Wednesday, February 5th

• First day of session/Governor Lamont’s State of the State Address

Friday, February 7th

• Proposed Bill Deadline (A bill introduced by an individual legislator at the beginning of a session, not fully drafted). In even-year sessions, the subjects of proposed bills are restricted to fiscal matters.

February 20th – February 21st

• Committee Bill Deadline (The date set in the rules by which committees mustvote on which proposed bills they want to draft)
• Raised Bill Deadline (A fully drafted bill introduced by a committee that is not based on a proposed bill)

Early-February Through Mid-March: Public Hearings

Mid-March – Early April

• JF Deadlines (The date by which each committee must report out bills or resolutions for further consideration by other committees or the full General Assembly.)

Wednesday, May 6th: Last Day of Session

May 7th – Mid-Summer

• Governor will continue to sign bills passed by both the House and Senate

July 1st: New Fiscal Year Begins

What are CADH’s Legislative Priorities?

Though the Connecticut Association of Directors of Health (CADH) advocates on a range of public health issues, it focuses its advocacy and policy work broadly around three priority areas: (1) strengthening public health infrastructure, (2) promoting health equity, and (3) supporting workforce development.

Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure

Public health is critical to monitoring the occurrence of and preventing disease and injury, promoting policies and practices that support good health, and protecting people from disease outbreaks and public health threats.  CADH seeks to strengthen public health infrastructure within Connecticut by vigilantly maintaining and actively building resources to ensure that all residents receive equal access to basic, comprehensive and competent public health services.

Promoting Health Equity

Differing social, economic, and environmental conditions can give rise to unjust and avoidable differences in health outcomes among different populations.  CADH seeks to promote health equity by providing local health departments with localized and precise data on health equities and using that data to facilitate broad civic discourse and to generate actionable policies and practices that address the root causes of health inequities.

Supporting Workforce Development

Workforce shortages in recruitment, retention, and diversity undermine the ability of dedicated professionals to deliver optimal public health services.  CADH seeks to support a sustainable and competent workforce by enhancing life-long learning opportunities for the existing public health workforce, investing in public health job creation, and encouraging young people to pursue careers in public health.

Get Involved

Join the Advocacy Committee, get involved, participate in developing priorities and testimony on important issues in public health.

• CADH 2020 Marijuana Testimony
• CADH 2020 Immunization Testimony
• CADH State Budget Testimony

How Do I Engage in Advocacy?

The resources below provide a roadmap on how to engage in legislative advocacy.

Public Health Communications Toolkit

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) created this communications toolkit to help local health departments effectively communicate about local public health in advocacy efforts.

Joining the Debate: A Guide to Testifying at Public Hearings

Connecticut Network created this educational video to provide a detailed look at the process of testing at legislative public hearings and provides suggestions for presenting more effective testimony (Length: 13 minutes).

How to Lobby the Connecticut State Legislature

This resource describes how to influence legislators, including through letter-writing, phone calls, and in-person visits.

Legislative Terms

This online dictionary provides a compendium of terms relating to legislative activity in the state of Connecticut.

Where Can I Learn More About the Connecticut Legislature, Related Entities, and the Legislative Process?

Access the links below to learn more about the Connecticut General Assembly, the Office of Fiscal Analysis, the Office of Legislative Research, and the Legislative Commissioner’s Office.

Connecticut General Assembly

The state legislature is known as the Connecticut General Assembly (CGA) and consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.  The CGA website allows users, among other things, to track bills, browse statutes, and access staff contact information.

CGA Committee Membership

The CGA has several standing committees, including the Public Health Committee.  Current membership to each of those committees may be found here and then on the tab at the top of the webpage that says “Committees.”

Joint Rules

The Joint Rules govern the operations of the Connecticut Senate and House of Representatives.

Office of Fiscal Analysis

The Office of Fiscal Analysis advises the legislature on the budget and Connecticut’s economic climate and drafts a fiscal note for each bill or amendment considered by either chamber of the Connecticut General Assembly.

Office of Legislative Research

The Office of Legislative Research is the CGA’s non-partisan research arm.  Among other tasks, it analyzes bills, summarizes public acts, and staffs all nonfiscal legislative committees.

Legislative Commissioner’s Office

The Legislative Commissioner’s Office consists of a set of attorneys who, among other tasks, draft legislation that expresses legislative intent in clear, concise, and constitutionally sound language; provide legal counsel; and publish legislative documents.

How Do I Connect With My Legislators?

Legislators welcome visits, phone calls, and written correspondence from constituents.

Connecting to Your State Representatives

Click here to find your State Senator or Representative.  

Directions to the Legislative Office Building

The State Capitol is located at 210 Capitol Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut, adjacent to the Legislative Office Building, located at 300 Capitol Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut.