Henry Genga

To date, Congress failed to extend federal Affordable Care Act subsidies. As a result, Governor Lamont announced that the state expects to spend roughly $70 million next year to make up for the loss. These funds will come from the state's emergency response fund.

For individuals earning up to $56,000 a year, health care costs will remain unchanged. Likewise, a family of four with an annual income of up to approximately $128,000 will see little to no change in their costs. Partial subsidies are being considered for those with slightly higher incomes, up to $75,000 for single individuals and $160,000 or more for a family of four who would pay slightly more than they do now.

According to the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, one in every 1,000 state residents is experiencing homelessness. The federal government has suspended its primary homelessness prevention and support services grant program, exacerbating the issue.

In response, the state of Connecticut will consider using at least $5.2 million from the state's emergency response fund to offset the losses from the federal Continuum of Care program. The aim is to help those who do not have a home and prevent others from falling into the same situation.

Governor Lamont will submit his plan soon, and legislative leaders will have 24 hours to respond. 

Gov. Ned Lamont announced this week that an additional 40,000 Connecticut residents will have their medical debts erased, part of an initiative launched in partnership with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to give relief to those struggling to pay medical bills.

This is the third round of the initiative, which has now eliminated $198 million for 160,000 Connecticut residents since Dec. 2024. The program's arrangement allows the debt to be forgiven at a fraction of its face value, typically costing a few pennies on the dollar.

Those affected by this program should receive a letter in the mail this week informing them of their debt forgiveness. There is no application process for this relief, and it cannot be requested.

Relieving tens of thousands of Connecticut residents from the stress of paying down burdensome medical debt will make a profound difference in their lives, especially during the holiday season.

Click here to read more about the program.

Starting February 1, 2026, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin charging a $45 fee for air travelers who arrive at airport security without a Real ID or another acceptable form of identification, such as a valid passport or trusted traveler card. Travelers will be charged this fee to use TSA's ConfirmID identification verification system. The verification is valid for a 10-day period, so it may cover a return trip within that window.

To avoid unnecessary costs and potential security delays, travelers without a Real ID are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment at their local DMV to update their ID as soon as possible. Click here to make an appointment with the CT DMV.

The Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program, administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), is now accepting applications!

This scholarship supports diverse students graduating from public high schools in Alliance School Districts such as East Hartford and enrolling in teacher preparation programs. Eligible students can receive up to $10,000 per year for tuition. The application deadline is February 6, 2026. This initiative is part of Connecticut’s commitment to diversifying its educator workforce and addressing statewide teacher shortages.

Eligibility Requirements for applicants:

• Graduate from a public high school in an Alliance District
• Be enrolled, or planning to enroll in a teacher preparation program at a four-year college or university
• Be in good academic standing
• Meet all additional CSDE requirements

Who Can Apply:

• High school seniors beginning a teacher preparation program this fall
• Undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in an approved program

Don’t miss this opportunity to receive financial support as you prepare to inspire the next generation of learners.

Click here to apply now and take the next step toward becoming an educator!

If you are looking for a career in manufacturing, applications are now being accepted for Skill Up for Manufacturing 2026.

Learn fundamentals in as little as 5 weeks, connect with employers, and start earning competitive wages. The class offers free training, hands-on experience, and industry-recognized credentials.

Upcoming Sessions:

January 20 – March 13, 2026 | Middlesex/Vinal Technical H.S., Middletown

February 23 – March 27, 2026 | Gateway CC, New Haven

Click here for more information and to apply now. Take the first step toward a rewarding career in manufacturing!

Connecticut’s recent progress in funding retired teachers’ and state workers’ pension plans marks an important step toward meeting the state’s long-term obligations, and it matters to every resident.

Here is a breakdown of the numbers:

• State workers’ pension fund: up more than $2.3 billion in 2025 thanks to strong investments and additional contributions. The unfunded liability dropped from $19.2 billion to $17.6 billion, and the funded ratio climbed from 55.2% to 59.6%.

• Teachers’ pension fund: grew by more than $1.6 billion, with the funded ratio rising to 63.7%.

If those ratios still seem low, it helps to remember where we were. Back in 2018, the funded ratios were just 37% for state retirees and 52% for teachers. For decades, Connecticut under-funded its pension obligations, allowing a massive, compounding debt to build up. But since 2011, the state has stuck to responsible budgets, fully funding pension contributions each year and working with labor and management on needed reforms.

Connecticut is steadily putting its financial house back in order. And one major ripple effect of healthier pension funds is improved credit ratings, now Aa2, AA-, AA, and AA+ across the agencies which lowers the cost of borrowing by securing better interest rates.