AARP Connecticut Outlines Priorities for 2025 State Legislative Session

AARP Connecticut works with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to advocate for and support policy and regulations that are in the best interest of people 50+ and their families in Connecticut.

“Policies and issues that impact the pocketbooks of Connecticut residents is a major priority of our legislative work every year and will be again in 2025,” said AARP Connecticut State Director Nora Duncan. “Our state office staff and volunteers are ready to work with lawmakers, policymakers, and other organizations on legislation that will keep more money in the pockets of our members and ensures Connecticut’s residents and older adults are supported through program availability, quality services, consumer protections and initiatives to address affordability and the cost of living in Connecticut.”

AARP Connecticut’s 2025 legislative session priority is to work with legislators on policies that will keep more money in the pockets of residents and their families; address rising costs of utilities so all people have fair and affordable access to the necessary services; support family caregivers; strengthen protections around predatory lending practices; ensure prescription drug prices are reasonable, justified, and support improved consumer access and affordability; help older adults live safely and independently in their communities and more.

NURSING HOMES
Nursing home residents deserve the highest standard of care, and taxpayers deserve accountability for the state Medicaid funding that supports the nursing home industry. Building on successes in 2024, AARP urges legislators to prioritize the needs of Connecticut’s most vulnerable residents who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

SUPPORT FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS
Connecticut’s 420,000 unpaid family caregivers provide an estimated 390 million hours of care yearly to assist older parents, spouses, siblings, grandparents, and other loved ones so they can live independently in their homes – where they want to be. Caregivers make tremendous financial, physical, and emotional sacrifices to help loved ones with bathing, meal preparation, medical tasks, bill paying, transportation, and more. AARP urges legislators to give Connecticut’s family caregivers some financial relief from the high costs of helping their loved ones remain safely at home through a modest tax credit.

PREDATORY LENDING
Alternative financial services such as pay day loans and their variant called “earned wage advances” are provided outside the traditional banking system. Providers of these products are disproportionately located in neighborhoods with a large proportion of Black and Hispanic/Latino residents, and they disproportionately strip wealth from these communities. They are also a major source of transactional and credit services for consumers with low and moderate incomes and people with heavy debt burdens or less favorable credit histories. “Earned wage advances” offer immediate pay for the hours already worked during a pay period. These products impose fees, interest, or other charges on workers. This leads to payment of effective interest rates similar to payday loans. Products may also contribute to chronic financial instability if borrowers become too reliant on them to meet expenses. As such, these products should be regulated as loans subject to state and federal law. Connecticut’s current law is the gold standard in regulation of these products and should stand.

FAIR & AFFORDABLE UTILITIES
As utility costs continue to rise, a growing number of Connecticut residents – who already pay the highest electricity rates in the continental United States – will have to choose between food, medicine, and keeping the lights on. AARP urges legislators to make reforms in the generation market to lower the cost of standard electric service offered by the state’s two electric distribution companies; protect funding and expand eligibility for energy assistance programs above the current levels to meet the needs of residents already challenged by inflation; and oppose the weakening any of the strong consumer protections in the third-party electric supplier market.

CONSUMER PROTECTIONS
Safe Banking: Bank accounts are vital to financial mainstream and well-being participation but are fraught with pitfalls or simply inaccessible for too many older adults on fixed incomes or struggling to make ends meet. Connecticut should limit overdraft and non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees and prohibit destructive overdraft practices by financial institutions chartered in the state; collect data on overdraft and NFS fee revenue and practices; require state institutions to offer safe bank accounts without overdraft and NSF fees; and strengthen state bank account garnishment laws to ensure they automatically protect a base amount of income to pay for necessities.

Artificial Intelligence: AARP will track legislation and regulatory efforts related to the use of artificial intelligence and believe fairness, transparency, and accountability should guide all uses of AI or other algorithmic tools that make consequential decisions regarding someone’s health, income or employment. AARP will advocate for strong protections and support efforts to combat the use of AI to scam older Americans, as well as to disrupt elections and voting.

Financial Fraud: Criminals increasingly target older adults using a variety of financial products and services such as gift cards, electronic payments, wire transfers, and cryptocurrencies. Connecticut should conduct robust oversight and enforcement related to scams and fraud and consider new prevention protections including refund or claw-back provisions.

Rx DRUG AFFORDABILITY
AARP urges legislators to ensure prescription drug prices are reasonable, justified, and support improved consumer access and affordability. The creation of a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) is a way to accomplish this. PDABs, which already exist in eight states, are independent bodies established by the state to evaluate drug prices and (in five states) set upper limits on how much certain payors, including state agencies, will pay for high-cost prescription medications. Alternatively, Connecticut could establish upper payment limits based on other state’s PDABs or Medicare’s Maximum Fair Price.

CREATING LIVABLE COMMUNITIES
AARP calls on lawmakers to help older adults live safely and independently in their communities. Getting to their destinations is extremely or very important to 85% of older Connecticut residents, and 55% are concerned about the affordability to stay in their home as they age. Providing more transportation options, affordable housing, and safer streets can all make communities more livable for people of all ages.

In addition to our advocacy work, we are committed to providing valuable information and resources through a wide variety of free educational, interactive, and fun events. Explore our in-person and virtual offerings at www.aarp.org/CTEvents and stay informed by signing up for our emails. Are you interested in bringing our free events to your community? Go to www.aarp/CTPresents or contact Kelli Lefler for more information: klefler@aarp.org

You Can Make a Difference
AARP Connecticut advocates on issues like Social Security, caregiving, financial security, independent living, health care, utilities and internet access, age discrimination, prescription drug prices and more. We can’t do it without the dedicated and passionate volunteers who share an aspiration to make a difference and improve the quality of life for residents of all ages. People can explore our volunteering opportunities at www.aarp.org/volunteer or by contacting Marlisa Smith at mesmith@aarp.org or 860-548-3171. Learn about becoming an e-advocate volunteer at www.aarp.org/getinvolved.