2024 Connecticut Legislative Session Agenda

For years, Pro-Choice Connecticut led the fight in the Nutmeg State for meaningful reproductive equity reform. Now, we’re thrilled to continue this work under Reproductive Equity Now’s mantel.

Last session, Connecticut took historic action to expand access to reproductive health care, protect patients' digital privacy, and enact one of the first shield laws to protect providers and those seeking care in Connecticut. Yet, in a post-Roe America, there is still work to be done and we’re lending our voice to several issues this year that, collectively, broaden our lens of what it means to achieve true reproductive equity in the Nutmeg State. 

Connecticut Legislative Priorities

  • Strengthening Telehealth Shield Protections

    In the wake of the Dobbs decision, the Connecticut Legislature acted to pass the nation’s first shield law to protect providers and those seeking care in Connecticut. Now, the state has the opportunity to go further to protect its providers who may be willing to provide medication abortion via telemedicine to out-of-state patients. Connecticut has an obligation to continue to expand access to safe and compassionate abortion care, and can do so by strengthening its shield law to offer a layer of protection for abortion providers dedicated to providing care regardless of a patient’s location.

  • Promoting Equitable Access to Fertility Care

    Reproductive Equity Now is proud to support the ongoing efforts led by Equality Connecticut.

    The decision about if, when, or how to become a parent is one of the most important life decisions we make, and everyone should be able to make that choice without barriers – which includes equitable access to fertility care. Connecticut can take action to remove barriers to fertility care for LGBTQ+ people and single individuals by updating the definition of ‘infertility’ in state statute and expanding insurance coverage for fertility treatment. Expanded coverage would align with Connecticut Solicitor General Sean Scalon’s recent change to expand fertility coverage for the Connecticut state employees plan.

    Read Reproductive Equity Now’s testimony HERE.

  • HUSKY 4 Immigrants

    Reproductive Equity Now is proud to be a member of the HUSKY 4 Immigrants Coalition.

    Connecticut has taken major steps to expand access to HUSKY coverage for prenatal and postpartum care up to 12 months, and for children 0-12 regardless of immigration status. Now, the state can build on its progress and expand Connecticut’s Medicaid coverage for all residents of the Nutmeg State, regardless of immigration status. Access to health care is a human right and no one should be denied life-saving care because of their immigration status.

    Read Reproductive Equity Now’s testimony HERE.

  • Protecting Patient Access to Care

    As we continue to see threats to bodily autonomy across the country, Connecticut stands apart as a leader in protecting and expanding access to reproductive health care. However, refusal laws allow any provider or health care professional involved in patient care to refuse that care based on their religious or conscientious objection. To combat these refusal laws in the state, Connecticut can act to ensure health care institutions, such as religiously affiliated hospitals, do not prohibit providers from providing medically-accurate information regarding a patient’s health status, counseling, and referrals for care that may not align with an institution’s moral or religious beliefs.

    Read Reproductive Equity Now’s testimony HERE.

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Additional Reproductive Equity Now Supported Policies

  • Reproductive Equity Now is proud to support the Paid Sick Days Coalition led by She Leads Justice.

    Current Connecticut state law requiring paid sick leave only applies to companies with at least 50 employees. Now, the state has an opportunity to expand its paid sick leave law to apply to all workers, and ensure that the policy’s definition of “family” reflects modern-day family structures. This will allow workers to use paid sick days to care for a spouse, child of any age, grandparent, grandchild, parent, sibling or any individual related to the employee by blood or affinity who is the equivalent of family.

  • Reproductive Equity Now is proud to support the DOC Healthcare Coalition led by YWCA Hartford Region.

    Every person should have access to high-quality health care and we have work to do to ensure better health outcomes for incarcerated individuals and returning citizens. That’s why Connecticut must take action to establish a regulating body and oversight process for the prison health care system. Connecticut is currently the only state in the country where the Department of Corrections operates and oversees its prison health care system.

*This list will continue to be updated