Robin Comey

Our two-year, $55.8 billion budget takes effect July 1. This bill reflects our shared values, marked by historic investments in children through expanded funding for special education and childcare. Our budget strengthens support for working families and ensures that the essential work of nonprofits is both valued and financially supported.

We approved billions of dollars to be used for school construction, transportation infrastructure, housing assistance, and many more local initiatives through our annual bond funding package.

Our students will soon learn about three essential topics in the classroom: civics, media literacy, and Asian American and Pacific Islander history. Under two bills passed in 2022 and 2023, students will gain an understanding of what it means to be an active and engaged citizen, how to analyze the modern media landscape, and the rich history of the AAPI community in our state and the entire country.

Our elections will soon be more secure and transparent as video recording technology will be added to every absentee ballot drop box in our state. This new law will record the drop boxes from the first day that ballots are issued up through when the clerk retrieves the final ballots, and all of these recordings will be made available to the public. 

A novel, landmark bill supporting public libraries struggling to afford the skyrocketing costs of e-books and digital audiobooks will go into effect July 1. The bill bars libraries from entering into or renewing expensive contracts and licensing agreements with publishers. The measure positions Connecticut as a national leader in this arena and marks a significant step toward transparency, equity, and sustainability in how libraries acquire and provide digital resources to the public.

Many more bills are going into effect July 1, including one that reforms Connecticut's towing system, one that requires financial literacy instruction in school, and more.

You can click the link below for the full list of laws going into effect, and please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

As always, your calls, emails, and testimony at our public hearings directly influenced these new laws. Please continue to share your views and have your voice heard at the Capitol!

This past weekend I joined neighbors from both Branford and East Haven for the bi-annual Farm River clean-up. The Farm River begins in Wallingford and enters the Long Island Sound splitting East Haven and Branford at the town line in Short Beach. The Friends of the Farm River, an environmental and stewardship organization, has been focusing their efforts on cleaning the shores and investing in water quality studies. Their endeavors are producing meaningful changes to our beaches in a short period of time. Good news for wildlife and swimmers!

This week, the Electric Discount Rate expanded from two to five discount tiers with the 10% tier being eliminated.  Customers in that tier have been moved to a new tier based on the new eligibility requirements.

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 

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

There is a rise in fraudulent websites posing as legitimate services offering to assist travelers with passport and visa documentation. These sites charge users 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 you are planning ahead of your trip by researching official passport processing times directly through the U.S. Department of State and give yourself plenty of time to obtain your documentation before your scheduled 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/

Keep you and your family safe while traveling this summer by staying informed and aware of any potential scams. Safe travels!

The National Immigration Law Center provides practical advice for addressing immigration-related actions in the workplace.

This guide explains:

• The most common immigration actions affecting employers
• Recommendations for how employers can prepare
• Employers’ rights and responsibilities
• What employers can do after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) action

Visit bit.ly/NILC_Guide to read the guide in its entirety.

If you or someone you know is at risk of deportation, make a plan. Make the Road Connecticut offers guidance and resources in English and Spanish. Visit maketheroadct.org.