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Dear Neighbors & Friends,
The Short Session is in full swing, and it’s been a busy few weeks finalizing our work in Committees after multiple days of Public Hearings on a broad range of topics. In my Committee work in Transportation, Commerce, and Higher Education and Employment Advancement, we’ve passed bills out of committee to be voted on this Session on the floors of the House and Senate on a number of important topics, including:
The Higher Education & Employment Advancement Committee has advanced legislation to make college more affordable in Connecticut. S.B. 8 aims to address cuts made by the federal government to graduate student loan programs, and H.B. 5158 hopes to prohibit the practice of "Student Loan Replacement" used by colleges to reduce financial aid awards. We have also advanced a bill to increase mental health support for students, H.B. 5426, which would require students to have an advocate during disciplinary proceedings.
The Commerce Committee passed several important pieces of legislation out of committee, including H.B. 5243, An Act Concerning Economic Development of the Greater Mystic Area, which aims to protect tourism revenue to CT annually by funding the improvements to docks, piers, and breakwaters. We also passed legislation out of committee designed to address brownfield remediation (H.B. 5146) and to provide a concierge service within the DECD to support CT’s small business owners (H.B. 5467).
Two important pieces of legislation for the Stamford community to come out of the Transportation Committee are S.B. 9, An Act Supporting Commuters and Microtransit Services, and S.B. 237, An Act Concerning Public Transportation. These bills address aim to establish programs to improve public transportation, making our city more walkable, livable, accessible, and less prone to high volume of traffic is an important priority.
I appreciate everyone who came to testify in public hearings throughout this session. Your testimony and stories help guide us in our job as legislators. Now, the bills from each committee will move to the House and Senate.
Click on the links below to go to each section, and as always, if I can be of service to you, please be in touch!
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| Advocating for Increased Education Funding |
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This Monday, House Speaker Matt Ritter, Majority Leader Jason Rojas, and members of the House Democrats held a press conference to advocate for increased education funding for cities and towns across Connecticut.
House Democrats are proposing to use a portion of the state’s projected surplus to provide $100–$170 million in one-time support to municipalities. This investment would help schools meet rising costs while easing pressure on local property taxes, providing important relief for both municipalities and residents.
Our goal is to deliver more education funding to our municipalities to support our kids and provide tax relief.
By prioritizing student needs, this plan could bring a 2%–5% increase in Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funding to communities like Stamford. That support will help our schools manage rising costs, invest in student success, and reduce pressure on local taxpayers.
This support would be in addition to our current education funding and is intended to ease budget pressures, helping our towns avoid property tax increases while stabilizing local finances and supporting our schools.
I strongly support the efforts of Speaker Ritter, Majority Leader Rojas, and the rest of my House Democratic colleagues. We do have more work to do, but this is an important step toward giving every child in Stamford and across Connecticut the resources and opportunities they deserve. |
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| CIF Funding Approval for Stamford |
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Last week, the Community Investment Fund (CIF) approved funding for three different projects in Stamford. These critical investments will strengthen early childhood education, expand substance use treatment, and advance affordable housing.
The projects include:
- $6 Million for St. John Urban Development Corporation: for the demolition of St. John Towers. The funding would complete extensive abatement and demolition of the St. John Towers property in Stamford and prepare the site for affordable housing redevelopment.
- $7 Million for Children's Learning Centers (CLC) of Fairfield County: for the Grover Head Start Facility of CLC to support renovation of an existing building and construction of an addition to house CLC's Head Start program, consolidate administrative and operational functions, and expand outdoor learning spaces. The Grove would serve as a hub for Stamford's young children and their families, offering free nature playdates, family events, and fee-based programs like summer camps and caregiver-child classes.
- $250,000 for Liberation House, Inc.: for the renovation planning at Liberation House, Inc. to accommodate new residential treatment services.
These recommendations still require final approval from the State Bond Commission.
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| Free Tax Assistance Services |
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With the tax deadline approaching on April 15th, now is the time to take action if you haven’t filed yet. There are several free resources available this year for anyone who needs to file state and federal taxes.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help for low-to moderate-income (under $58,000) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Volunteers, sponsored by various organizations, receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. Visit Connecticut's 2-1-1 website and the Free Tax Help page for VITA assistance updates, or visit the IRS Site Locator.
AARP's Tax-Aide Program, a partnership between the AARP Foundation and the Internal Revenue Service, provides free tax counseling and preparation services to middle-and low-income taxpayers, with special attention to people age 60 and older. Many sites will e-file your federal and Connecticut returns at no cost to you. Visit the AARP Tax-Aide Site Locator to find a location near you.
The UConn Law School Tax Clinic is a pro bono (free) legal clinic that provides free legal help to low-income taxpayers with tax problems, either with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS). Lisa Perkins, Clinical Professor & Director, and law students will work on your case. The Tax Clinic also works with attorneys in Connecticut who volunteer to help low-income taxpayers pro bono. The Tax Clinic is independent and separate from the IRS and DRS. It is important to note, that the UCONN tax clinic is only able to assist individual taxpayers with Connecticut income tax problems. Contact Lisa Perkins at lisa.perkins@uconn.edu or 860-570-5165Here in Stamford, residents can receive free tax assistance through the Ferguson Library. Now through April 15th, AARP tax counselors will be available at Ferguson Library branches throughout the city. Visit the Ferguson Library calendar for available dates and visit the library page on Income Tax Resources for additional information.
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| Stamford Fire Department Car Seat Safety Day |
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The Stamford Fire Department is holding an event tomorrow, March 21st, for Car Seat Safety Day. Have your car seat checked for FREE by certified child passenger safety technicians and learn how to correctly install and use your car seat. This is a great event for Stamford parents to learn from safety professionals on how to keep kids safe in the car.
Car Seat Safety Day will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 21st, at Stamford Regional Fire School (148 Magee Ave). |
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As always, whenever anything is top of mind for you and I can be of service to you, please contact me at (860) 240-8585 or on my cell phone at 203-249-1831 or email me directly at eilish.collinsmain@cga.ct.gov.
Warm Regards,
Eilish Collins Main
State Representative |
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