Author: Devin James

PUBLIC HEALTH CHAIRS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS EMPHASIZE FEDERAL DECISIONS MAKE CONNECTICUT ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION VITAL

Posted on by Devin James

PUBLIC HEALTH CHAIRS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS EMPHASIZE FEDERAL DECISIONS MAKE CONNECTICUT ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION VITAL

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) and State Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey (D-Fairfield) led the Connecticut Health Professionals for Climate Action in calling for Connecticut to take stronger action in passing legislation to protect the environment amid increasing extreme weather incidents not only threatening the state but compromising public health as well.

Representatives from CHPCA, including Chair Sanjiv Godse, MD; Anne Hulick RN, JD, a career nurse; Sarah Evans PhD MPH, assistant professor of environmental medicine at the Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Jennifer Wang, the executive director of the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health, and Stefan Marczuk, a UConn medical student, drew attention to the increasing connections between extreme weather and public health.

Wildfire smoke that has impacted the state in 2023 and 2024 worsened health outcomes for people with heart and lung maladies, Godse said, while longer periods of hot weather overstress the body and foster further spread of mosquito-borne diseases and air pollution, which is worsened in hot weather, places strain on lungs and worsens chronic conditions like asthma.

The need for state action is even more important given the Trump administration’s actions to dismantle and end climate protection programs nationwide.

“Every year, we are raising the alarm regarding climate change and health, and I know many of my colleagues are hearing it,” said Sen. Anwar. “This year, this issue is an even more critical one because the federal government is making policy decisions with the belief that they do not believe climate change is real. The intersection of public and climate health is unfolding in front of our eyes every year and it is getting worse in every part of the world. Every year, the mortality rate of climate disasters in underdeveloped countries grows by 30%. This represents millions of people. It can be prevented, but if we do not act, we contribute to these challenges.”

“Climate change poses an existential threat to Connecticut agriculture, wildfires increase the need for hospital admissions and we are seeing infectious diseases and hospitalizations grow,” Sen. Anwar said. “We have a responsibility to build resiliency and have a prevention policy in place. This is the moment – let us act with urgency and ensure the future we leave is one for generations to come.”

“Everything is connected. The bottom line is, we understand how important it is to talk to our colleagues in different communities,” said Rep. McCarthy Vahey. “We are talking about things that harm and impact people, we understand the urgency of this moment and we know the need to act in this moment.”

“Climate change is slow, relentless, and indifferent to political election cycles. It’s here to stay,” Godse said. “Just in 2024, we had the hottest summer in recorded history, record-setting heat waves, devastating floods and severe drought conditions. Rising temperatures are a problem no matter where we look. The consequences go beyond property loss or infrastructure damage. It’s a serious health issue and poses serious problems. Flooding can cause trauma, bodily injury and drownings. Heat increases the spread of infectious diseases. Climate is a health issue and we need to focus on it in two ways: prevention and harm reduction. This year, the legislature has introduced critical bills to address these things – solar power, enhanced climate resilience – and with federal climate aid uncertain, state climate action is more important than ever.”

In her time as a nurse, Hulick said medical professionals didn’t directly connect the impacts of climate and health and couldn’t consider proactive options to help these issues. “We know what’s causing these issues, we know what’s causing this existential crisis, and we have the tools to preserve and improve public health and our environment,” she said. “Nurses are on the forefront demanding policy makers take action, and this is the year to get it done.”

“Children’s physiologies and behaviors leave them vulnerable to climate impacts,” said Evans. “Children breathe more rapidly, so they take in more pollutants. They’re less able to regulate body temperature and recognize when they’re thirsty. They’re the highest-exposed age group to tick-borne illnesses and excessive heat playing outside. For these reasons, an estimated 88% of illnesses from climate change are seen in children under the age of 5. Children living in underserved and underprivileged communities are at even higher risk. Children also experience strong levels of anxiety over climate change. Connecticut residents already feel the impacts of climate change, but there’s still time to act. We need strong policies improving community resilience and to allow residents and businesses to reduce their carbon footprints. I urge our elected officials to take action now to preserve the health of our most vulnerable residents.”

The full press conference is available in on-demand livestreaming here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969

Senate Bill 1: Democrats Propose Historic Investment in Early Childhood Education

Posted on by Devin James

Senate Bill 1: Democrats Propose Historic Investment in Early Childhood Education

Senate Democrats outlined today new provisions of their priority legislation, Senate Bill 1, intended to fund a historic expansion of access to early childhood education as the first step toward universal preschool in Connecticut.

The bill, which is set to receive a public hearing today in the legislature’s Education Committee, would create a Universal Preschool Trust, to be funded by money leftover in the General Fund at the end of each fiscal year.

The proposal would redirect some of the surplus funds, which are currently dedicated to supplemental pension payments, to the new trust, intended to cover preschool expenses incurred by eligible Connecticut families.

“For many parents, the expense of child care and preschool makes returning to the workforce difficult and, in some cases, cost-prohibitive,” Senate President Martin Looney said. “Our education system’s somewhat arbitrary practice of starting services at kindergarten age forces working parents to find and pay for care during their child’s most formative years. With Senate Bill 1, we’re taking a historic step toward serving the needs of all children and building a system that supports families from the start.”

“Any parent will tell you that the cost of child care often outpaces other expenses like food and housing,” Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said. “As we look for ways to make life more affordable for Connecticut families, it’s hard to imagine a better investment than making early education accessible to every child. This legislation lays the groundwork for a state that better serves its youngest students while easing the financial burdens on their families.”

“Access to quality pre-kindergarten programming should not be limited to students from more affluent communities,” Senator Doug McCrory, Senate Chair of the Education Committee, said. “Every kid deserves to begin their education on equal footing, and parents from underserved districts should not have to break the bank to arrange care for their children. Senate Bill 1 goes a long way toward leveling the playing field and providing much-needed financial relief to families across Connecticut.”

The need for greater investment in Connecticut’s pre-kindergarten education system has been well-documented. A 2023 report by an expert Blue Ribbon Panel commissioned by Gov. Ned Lamont described the state’s child care market model as “broken” and “insufficient.” The panel’s recommendations called for boosting investments in child care by more than $2.3 billion over five years.

Studies have found that investments in child care provide significant returns for taxpayers. A 2013 paper by Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman found that the short-term costs of early childhood education are more than offset by long-term savings in areas such as special education, social services, and the criminal justice system.

Meanwhile, a 2023 report from ReadyNation estimated that Connecticut lost around $1.5 billion in economic activity each year as a result of inadequate care for infants and toddlers.

The trust will begin receiving surplus funds after the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2027. These funds will be invested by the state treasurer and will start assisting families when the trust’s rate of return exceeds the amount needed to fund all children covered under the program’s first phase as of this July.

Under the bill, the trust would gradually expand covered expenses as its rate of return reaches the required funding levels. Children enrolled in public preschool programs will be covered under the first phase of the trust’s rollout.

As investment milestones are achieved, the trust aims to cover additional services including children enrolled in private preschool programs and eventually services for infants and toddlers. These expansions are intended to establish universal access to preschool for children across Connecticut.

Senate Bill 1 includes several other provisions designed to improve and streamline the administration of public education in Connecticut.

For instance, the legislation includes reforms to enhance state oversight of boards of education and improve transparency in how education dollars are allocated and spent. The proposal expands the financial information reported annually by local boards of education and requires those boards to publish additional information related to class sizes and school staffing levels.

Senate Bill 1 contains new oversight provisions related to student expulsions. Prior to expelling a student, the legislation requires school administrators to contact a liaison under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to determine if the child is homeless. The policy also includes safeguards to ensure that no student is expelled without a plan to mitigate the impact of homelessness.

The bill also retires certain existing programs, including the Commissioner’s Network and the Alliance District Program. This effort aims to reduce bureaucratic red tape without negatively impacting Alliance Districts by moving many of the impacted services to the Priority District initiative, which serves a similar purpose.

Contact: Hugh McQuaid | hugh.mcquaid@cga.ct.gov

Senate Bill 1: Democrats Propose Historic Investment in Early Childhood Education

Posted on by Devin James

Senate Bill 1: Democrats Propose Historic Investment in Early Childhood Education

Senate Democrats outlined today new provisions of their priority legislation, Senate Bill 1, intended to fund a historic expansion of access to early childhood education as the first step toward universal preschool in Connecticut.

The bill, which is set to receive a public hearing today in the legislature’s Education Committee, would create a Universal Preschool Trust, to be funded by money leftover in the General Fund at the end of each fiscal year.

The proposal would redirect some of the surplus funds, which are currently dedicated to supplemental pension payments, to the new trust, intended to cover preschool expenses incurred by eligible Connecticut families.

“For many parents, the expense of child care and preschool makes returning to the workforce difficult and, in some cases, cost-prohibitive,” Senate President Martin Looney said. “Our education system’s somewhat arbitrary practice of starting services at kindergarten age forces working parents to find and pay for care during their child’s most formative years. With Senate Bill 1, we’re taking a historic step toward serving the needs of all children and building a system that supports families from the start.”

“Any parent will tell you that the cost of child care often outpaces other expenses like food and housing,” Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said. “As we look for ways to make life more affordable for Connecticut families, it’s hard to imagine a better investment than making early education accessible to every child. This legislation lays the groundwork for a state that better serves its youngest students while easing the financial burdens on their families.”

“Access to quality pre-kindergarten programming should not be limited to students from more affluent communities,” Senator Doug McCrory, Senate Chair of the Education Committee, said. “Every kid deserves to begin their education on equal footing, and parents from underserved districts should not have to break the bank to arrange care for their children. Senate Bill 1 goes a long way toward leveling the playing field and providing much-needed financial relief to families across Connecticut.”

The need for greater investment in Connecticut’s pre-kindergarten education system has been well-documented. A 2023 report by an expert Blue Ribbon Panel commissioned by Gov. Ned Lamont described the state’s child care market model as “broken” and “insufficient.” The panel’s recommendations called for boosting investments in child care by more than $2.3 billion over five years.

Studies have found that investments in child care provide significant returns for taxpayers. A 2013 paper by Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman found that the short-term costs of early childhood education are more than offset by long-term savings in areas such as special education, social services, and the criminal justice system.

Meanwhile, a 2023 report from ReadyNation estimated that Connecticut lost around $1.5 billion in economic activity each year as a result of inadequate care for infants and toddlers.

The trust will begin receiving surplus funds after the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2027. These funds will be invested by the state treasurer and will start assisting families when the trust’s rate of return exceeds the amount needed to fund all children covered under the program’s first phase as of this July.

Under the bill, the trust would gradually expand covered expenses as its rate of return reaches the required funding levels. Children enrolled in public preschool programs will be covered under the first phase of the trust’s rollout.

As investment milestones are achieved, the trust aims to cover additional services including children enrolled in private preschool programs and eventually services for infants and toddlers. These expansions are intended to establish universal access to preschool for children across Connecticut.

Senate Bill 1 includes several other provisions designed to improve and streamline the administration of public education in Connecticut.

For instance, the legislation includes reforms to enhance state oversight of boards of education and improve transparency in how education dollars are allocated and spent. The proposal expands the financial information reported annually by local boards of education and requires those boards to publish additional information related to class sizes and school staffing levels.

Senate Bill 1 contains new oversight provisions related to student expulsions. Prior to expelling a student, the legislation requires school administrators to contact a liaison under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to determine if the child is homeless. The policy also includes safeguards to ensure that no student is expelled without a plan to mitigate the impact of homelessness.

The bill also retires certain existing programs, including the Commissioner’s Network and the Alliance District Program. This effort aims to reduce bureaucratic red tape without negatively impacting Alliance Districts by moving many of the impacted services to the Priority District initiative, which serves a similar purpose.

Contact: Hugh McQuaid | hugh.mcquaid@cga.ct.gov

Senate Bill 1: Democrats Propose Historic Investment in Early Childhood Education

Posted on by Devin James

Senate Bill 1: Democrats Propose Historic Investment in Early Childhood Education

Senate Democrats outlined today new provisions of their priority legislation, Senate Bill 1, intended to fund a historic expansion of access to early childhood education as the first step toward universal preschool in Connecticut.

The bill, which is set to receive a public hearing today in the legislature’s Education Committee, would create a Universal Preschool Trust, to be funded by money leftover in the General Fund at the end of each fiscal year.

The proposal would redirect some of the surplus funds, which are currently dedicated to supplemental pension payments, to the new trust, intended to cover preschool expenses incurred by eligible Connecticut families.

“For many parents, the expense of child care and preschool makes returning to the workforce difficult and, in some cases, cost-prohibitive,” Senate President Martin Looney said. “Our education system’s somewhat arbitrary practice of starting services at kindergarten age forces working parents to find and pay for care during their child’s most formative years. With Senate Bill 1, we’re taking a historic step toward serving the needs of all children and building a system that supports families from the start.”

“Any parent will tell you that the cost of child care often outpaces other expenses like food and housing,” Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said. “As we look for ways to make life more affordable for Connecticut families, it’s hard to imagine a better investment than making early education accessible to every child. This legislation lays the groundwork for a state that better serves its youngest students while easing the financial burdens on their families.”

“Access to quality pre-kindergarten programming should not be limited to students from more affluent communities,” Senator Doug McCrory, Senate Chair of the Education Committee, said. “Every kid deserves to begin their education on equal footing, and parents from underserved districts should not have to break the bank to arrange care for their children. Senate Bill 1 goes a long way toward leveling the playing field and providing much-needed financial relief to families across Connecticut.”

The need for greater investment in Connecticut’s pre-kindergarten education system has been well-documented. A 2023 report by an expert Blue Ribbon Panel commissioned by Gov. Ned Lamont described the state’s child care market model as “broken” and “insufficient.” The panel’s recommendations called for boosting investments in child care by more than $2.3 billion over five years.

Studies have found that investments in child care provide significant returns for taxpayers. A 2013 paper by Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman found that the short-term costs of early childhood education are more than offset by long-term savings in areas such as special education, social services, and the criminal justice system.

Meanwhile, a 2023 report from ReadyNation estimated that Connecticut lost around $1.5 billion in economic activity each year as a result of inadequate care for infants and toddlers.

The trust will begin receiving surplus funds after the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2027. These funds will be invested by the state treasurer and will start assisting families when the trust’s rate of return exceeds the amount needed to fund all children covered under the program’s first phase as of this July.

Under the bill, the trust would gradually expand covered expenses as its rate of return reaches the required funding levels. Children enrolled in public preschool programs will be covered under the first phase of the trust’s rollout.

As investment milestones are achieved, the trust aims to cover additional services including children enrolled in private preschool programs and eventually services for infants and toddlers. These expansions are intended to establish universal access to preschool for children across Connecticut.

Senate Bill 1 includes several other provisions designed to improve and streamline the administration of public education in Connecticut.

For instance, the legislation includes reforms to enhance state oversight of boards of education and improve transparency in how education dollars are allocated and spent. The proposal expands the financial information reported annually by local boards of education and requires those boards to publish additional information related to class sizes and school staffing levels.

Senate Bill 1 contains new oversight provisions related to student expulsions. Prior to expelling a student, the legislation requires school administrators to contact a liaison under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to determine if the child is homeless. The policy also includes safeguards to ensure that no student is expelled without a plan to mitigate the impact of homelessness.

The bill also retires certain existing programs, including the Commissioner’s Network and the Alliance District Program. This effort aims to reduce bureaucratic red tape without negatively impacting Alliance Districts by moving many of the impacted services to the Priority District initiative, which serves a similar purpose.

Contact: Hugh McQuaid | hugh.mcquaid@cga.ct.gov

Senator Duff Advocates for Law Enforcement Training to Improve Interactions with Individuals with Disabilities

Posted on by Devin James

Senator Duff Advocates for Law Enforcement Training to Improve Interactions with Individuals with Disabilities

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) voiced strong support for House Bill 7202, An Act Concerning Law Enforcement Training, emphasizing the need for comprehensive police training on interacting with individuals with mental or physical disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Senator Duff submitted testimony to the Public Safety and Security Committee urging the passage of the bill, particularly its provision requiring enhanced officer training.

Citing a 2021 study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Senator Duff highlighted the alarming statistic that individuals with developmental disabilities, such as ASD, are seven times more likely to encounter law enforcement than those without disabilities. He pointed to multiple incidents nationwide where a lack of understanding led to unnecessary use of force, injuries, and tragic outcomes.

“Ensuring that police officers receive proper training on autism and other disabilities is not just a policy improvement—it is a necessity for public safety,” said Senator Duff. “Too often, misunderstandings escalate into harmful encounters that could have been prevented with the right knowledge and de-escalation techniques.”

“Autism training for law enforcement is crucial because when individuals with autism interact with law enforcement, they are at a higher risk of misinterpretation and escalation during these encounters, potentially leading to negative outcomes,” said Norwalk Chief of Police James Walsh. “Training can help officers recognize autism behaviors, de-escalate situations, and foster safer, more positive interactions. Overall, law enforcement officers felt they were better prepared and more knowledgeable about the autistic community and believed that the strategies they were taught were applicable in the field to provide better services.”

“In this day and age when we are asking so much of our First Responders when responding to emergencies and crises, it is in everyone’s best interest (particularly theirs) to have been provided with the tools that they will need to use their skills when interacting with persons with mental or physical disabilities or special needs (including those with autism),” said M. Jeffry Spahr of Families for Autism Acceptance, Inclusion and Recognition (FAAIR). “This Bill is designed to develop training curriculum that will assist them in delivering informed responses, procedures and techniques to a variety of situations involving persons who may need a specialized response. The need for this training has been recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other States. By making this training available and requiring its instruction, a huge benefit is being delivered to both our Law Enforcement personnel as well as our special needs community.”

The proposed training would equip officers with the tools to recognize behaviors such as stimming, sensory overload, and communication difficulties—common characteristics of ASD. The goal is to reduce misinterpretations of these behaviors as threats and to ensure safe and effective interactions between law enforcement and individuals with disabilities.

“This legislation is about keeping both officers and community members safe,” Senator Duff added. “By passing HB 7202, we can foster more informed and compassionate policing, ensuring that those with disabilities receive the understanding and respect they deserve.”

Senator Duff urged the Public Safety and Security Committee to move forward with the bill, reinforcing his commitment to inclusive policies that promote safety, fairness, and dignity for all Connecticut residents.

Senator Duff’s full testimony can be found here and more information about the bill can be found here.

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | Kevin.Coughlin@cga.ct.gov | 203-710-0193

Sen. Cohen Welcomes $250k for East Haven Family Resource Center

Posted on by Devin James

Sen. Cohen Welcomes $250k for East Haven Family Resource Center

EAST HAVEN – Last week, State Senator Christine Cohen welcomed a vote by the bipartisan Community Investment Fund (CIF) 2030 board that will bring $250,000 to the Town of East Haven for the Family Resource Center expansion.

The Town of East Haven plans to transform the Family Resource Center into a comprehensive community hub that includes a dynamic recreational area, designed to support local youth and families.

The CIF vote is a key step toward final approval of the plan by the State Bond Commission, which must come within 60 days of the CIF vote.

“The Family Resource Center is a staple for the East Haven community and I am grateful that they will be receiving these much needed funds,” said Sen. Cohen. “They offer childcare, food assistance, educational opportunities and more. Thank you to legislative leadership for approving these funds, and to Governor Lamont for continuing to use state dollars to increase economic and community development across the state.”

Contact: Garnet McLaughlin – Garnet.McLaughlin@cga.ct.gov – 860-304-2319

SENATOR NEEDLEMAN ISSUES STATEMENT FOLLOWING SUPERIOR COURT UPHOLDS PURA DECISION ON UI RATE CASE

Posted on by Devin James

SENATOR NEEDLEMAN ISSUES STATEMENT FOLLOWING SUPERIOR COURT UPHOLDS PURA DECISION ON UI RATE CASE

Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex), Senate Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee, issued the following statement following the New Britain Superior Court’s ruling this week to uphold the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s 2022 decision to reduce a United Illuminating rate request from $131 million to $23 million in 2022:

“Another court case, another victory for ratepayers. For years now, after consistent action by PURA to rein in rate cases and save ratepayers money – including this case, where more than $100 million in potential spending was cut back – I only grow more confident they’ll prevail when challenges are heard in court. PURA’s decision was based on a lack of evidence provided by United Illuminating, and that was upheld in this challenge, which is exactly how these proceedings should go. If utilities want to increase the rates they charge, they need to file thorough, evidence-based arguments supporting their claims. Otherwise, they’ll continue seeing outcomes like these.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969

Senate Priority Bill Tackling Prescription Drug Costs Advances

Posted on by Devin James

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Senate Priority Bill Tackling Prescription Drug Costs Advances

HARTFORD – Thursday evening, Senate Bill 11, which seeks to address prescription drug affordability, passed out of the Human Services Committee. The Senate Priority legislation now heads to the Senate floor.

According to a 2022 study of more than 1,300 Connecticut adults from the Healthcare Value Hub found that:

-Over half (55%) experienced at least one healthcare affordability burden in the past year;

-Nearly 4 in 5 (78%) worry about affording healthcare in the future;

-Over 1 in 4 (28%) of those surveyed with household incomes under $50,000 had rationed medication in the last 12 months due to cost.

-Lower-income respondents and respondents with disabilities are more likely to go without care and incur debt due to excessive and burdensome healthcare costs; and

-Across party lines, respondents express strong support for government-led solutions.

Connecticut Democrats have worked to address various barriers in access to prescription drugs, including capping the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $25, allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control, and authorizing the ArrayRx discount drug program, Senate Bill 11 will build upon this work through a number of proposals:

-Establishes a fiduciary duty for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) to act in the best interest of the health carrier or other health benefit plan sponsor, and requires disclosure of pricing and profits when one parent company owns a PBM, insurer and/or pharmacy

-Prohibits PBMs from charging their plan sponsor more for a prescription than the PBM paid to the dispensing pharmacy, protecting community pharmacies from monopolistic market pressure

-Requires PBMs to use a pricing model that compensates them based on the amount of claims they process rather than the price of drugs sold, thus removing the incentive to drive up prices to increase profit margins

-Requires that drugs purchased by the state are tied to reference prices like those negotiated under the Inflation Reduction Act, allowing Connecticut to leverage federal negotiating power

-Requires certain health benefit plans to make the lowest wholesale acquisition cost insulin available to the beneficiary with no copay

-Establishes a program to import safe, low cost drugs from Canada

-Expands emergency Medicaid coverage consistent with federal law to treat emergency medical conditions, including high risk pregnancies, type 1 diabetes in patients under 21, diabetic emergencies, hypertensive emergencies, labor and delivery and other emergency procedures.

-Requires HUSKY coverage to include GLP-1 prescription drugs (like Ozempic or Weygovy) to treat weight loss, and creates an advisory council to look at lowering the cost of these drugs to the HUSKY program

-Prohibits private insurance from imposing arbitrary time limits on general anesthesia during medically necessary procedures

-Gradually reduces the HUSKY C asset limit until completely eliminated by FY 2030

“Corporate greed is harming consumers in nearly every sector, and the pharmaceutical industry may be one of the greatest offenders,” said Senate President Martin Looney. “The cost of prescription drug prices affects nearly every household in the state and puts extreme pressure on our state budget. This legislation tackles the issue from several angles, from addressing Pharmacy Benefit Managers and determining who exactly they benefit, to exploring cost saving measures like bulk purchasing and a Canadian importation program.”

“People across the country are grappling with prescription drug prices and it can often feel like an issue too large to undertake,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff. “But here in Connecticut, we have a piece of legislation that increases transparency and holds corporate partners accountable, seeks to create international partnerships to import cheaper drugs and creates consumer protections for nursing home residents. Connecticut is just one state affected by this nationwide issue, but instead of waiting in vain for leadership at the federal level, we are taking matters into our own hands to provide relief for Connecticut residents.”

“This bill is a landmark bill to lower prescription drug prices and save taxpayer dollars and the votes on SB11 and the Bipartisan Prescription Drug Task Force mark an important step forward,” said Sen. Matt Lesser, Chair of the Human Services Committee. “I am grateful to the members of the committee for their strong support.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Garnet McLaughlin | Garnet.McLaughlin@cga.ct.gov

Senators Looney, Duff, Maroney, & Needleman Urge PURA to Strengthen Cybersecurity and AI Protections

Posted on by Devin James

Senators Looney, Duff, Maroney, & Needleman Urge PURA to Strengthen Cybersecurity and AI Protections

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven), Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk), state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford), and state Senator Norm Needleman(D-Essex), are urging the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to address the growing vulnerabilities of the state’s critical infrastructure to cyberattacks and malicious use of artificial intelligence.

Senators Looney, Duff, Maroney, and Needleman wrote a letter to PURA on February 18 highlighting the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber threats targeting essential services beyond electricity, gas, and water. They stressed the need for heightened vigilance and proactive defense across hospitals, schools, transportation systems, communications, financial institutions, and civic organizations. The senators called for PURA to assess and report by the end of 2025 on measures to enhance Connecticut’s preparedness, security, and resilience.

Senators Looney, Duff, Maroney, and Needleman are requesting that PURA provide a detailed plan by the end of the year for strengthening cybersecurity efforts and defending against potential disruptions.

 

The letter they wrote to PURA is below:

February 18, 2025

 

Commissioners

Connecticut Public Utility Regulatory Authority

10 Franklin Square

New Britain, Connecticut 06051

 

Dear Commissioners:

We write with regard to Connecticut’s growing vulnerability to disruption from cyberattack and malicious use of artificial intelligence. We share the concern of many colleagues and Connecticut residents as to how PURA maintains vigilance, supports defense, and prepares to participate in recovery efforts subsequent to cyber compromise or disruption by use of artificial intelligence.

Given the increasing frequency, sophistication and breadth of probes and interference in our critical infrastructure in the broadest sense, we face significant harm from more numerous and powerful sources of threat. Connecticut needs to be aware of and prepared to thwart or manage cyber and artificial compromise to our essential government and private sector services.

Our interest goes beyond the scope of what we frequently discuss as “critical infrastructure” – the distribution and available use of electricity, natural gas and water – to critical infrastructure in the broadest sense. We need to focus on these normal areas of concern, but also on a range of other potential targets such as hospitals, schools, transportation systems, communications systems, financial structures and operations and civic organizations whose disruption would cause significant damage to Connecticut’s security, safety and wellbeing.

We rely on the reliability and safe functioning of our social fabric more than ever, making us dependent on institutions for the necessities of life. We need to expand our concept of “critical infrastructure” to consider how we can best identify and detect potential threats, prevent their execution and defend against possible attacks, and recover from potential damage. We need to create, manage and rehearse programs in all of these areas. Connecticut requires both ongoing vigilance to ensure reliability as well as practiced contingency plans to manage actual damage.

Specifically, we request from PURA an assessment and report by the end of 2025 assessing the points in this letter and setting forth plans for PURA to work with Connecticut’s utilities, relevant government authorities including federal, state and local agencies and private business to identify what constructive steps PURA can take to add regulatory strength to our urgent need for security and integrity in the continued functioning of our critical infrastructure.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss this request with you and urge you to work with the urgency our vulnerabilities require to protect Connecticut from cyber and artificial intelligence threats.

Senators Looney, Duff, Maroney, & Needleman Urge PURA to Strengthen Cybersecurity and AI Protections

Posted on by Devin James

Senators Looney, Duff, Maroney, & Needleman Urge PURA to Strengthen Cybersecurity and AI Protections

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven), Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk), state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford), and state Senator Norm Needleman(D-Essex), are urging the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to address the growing vulnerabilities of the state’s critical infrastructure to cyberattacks and malicious use of artificial intelligence.

Senators Looney, Duff, Maroney, and Needleman wrote a letter to PURA on February 18 highlighting the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber threats targeting essential services beyond electricity, gas, and water. They stressed the need for heightened vigilance and proactive defense across hospitals, schools, transportation systems, communications, financial institutions, and civic organizations. The senators called for PURA to assess and report by the end of 2025 on measures to enhance Connecticut’s preparedness, security, and resilience.

Senators Looney, Duff, Maroney, and Needleman are requesting that PURA provide a detailed plan by the end of the year for strengthening cybersecurity efforts and defending against potential disruptions.

 

The letter they wrote to PURA is below:

February 18, 2025

 

Commissioners

Connecticut Public Utility Regulatory Authority

10 Franklin Square

New Britain, Connecticut 06051

 

Dear Commissioners:

We write with regard to Connecticut’s growing vulnerability to disruption from cyberattack and malicious use of artificial intelligence. We share the concern of many colleagues and Connecticut residents as to how PURA maintains vigilance, supports defense, and prepares to participate in recovery efforts subsequent to cyber compromise or disruption by use of artificial intelligence.

Given the increasing frequency, sophistication and breadth of probes and interference in our critical infrastructure in the broadest sense, we face significant harm from more numerous and powerful sources of threat. Connecticut needs to be aware of and prepared to thwart or manage cyber and artificial compromise to our essential government and private sector services.

Our interest goes beyond the scope of what we frequently discuss as “critical infrastructure” – the distribution and available use of electricity, natural gas and water – to critical infrastructure in the broadest sense. We need to focus on these normal areas of concern, but also on a range of other potential targets such as hospitals, schools, transportation systems, communications systems, financial structures and operations and civic organizations whose disruption would cause significant damage to Connecticut’s security, safety and wellbeing.

We rely on the reliability and safe functioning of our social fabric more than ever, making us dependent on institutions for the necessities of life. We need to expand our concept of “critical infrastructure” to consider how we can best identify and detect potential threats, prevent their execution and defend against possible attacks, and recover from potential damage. We need to create, manage and rehearse programs in all of these areas. Connecticut requires both ongoing vigilance to ensure reliability as well as practiced contingency plans to manage actual damage.

Specifically, we request from PURA an assessment and report by the end of 2025 assessing the points in this letter and setting forth plans for PURA to work with Connecticut’s utilities, relevant government authorities including federal, state and local agencies and private business to identify what constructive steps PURA can take to add regulatory strength to our urgent need for security and integrity in the continued functioning of our critical infrastructure.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss this request with you and urge you to work with the urgency our vulnerabilities require to protect Connecticut from cyber and artificial intelligence threats.