The end of another legislative session in 黑料吃瓜网 arrived Wednesday night.
Gov. Ned Lamont had signed 20 measures as of Tuesday.
Several bills languished on the House and Senate calendars, but many died from inaction when the General Assembly reached its constitutional deadline at midnight.
Senate lawmakers spent much of Tuesday debating the state鈥檚 two-year budget agreement before . The measure already passed in the House mostly along party lines. The package now goes to Gov. Ned Lamont, who is expected to sign it.
But budget talks won鈥檛 end during the regular session. House Democratic leaders say a special session will be needed later this year to better address the Trump administration鈥檚 deep cuts to public health, as well as anticipated Congressional cuts to federal aid, including Medicaid and food assistance.
Here鈥檚 a look at some highlights, including where some major bills stood on the last day of the legislative session.
Lawmakers pass a 2-year budget agreement
The $55.8 billion Democratic legislative leaders first released early Monday includes an increase to Medicaid reimbursements for providers. It also raises the earned state income tax credit for low-income families with children, but doesn鈥檛 include the child tax credit for the middle class many .
It also funds one of Lamont鈥檚 priorities this session 鈥� to inject hundreds of millions of surplus dollars to bolster the state鈥檚 struggling child care system long-term. Originally envisioned as a plan for free preschool, the final plan includes an expansion for infant and toddler care too.
The budget also includes an additional $60 million over the next two years to go toward within school districts. That was a positive for Republican House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, but he voiced concerns about overspending in the budget, which he believes will set the state up for long-term tax increases.
Bills address climate change causes 鈥� and solutions
A pair of priority bills addressing the climate crisis got full approval before session鈥檚 end this year. This comes after another year of record breaking heat and flooding 鈥� and after major proposed climate policies failed to pass both chambers of 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 General Assembly in both 2023 and 2024.
got final passage in the Senate on Wednesday afternoon, passed mostly along party lines. It focuses on mitigating human-driven greenhouse gas emissions by updating the Global Warming Solutions Act to strive to reach net-zero by 2050, as well as developing local jobs and renewable energy.
is geared more toward climate resilience. It passed both chambers and now awaits the signature from the governor, who also declared resiliency a priority this year.
The measure includes requirements for information about flood risk to homes and 鈥渞esiliency districts鈥� to help towns finance mitigation projects. It also requires updates to the state鈥檚 hazard mitigation plans and nature-based solutions to tackle the impacts of climate change.
Bipartisan energy measure seeks to cut costs short- and long-term
The got final passage in the House Tuesday, after the bill passed the Senate with near-unanimous support at the start of the week. The sweeping measure seeks to lower 黑料吃瓜网 residents鈥� electricity costs, and make investments to improve the state鈥檚 electric grid technology and the transmission network over time.
Under the bill, utility ratepayers could see at least $350 million a year in savings. Republicans hoped to cut back more of and pay for that out of the state budget. Portions of the public benefits bill are being put into state bonding, such as protection for residents facing hardship and the electric vehicle charging program.
The measure also invests in new power sources, such as a geothermal energy networks grant and loan program. There鈥檚 also $5 million set aside for nuclear power site readiness, a source that Lamont alluded to expanding in his state of the state address.
Housing reform passes in partisan bill
Lawmakers last week gave a final vote on lawmakers crafted in response to the state鈥檚 housing shortage. The measure seeks to change zoning rules and outline ways to increase the number of housing units. It also strives to improve housing affordability.
The bill incentivizes municipalities to develop housing near public transportation. Towns with over 15,000 people will also be required to create a fair rent commission.
The measure also works to aid unhoused people, including prohibiting towns and cities from installing architecture in public spaces that prevents a person from laying down or sitting.
Lawmakers debate health care, codify fluoride levels, nix overdose prevention sites
黑料吃瓜网 lawmakers also passed a variety of measures surrounding public health and access to care. Several measures are in response to health guidance changes at the federal level, such as the current amount of recommended in public water supplies. It also creates a safe harbor fund that could be filled with private grants 鈥� not state dollars 鈥� to fund nonprofits providing reproductive or gender-affirming health care.
One provision upholds ensuring emergency abortion care for pregnant patients in the state. passed as part of the budget implementer Tuesday, the same day the Trump administration it would revoke Biden-era guidance to provide emergency abortions.
House Democrats had amended the Senate bill to remove overdose prevention sites. Such programs allow people with substance use disorder to safely take controlled drugs under medical supervision. House Speaker Matt Ritter told reporters late last week that Lamont would have vetoed the measure with that provision included.
This story will be updated.
