January 4, 2021

Staying Connected During a Virtual Legislative Session

This article was archived from the previous WordPress site. Formatting and media should be close, but may not match the original post perfectly.

I just wanted you to know that when the Connecticut General Assembly meets in January it will be, by all appearances, in a virtual session. This means that committee hearings, floor votes, and even office hours will be mostly conducted through Zoom, with lawmakers observing social distancing. Referred to as a “regular session,” the 2021 legislative session begins on January 6th and runs through June 9th. While the Capitol Complex will remain closed to the public, there are many new opportunities to participate in the process and make sure your voice is heard.

LEGISLATION

You may notice that some bills will be introduced that affect you. While I try to keep you informed on many issues, the legislature has some great resources on its website: https://www.cga.ct.gov/ on various bills being considered, as well as bills that have passed. This website is handy if you’re interested in testifying for or against a bill, or just want to stay up-to-date on pending legislation.

STATE AGENCIES

Contact my office if you need assistance working with state agencies; for example, the Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Protection, Veterans Affairs, Consumer Protection or the Department of Motor Vehicles.

STAYING INFORMED

You can sign up for my email newsletter at RepFishbein.com to receive updates on legislative business, community events, and any additional information I think you might want to know about our district and state. I also frequently share information to my Facebook page that might not end up in the newsletter, so please “like” my page to stay in the loop.

TOURING THE CAPITOL

In a normal year, our legislative offices can arrange tours of the Capitol Complex through the League of Women Voters. However, you can now take a ‘virtual tour’ of the State Capitol Building and the Legislative Office Building by visiting their website.

While the pandemic has affected our ability to have indoor, in-person events, that doesn’t mean I will be any less accessible to you. As always, I will be giving updates on legislative business and actions by state government when they do happen through my e-blasts, my constituent newsletter and on my State Rep. Facebook page. Additionally, you can reach me at 1-800-842-1423 or by e-mail at craig.fishbein@housegop.ct.gov.