement in opposition to the Hazardville Water Company’s proposal to increase rates by more than $2.4 million, representing an increase of 72%.

“This rate request has the potential to cause serious damage to Enfield, Somers and East Windsor, where my constituents will undoubtedly struggle under projected monthly increases of $22 per month or more than $250 per year. Water is a necessary utility, and for residents to experience such a spike when they already face cost burdens is unthinkable. I will continue to follow developments in this case and hope the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority makes the right decision for thousands of people.”

While two public comment hearings in this case have passed, members of the public can still submit testimony to PURA via email, directed to PURA.ExecutiveSecretary@ct.gov with Docket Number 25-07-12, name and home address.

SENATOR MAHER, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMITTEE LAUD BILL IMPROVING CARE ACCESS AS GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS INTO LAW

Posted on by Devin James

SENATOR MAHER, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMITTEE LAUD BILL IMPROVING CARE ACCESS AS GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS INTO LAW

Caption: Sen. Maher speaks at the Capitol Wednesday.

Today, State Senator Ceci Maher (D-Wilton) and the Transforming Children’s Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee lauded new legislation that will expand access to children’s behavioral health care statewide as Governor Ned Lamont signed it into law in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

House Bill 8004, approved by the Senate on November 13 during a special session of the legislature, tasks the Committee, on which Sen. Maher serves as a tri-chair, with conducting a statewide study of existing behavioral health care statewide and future needs for patients and families, with a report due by the end of 2026. That Committee would also add new members with focus on substance use and youth advocacy.

“This bill was designed to work on prevention, early intervention and treatment, and to look at that within the framework of budgets and data,” said Sen. Maher. “When we look at what this represents, it will review crisis centers, increase insurance coverage for young adults and look into new opportunities for success through updated care. This makes sure we can take effective programs further into Connecticut to expand our behavioral health care availability. We’re following through with what Public Act 23-90 was designed to do, and while it will take time, all of our providers statewide will be able to achieve new progress under the advances of this bill.”

“This was a priority bill for Connecticut Democrats because we know the pressures on the children’s mental health field continue to grow,” said Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). “We hear all the time it’s becoming a more urgent problem as families struggle to access care and patients suffer due to a gap limiting their care. This bill will give us a better view of what’s best in the services available to state residents and review our current systems to make sure critical services remain accessible.”

Under the new bill, the state will additionally access gaps preventing individuals from getting service, with reviews of hotlines, mobile crisis units, urgent centers and hospitals, all with the intent of meeting rising demand for youth mental health support statewide. State leaders will also review insurance coverage for treatment at urgent crisis centers, making sure they can properly provide aid and support to children and families in need.

A key component involves private-insurance coverage for autism therapies, most importantly increasing their coverage from ending at the age of 21 to the age of 26, when most private insurance lapses for children. This change will provide five additional years of important service and prevent patients from being disconnected from the coverage actively supporting them.

The Department of Social Services will also be directed to evaluate evidence-based in-home psychiatric services under the bill.

Senator Lopes Applauds State Grant for School Sidewalk Improvements in Berlin

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Senator Lopes Applauds State Grant for School Sidewalk Improvements in Berlin

Today, state Senator Rick Lopes (D-New Britain) celebrated the inclusion of school sidewalk improvements at Hubbard/Griswold School in Berlin in the newest round of statewide transportation infrastructure grants announced by Governor Ned Lamont. The $800,000 state grant for Berlin was a part of nearly $12 million in grants to 17 towns and cities across Connecticut.

“I am pleased Berlin is getting an $800,000 investment in the Hubbard and Griswold School neighborhoods,” said Sen. Lopes. “Safe, reliable sidewalks are essential for our students, families, and the broader Berlin community. This funding ensures that children can walk to school safety and residents have the infrastructure they deserve.”

“I’m grateful that this grant funding has come through for Berlin,” said Rep. Jack Fazzino (D-Berlin/Cheshire/Meriden). “Creating safer, more accessible school sidewalks is a crucial investment in our community.”

Now in its seventh round of awards, this state-funded program provides financial support for local infrastructure initiatives that make conditions safer and more accommodating for pedestrians and bicyclists in urban, suburban, and rural centers.