My June Editorial: “Looking Back at the 2024 Legislative Session”

With the 2024 legislative session adjourned, I am excited to reflect on many notable achievements that focused on tax relief, increased community safety, public health and government transparency. I invite you to explore these legislative accomplishments while also looking into critical proposals that sought to secure election integrity and encourage safer driving habits.

First, based on the strong opposition from Connecticut residents, I believe that one of the most prominent successes was our work in shutting down the governor’s electric vehicle mandate. After listening to my constituents, I worked to delay the ban on gas-powered vehicles which became a staple “dinner-table issue” across our state, because it worried middle- and working-class families about their financial future and consumer freedoms.

Similarly, resident concerns with affordability are at an all-time high as we navigate the effects of inflation, skyrocketing prices and high taxes. That’s why I am proud to announce our efforts in securing two property tax relief bills, one supporting our disabled veterans (Public Act 24-46) and first-time homebuyers (House Bill 5167). Although our House Republican budget adjustments were unsuccessful, they also included necessary sales and gas tax relief.

Concerning public safety, I am proud to announce several legislative victories, most importantly the enactment of a Fallen Officer Fund (PA 24-27) which will distribute one-time payments to the families of officers who have died in the line of duty while offering them health care up to five years beyond the tragedy.

On a similar note, the legislature proudly passed “Broko’s Bill,” which requires restitution of anyone convicted of intentionally injuring or killing a police officer’s K-9, following the death of State Police K-9 Broko last December.

On public health, I am grateful for the success of my personal proposal to increase access to existing nutrition programs offered to food insecure families and children across Connecticut (PA 24-82). Aside from this, we also made tremendous strides in promoting nursing home resident quality of life (PA 24-141), adopting a nursing licensure compact for nurse recruitment and retention (PA 24-83), and through expanding telehealth services for homebound patients (PA 24-110).

With increased calls for transparency and accountability following Bridgeport’s election fraud case, we successfully passed a bill that requires the state attorney to prosecute elections-related crimes within a certain period of time (PA 24-135). Although our amendment to implement a minimum 12-month prison sentence for offenders of these crimes did not pass, we will continue to advocate for election integrity going forward.

Even though not all 500-plus bills slated this session were voted on, my Republican colleagues and I still began the conversation on many legislative solutions. These included eliminating pandemic-era absentee ballot drop boxes, defeating attempts to raise local property taxes and increased assessment rates, and implementing measures to shut down illegal cannabis shops.

Despite the legislative session ending on May 8, my door is always open to making your voice heard throughout the year. I encourage you to follow me on Facebook and to subscribe to my brief email updates at RepKennedy.com for updates on state and local issues. As always, please never hesitate to share your questions, ideas and concerns by emailing me at Kathy.Kennedy@housegop.ct.gov or by calling my office at 860-240-8700.