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| Dear Friend,
This is my State Capitol update for the week of September 17.
If you prefer to watch rather than read, click the image below to hear about the issues contained in this newsletter. |
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Happy National Voter Registration Day! This particular holiday seems practical, as it provides a good reminder to check on your voter registration status. If you’re not registered, today’s a great day to take care of that. If you are registered, but maybe you’ve moved or changed your name, it’s easy to take care of. Visit voterregistration.ct.gov to make sure your registration is up to date as you get ready to cast your ballot this November! (You can also confirm your registration status and find your polling place by clicking the link here.)
This is also the first year Connecticut is implementing early voting, and the general election on November 5 will be the first election to have the full complement of 14 days of early voting that we created in statute. That means that early voting will begin on October 21 and continue through November 3. Election Day itself, on Tuesday, November 5, is unchanged, as is our system for voting via absentee ballot. You can find more information about early voting here.
That’s a lot to handle, particularly in our small towns, but our town clerks and registrars have done an amazing job making sure the process remains trustworthy and smooth for voters.
On your ballot this year will also be a question about whether you want to allow the legislature to create a system of no-excuse absentee ballots. Currently, you need an “excuse” to get an absentee ballot – there are six, and they focus generally on reasons why you cannot access the polls on November 5. You can find the full list here.
We will have an opportunity to learn from our experience with early voting this year, and make adjustments next year to improve the process for everyone. If we have the ability to include no-excuse absentee ballots as a tool, it will give us more flexibility to create a secure process that expands access in a sustainable way for our towns.
And, finally, today is my 30th wedding anniversary! Big thanks to Tom for staying married to me all those years, raising three great kids together and sharing a lot of love, laughter, and sometimes sorrow. Cheers to the next 30! (And, yes, I once had brown hair.)
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Here’s a list of today’s topics:
- CTDOT Developing Statewide Resilience Improvement Plan. Click here.
- Electric Bike Voucher Program. Click here.
- Solar Scams. Click here.
- Sustainability and Resiliency Week. Click here.
- Governor Lamont Appoints New Member to CT Investment Advisory Council. Click here.
- Upcoming Events. Click here.
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is developing a Resilience Improvement Plan (RIP) to help identify climate-related vulnerabilities and prioritize solutions across the agency’s multi-modal transportation network.
The RIP uses federal formula funds allocated for resilience-related planning activities under the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) program created under the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA).
By developing the RIP and incorporating it into the state’s Long-Range Transportation Plan, Connecticut will be eligible to reduce its federal/state cost share on transportation projects. The process also prepares the state for the continued operation and rapid recovery of surface transportation systems affected by major weather events, including natural disasters and changing climate conditions.
The plan will be conducted in two phases. Phase one will conduct a risk-based vulnerability assessment that draws on existing and future climate data to rank vulnerability of state-owned assets. In the second phase, CTDOT will develop an implementation plan identifying potential projects, timelines, and cost-estimates.
A survey is open to the public to provide feedback on what types of projects CTDOT should consider to improve resiliency across the state. To complete the survey, visit https://forms.office.com/g/knhzU1PBRy.
For additional information, including a video overview of Connecticut’s statewide Resilience Improvement Plan, visit portal.ct.gov/ResilienceImprovementPlan.
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DEEP launched Round 2 of its ebike voucher program on Sept. 17th. This round will remain open until October 1, 2024. DEEP’s eBike Incentive Program provides Point-of-Sale (POS) incentives to Connecticut residents who purchase a new qualifying eBike from a participating "brick and mortar" Connecticut eBike retailer. The eBike incentive, which must be applied for online and obtained before purchasing an eligible eBike, is intended to provide additional electrified transportation options and improve air quality, especially within EJ and disadvantaged communities.
There are two voucher amounts: the Standard Voucher is $500 and the enhanced “Voucher+” is $750. The vouchers are ‘stackable’ so income qualified Connecticut residents and residents in EJ or disadvantaged communities will be eligible for a $1,250 incentive.
They have incorporated feedback from advocates, bike shops, and other key stakeholders to better prioritize equity goals within this program. Below are a few of the key updates:
- New this year, a lottery system will be established to prioritize vouchers for income qualified applicants, followed by residents of an Environmental Justice or Distressed Municipality. Vouchers will be awarded within each tier until funding is exceeded and then a lottery will be utilized to distribute vouchers through each successive Tier until all vouchers are issued.
- Vouchers will be available for 240 days from the date of issuance to provide consumers adequate time to shop for the best eBike price and for bike shops to order an eBike if necessary.
- If you received an eBike voucher last year, you are not eligible to participate in this Round.
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| Department of Consumer Protection has notified our office of utility scams pertaining to solar that have been taking place across the state. They've included more information on what to look out for and how to protect yourself. If you'd like more information please see their most recent monthly newsletter. |
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| Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development received $1 million in funding from CT DOAG for a two-part proposal which included offering sub-grants to Connecticut producers to implement energy or soil health practices and also offer 4 Climate Smart Equipment Hubs for CT Veteran Farmers, Northeastern CT, CT River Valley Region, and Northwestern CT. Through this grant CT RC&D is sub-granting $500,000 offered in two rounds to producers with creative and out-of-the box plans to increase resiliency and reduce climate impacts on their farms. Congratulations to Howling Flats Farm in Canaan who were awarded the grant to support on-farm energy efficiency by funding the purchase of covers and insulation for a walk-in freezer and automatic waterers. |
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The State of Connecticut, through a collaboration between several state agencies, UConn, and other partners, will host a series of in-person, online, and hybrid events from September 22 to 29, 2024, in recognition of its first ever Sustainability and Resiliency Week.
The initiative is designed to promote engagement, foster collaboration, and celebrate the progress and innovation being done in the state as the world faces increasingly complex environmental and social challenges. In recent years, Connecticut state government has been working to implement actions to make the state one of the most resilient in the country, such as taking steps to increase energy efficiency, reduce the state’s carbon footprint, reduce waste, and reduce the costs of government operations. The Sustainability and Resiliency Week events are being organized to encourage more collaboration among partners while also engaging the general public and external organizations in these efforts.
More than 20 events have been organized for the week, including ones related to climate resilience, nature-based solutions, water quality, transportation, energy initiatives, and more. Anyone interested in learning more about these initiatives is encouraged to participate. For the full event schedule and to enroll, visit portal.ct.gov/sustainability. |
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Governor Ned Lamont appointed Philip Zecher of Stamford to serve as a member of the Connecticut Investment Advisory Council (IAC). Additionally, he is selecting Zecher to serve as the group’s chairperson.
The IAC is the state entity that is statutorily responsible for assisting the state treasurer on investment policies. It consists of five members of the public who are appointed by the governor and legislative leaders and all of whom must have experience in matters relating to investments, three representatives of the teachers’ unions, two representatives of the state employees’ unions, and two ex-officio members, including the state treasurer and the secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. The governor is responsible for selecting one of the council’s members to serve as chairperson. Its members are volunteers and are not compensated for their services.
Zecher will succeed the IAC’s current chairperson, D. Ellen Shuman, in the leadership role. Although she is stepping down as chairperson, Shuman will continue to serve as a member of the council.
Congratulations to Maria Coutant Skinner on an another recognition for workplace excellence! |
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| Our very own Maria Coutant Skinner of McCall Behavioral Health Network was recently featured in a CT Insider article regarding top workplaces in the state. Along with two other leaders in the state, Maria was interviewed to talk about what it means to be a leader in 2024 and how practices have changed post pandemic. Check out the article to read the full interview. |
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| The Voice of Art is thrilled to invite you to its fourth annual outdoor juried fine art show, “Fine Art Festival" in Sharon on the Green (formerly, Litchfield Art Festival)! This show will be a highlight for collectors and residents from the Tri-State region, New England and beyond. The Litchfield Hills have a history and reputation of featuring top fine artists from across the country, and also many well-known and beloved New England and CT artists who are widely admired by art enthusiasts. |
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| ICMYI - Northwest Corner Events |
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| It is my honor to represent our district. I look forward to hearing from you about the issues raised in this newsletter, or any other topics you think I should know about. You can email me at maria.horn@cga.ct.gov or call me at (860)-240-8585. Thanks for reading, and I wish you a safe weekend.
Click here to forward to forward this email to a friend. |
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| Sincerely,
Maria Horn
State Representative |
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