Joan Hartley

Joan recently served on the National Conference of State Legislatures' Assembly on State Issues' Committee on Education. The committee, with membership from states nationwide, examined topics of school safety, teacher professional development and accountability in education.

After ten years in the Senate and 16 years in the House, Joan has a proven record as an effective lawmaker and respected advocate who consistently stands up to represent the best interests of taxpayers and families.

Joan was an author of the state spending cap legislation, voted against the income tax, voted to reduce the gas tax and sales tax, and voted to increase the property tax credit. She also fought the HMO's and co-sponsored legislation banning “drive through deliveries” and 48 hour mastectomies.

Joan supported legislation to prohibit physicians’ gag orders and establish an HMO rating system, and she continues to work in an inter-state consortium to reduce the cost of prescription drugs.

As a former educator, one of 10 children, and a mother, Joan has always been a strong advocate for education. She wrote the early school readiness legislation, which created seats for pre-kindergarten children throughout the state, and worked to provide four-year degree programs at the Waterbury-UConn branch.

Joan lives in Waterbury with her husband, Jim. They have two children, Devin and Brooke.

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