General Assembly aims to beat the clock

As the General Assembly heads into its closing days of the 2024 session, it’s customary for the final days of the legislature to be marked by a frenzy of activity, marathon sessions and late nights. Bills get passed, amended, or, in other cases, never make it onto the calendar. With all that activity, our Democratic Senator Ceci Maher and Rep. Lucy Dathan recently highlighted several bills they’re backing.

As the Senate chair of the Committee on Children, Sen. Maher gave her support to Senate Bill 5, a bill aimed at increasing access to early childhood education by streamlining enrollment in Care4Kids programs, enhancing the quality of meals served in participating schools and by helping schools comply with required inspections and evaluations of air quality.

“I know early access to education and learning opportunities play a vital role in brain development,” she said. “I’m proud to join this vote in support of expanding that access in addition to improving children’s nutrition which is important for growth, as well as supporting healthy air in schools.”

Rep. Dathan also backed early childhood education legislation, and also pointed to House passage of legislation providing qualified veterans who have service-connected permanent and total disability with property tax exemptions. The exemption is to be used for a primary residence, but if the veteran doesn’t own a home, the exemption will apply to a single motor vehicle they own.