Kate Farrar

Representative Kate Farrar was appointed as Vice Chair of the Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee as well as Deputy Majority Leader.

Great news! CareerConneCT is expanding its intake portal. The goal of CareerConneCT is to provide underemployed and unemployed Connecticut residents with resources and training necessary for the pursuit of a well-paying, high-quality career path. The program provides free job training, case management, supportive services, and employment assistance.

As we prepare to ring in the new year and welcome the start of 2023, a number of laws passed will take effect when the clock strikes midnight on January 1st!

With many families in Connecticut facing added financial strain due to rising prices, the legislature went into special session earlier this week to provide some relief. A bipartisan bill passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Lamont extends the current suspension of the gasoline tax, provides additional funding for energy assistance programs, and continues premium pay for frontline workers.

I am sure we share the same concerns about Eversource and United Illuminating, the state's two main electric distribution companies, which both filed for new standard service supply rates with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) that will increase rates by approximately 40%. Once approved by PURA, these new rates will go into effect from January 1, 2023, through the first six months of the year.

The state has announced a five-year, $46.6 million investment to expand small business assistance programs across Connecticut, specifically supporting small business owners who may have previously experienced barriers to accessing financial support.

Thousands of Connecticut residents have dedicated their careers to public service. The federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program recognizes this choice with complete student loan cancellation after 10 years of public service work and loan payments. Teachers, nurses, government and nonprofit employees, veterans and others are among those eligible for this program.

Earlier this summer, the Biden Administration announced student loan debt relief, and I'm pleased to share that the application is now open!