Update from State Rep. Aimee Berger-Girvalo for June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025



 

 

We are in the final week of Pride Month, and, despite the many recent attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, I have witnessed so many incredibly uplifting gatherings and events all through June. Saturday marks the 56th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, when a police raid on a gay club in NYC sparked days of protests, and ultimately led to the gay rights movement across the nation and around the world. Read the history here
 
And speaking of history, it was such a joy to attend the Ridgefield Pride Oral History Project celebration at the Ridgefield Library, last week. Read about their incredible work here and here.

Launched in 2023 through a grant from CT Humanities, the Ridgefield LGBTQIA+ Oral History Project -- a collaboration between the Ridgefield Historical Society, Ridgefield CT Pride, and student volunteers from Ridgefield High School -- recorded, preserved, and shared Ridgefield LGBTQIA+ stories. 
 

Condemning the Proposed
AI Regulatory Moratorium

I am a signatory on a letter that was signed by a bipartisan group of state representatives and senators condemning the proposed 10-year moratorium on state-level artificial intelligence regulation included in the tax and budget reconciliation bill.

The letter, sent to the members of Connecticut's federal delegation, says that freezing state and local regulation of AI would be antithetical to the United States Constitution, and would impede state efforts to balance AI innovation and consumer protection.

The letter states, in part, the following:

"The proposed 10-year moratorium does not include any proposed federal rule regulating AI. As of now, there is no national plan or policy for regulating AI. By wholesale banning AI regulation in the states without providing any national guardrails regarding AI in the interim, this moratorium prevents states from achieving their primary purpose — serving as laboratories for democracy to test and refine new policy ideas." 

Please join me in contacting members of Congress in preventing this anti-democratic legislation from passing.

The letter can be read below:
 

New Laws that Take Effect July 1

I have been pulling together a summary of the major acts we passed, and am prepping my annual newsletter with some detail, but for now, click the button below for the full list of laws going into effect, and please reach out to me if you have any questions.
New Laws

Your calls, emails, and testimony at our public hearings directly influenced the language and substance of these bills. Please continue to share your views and have your voice heard at the Capitol.
 

Eversource Discounts

The Eversource Electric Discount Rate expanded from two to five discount tiers. Under the new structure, customers are eligible for a 5%, 15%, 20%, 40% or 50% discount off their monthly electric bills if they meet household income requirements or receive a public assistance benefit for at least one household member and have a financial hardship status on their electric account.

Customers struggling to pay their energy bill are encouraged to connect with Eversource to get assistance. To find the right options, visit eversource.com/billhelp or call 800-286-2828.
 
There is a plan for everyone, including:  

  • State and Other Assistance Programs
  • Protection from Service Shut-Off
  • Financial Assistance Programs and Payment Plans
  • Energy Efficiency 
 

July 4 Fireworks Celebration

Ridgefield’s annual fireworks display at Tiger Hollow Field at Ridgefield High School , will take place on Friday, July 4, at 6 p.m. 

Parking Passes, which are $20, can be purchased in person with cash at Town Hall or online here.

The rain date is July 5. Refunds will not be provided in the event of a cancellation.

Parking will be available at Ridgefield High School and Scotts Ridge Middle School with additional parking at Barlow Mountain and Scotland Elementary Schools. Shuttle buses will be provided to escort patrons from BMES and SES. Handicap parking is available.
 

Don't Get Scammed!

As you make plans to travel this summer, please stay alert, especially when it comes to scams targeting travelers.

There's been an increase in fraudulent websites posing as legitimate services offering to assist travelers with passport and visa documentation. These sites charge fees to access application forms, which are free through the official U.S. Department of State website. These sites aim to collect your private and personal information, and charge for unnecessary fees.
 
How to spot these scams:

  • Be cautious of third-party sites with URLs that do not end in ".gov"
  • Avoid advertisements that promote "fast results" or "shortcuts" for obtaining your passport or visas

Make sure to plan ahead of your trip by researching official passport processing times directly through the U.S. Department of State. Give yourself plenty of time to obtain documentation before your trip to avoid looking for a fast solution and becoming a victim of one of these scams. If you come across a suspicious website, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
 

Reproductive Rights

The following is a statement from the Connecticut Reproductive Rights Caucus, of which I am a member, on the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision upholding a ban on Medicaid patient access to Planned Parenthood: 

The recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court is a dangerous setback for reproductive freedom and patient rights in this country. By upholding South Carolina’s ban on state Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, the Court has allowed an illegal policy to stand—not by affirming its legality, but by ruling that patients and providers cannot go to court to challenge it. This ruling paves the way for states to discriminate against organizations that provide comprehensive reproductive care, privileging ideology and depriving patients of the care they need and deserve. 

In stark contrast, Connecticut has taken bold and proactive steps to protect and expand access to reproductive health care. This year, the Connecticut General Assembly increased Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood to ensure continued access to critical services for our most vulnerable residents and strengthen our reproductive healthcare infrastructure.

Connecticut’s Reproductive Freedom Defense Act further ensures that providers, patients, and those who help them are protected from hostile out-of-state laws and legal threats. We will not let extremist policies elsewhere erode our values or rights here in Connecticut.

As ​ Co-Chairs of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Reproductive Rights Caucus, we reaffirm the Caucus’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding and increasing access to reproductive health care, regardless of your location, means, or background. We will continue to fight tirelessly for policies that uphold reproductive freedom, equity, and dignity for every person who calls Connecticut home—and for those who must travel here to receive care denied to them in their own states.
 

As always, if you have any questions, comments or concerns, please reach out to my office.

Sincerely,

Aimee Berger-Girvalo
State Representative

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