Maria Horn

Here’s a list of today’s topics: 

• Session Wrap Up. Click here.
• June is Pride Month. Click here.
• Route 202 Road Closure. Click here.
• CT Trails Day. Click here.
• Gun Violence Awareness Day. Click here.
• Northwest Corner Events. Click here. 

SB 4 is a comprehensive energy reform bill that delivers over $780 million in savings to Connecticut ratepayers by restructuring how key energy programs are funded, increasing transparency, and modernizing the electric grid. It shifts the cost of public benefit programs like EV charging, solar subsidies, and hardship protections away from electric bills and onto bonds, easing the burden on consumers. The bill strengthens oversight of public charges, reforms low-income assistance and shutoff protections, and mandates cost-saving practices in grid planning and procurement. At the same time, it invests in long-term clean energy solutions—like advanced nuclear, geothermal, and smart grid technologies—ensuring affordability, reliability and accountability.  

💡 This bill curtails costs across the board: 

🔹 Supply – Updates to energy procurement strategies ensure utilities buy smarter, locking in savings in a volatile energy market. 

🔹 Delivery – Securitizing $1.2 billion in storm costs saves $75.5M/year by smoothing the cost over time instead of hitting ratepayers all at once. 

🔹 Transmission – With transmission now 10–11% of your monthly bill, this bill demands better oversight and smarter planning— allowing for control of costs and including mandatory evaluation of GETs and advanced conductors. 

🔹 Public Benefits – We're lowering the cost of programs like residential solar, EV charging, and fuel cell procurement through strategic bonding and caps, while still expanding clean energy access. 

🏆 Key wins: Direct benefits to you!  

🔌 Grid Enhancing Technologies – Utilities must evaluate cost-saving solutions like dynamic line ratings and advanced conductors before proposing expensive new buildouts. 

📊 Transmission reform – Better planning and transparency to avoid unnecessary “gold-plated” projects that drive up bills. 

💰 ISO-NE membership requirement – Ends the practice of charging ratepayers $7.5M/year to “incentivize” participation in our regional grid. Now, it’s mandatory. 

🔋 EV program reform – Caps annual costs and targets incentives to lower-income households, saving up to $20M/year. 

💸 Arrearage relief – Pays down hundreds of millions in COVID-era electric debt to immediately reduce monthly public benefits charges for struggling households. 

• Evaluates shut-off and medical protections for vulnerable customers. 

• Implements low-income electric discount rate with cost containment measures and oversight. 

Energy Procurement Reform- Authorizes dynamic market purchases and updated procurement planning to stabilize standard service energy prices. And allows use of nuclear and clean energy PPAs for standard service supply. 

🧰 Emergency Planning & Utility Labor Protections- enhances emergency restoration planning with crew participation and safety requirements. And expands emergency categories to include wildfires. 

Clean Energy Innovation: Supports advanced nuclear development, geothermal heating networks, and incentivizes higher grid efficiency while expanding DEEP’s authority for long-term planning and clean energy procurement. 

Transparency and Oversight of Public Charges: Requires the Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) to report on all public benefits line items — explaining costs benefit analysis, and who benefits — to ensure accountability. 

As the CT Mirror’s budget reporter pointed out: “The state House of Representatives adopted a $55.8 billion two-year budget early Tuesday that invests in child care and K-12 education, provides a $250 tax cut to working poor families...”  Tax relief for working families; investing in education and special education; transformative funding for childcare and early childhood education; and standing up for nonprofit service providers are the pillars of the next state budget.

Our budget reflects shared values, marked by historic investments in children through expanded funding for special education and childcare. It strengthens support for working families and ensures that the essential work of nonprofits is both valued and financially supported. These organizations are on the frontlines every day, serving our most vulnerable neighbors. This budget affirms and reinforces their vital role in building a stronger, more inclusive community for all.
 

This budget stands up for:

HISTORIC NEW FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION

• $40 million for Excess Cost Grant in each of next two years
• $30 million for Special Education Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program
• $20 million in bonding to expand and upgrade special education facilities
• $10 million in bonding for capital development
• $10 million for Governor's Incentive District Grant
• Hold harmless funding for Education Cost Sharing, so no school district sees a cut

CHILDCARE

• Investible trust to provide sustainable funding for new childcare programs
• Funding for direct healthcare of our children through DSS Medicaid

NONPROFIT PROVIDERS

• Access to better health care and nonprofit community providers
• $150 million for groups homes and nursing homes
• More than $60 million in Medicaid rate increases, which will benefit nonprofit providers 

TAX RELIEF FOR WORKING FAMILIES

• Targeted, meaningful relief and long-term support for working families
• Refundable tax credit of $250 through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) framework
• $500 refundable tax credit for home daycare owners that recognizes and sustains the vital care workforce
• Tax credit for employers who contribute to their employees' CHET accounts

This is a budget that works for the people — one that safeguards essential services, uplifts communities, and lays the foundation for a future where every resident is supported and protected.

Our veterans deserve more than just our gratitude, they deserve real, accessible support. With bipartisan support, the House of Representatives has passed final portion of the CT Hero Act through House Bill 6438, a crucial step toward strengthening and expanding the services veterans rely on.

The CT Hero Act is our commitment to ensuring services for those who’ve served our country. By improving how Connecticut delivers veterans' service, this bill ensures every veteran can access the benefits and support they have earned.

Key provisions of this bill include: 

• Making it easier for disabled veterans to qualify for state benefits: exempting veteran disability pay as an income requirement for certain state benefits
• Hiring more state employees to help connect veterans to their benefits: hiring veteran service officers to this Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans in qualifying for the VA disability claims.
• Guaranteeing free college tuition for disabled veterans: preventing higher ed institutions from charging fees
• Making it easier for veterans to qualify for free legal service: exempting veteran disability pay from an income requirement when determining access to public defenders.
• Making it easier for veterans and veteran own businesses to qualify for loans through D.E.C.D.
• Directing the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs to study: claim sharks and the municipal veterans representative program.

This measure reaffirms Connecticut’s commitment to honoring our veterans and standing with those who have served.

It passed the Senate late on Wednesday and will now head to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. Let’s ensure that every Connecticut veteran receives the care, support, and recognition they so rightfully deserve. Our veterans have earned nothing less.

House Democrats passed two Transportation bills last weekend that reflect Connecticut’s commitment to safer streets, smarter infrastructure, and modernized services.

The provisions in the legislation include:

• Increasing state funding to our local transit districts, helping local governments apply for federal grants
• Stronger DUI and BUI (boating) penalty
• Improving pedestrian safety in new crosswalks
• Updating helmet rules on bikes and motorcycles for young people
• 50% fare discount to seniors, veterans, minors, and the disabled on state-owned buses
• Creating a “yellow envelope” program to improve interactions between the police and people with disabilities
• Designating Special Service Road 495 in Meriden as the "Andrew DiDomenico Memorial Highway" and Bridge No. 01241 in Southington as the "State Trooper First Class Aaron M. Pelletier Memorial Bridge"

Every Connecticut family deserves affordable, high-quality childcare. With the passage of House Priority Bill 5003 and Senate Bill 1, transformative legislation is set to become reality by expanding access, supporting educators, and invest in a stronger future for our children and our economy. These smart, sustainable investments position Connecticut to lead the nation in delivering affordable, high-quality childcare and establishing universal Pre-K by 2032.

The bills:
 
Provide a Sustainable Investment

• Fund the Early Childhood Education Endowment to invest in childcare now and in the future

Lower Costs and Increase Access

• Childcare and Pre-K will be free for families in state-funded programs earning up to $100,000 and families making over $100,000 will pay no more than 7% of income
• Add 16,000 new childcare and Pre-K slots across the state
• Create an online portal to help families find and enroll in programs

Attract and Retain Early Childhood Educators

• Pay qualified educators on par with public school teachers
• Provide funding for health insurance coverage for educators   

This legislation delivers lasting solutions for families, educators, and the economy. Together, these measures provide relief for families, bolster recruitment and retention of childcare educators, and invest in the construction and renovation of early learning facilities. These bills represent a transformational step forward in Connecticut’s commitment to children and their future

Attention Goshen residents - because of construction on Route 202 over Still Brook in Litchfield, there will be student transportation delays by approximately 15 minutes to/from school/home for the following buses:  

• Lakeview High School/Plumb Hill Middle School
• Buses: 2, 5, 20, 22, & 23  

Our schools are aware of this issue and will handle student arrival delays accordingly. 

Click here to learn more.