Susan Johnson

We had a great conversation about public safety, health care, and education on my radio show. Read below to hear how my legislative colleague from Eastern Connecticut is trying to address significant concerns in our state. 

Farmers were understandably concerned about potentially significant tax hikes on their land. I'll break down how the governor stepped in this week to provide relief.

Some residents are confused about Medicare and Medicaid, and if they quality for both. Below, I'm providing a resource to answer some of your pressing questions.

Here are the sections in today's email:

• Stay Indoors During Dangerous Cold
• Let's Talk About It: Rep. Pat Boyd
• Farmland Tax Adjustment
• Understanding Medicare & Medicaid Dual Eligibility
• Recognizing Windham Water Works

Stay Indoors During Dangerous Cold

I encourage you to stay indoors because we are about to experience some of the coldest temperatures and heaviest snow the state has experienced so far this season. The governor activated the Severe Cold Weather Protocol from 12 p.m. on Friday until 12 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28. During the overnight hours, temperatures will get into the single digits and wind chills will dip below zero.

The protocol ensures that warming shelters, many of which are our public libraries, are open. If you need a warm place to stay, visit 211ct.org or call 2-1-1 to find available locations. Transportation can be provided if necessary.

Let's Talk About It: Rep. Pat Boyd

We recently welcomed my colleague State Representative Pat Boyd as a guest on "Let's Talk About It" where he highlighted his work in the community and at the Capitol. Now in his tenth year in the Connecticut General Assembly, Rep. Boyd serves as Chair of the Public Safety Committee and represents seven rural communities in Eastern Connecticut.   Rep. Boyd has a unique perspective to public safety policy, shaped by his experience on the front lines as an active volunteer firefighter and emergency medical responder. Having answered countless emergency calls in Pomfret and surrounding towns, he attributes his experience with strengthening his decision-making under pressure and informing the legislation he helps craft to improve public safety statewide.

During our conversation, Boyd shared that ambulance companies are concerned about stagnant reimbursement rates, which have not kept pace with rising costs. With the industry on shaky ground, he emphasized the urgent need to modernize reimbursement policies to ensure reliable emergency coverage for communities across Connecticut.   Beyond his legislative and emergency response work, Rep. Boyd serves as the Associate Dean of Students at Pomfret School, where he also teaches American government electives, including how a bill becomes a law. That background has helped guide his advocacy for public education at the Capitol, including passage of landmark legislation last year allocating $30 million annually for special education.   We also talked about preserving access to health care in Eastern Connecticut, including legislation passed during a special session to support Day Kimball Hospital. The measure established a public-private partnership with University of Connecticut Health Center, protecting existing jobs and ensuring long-term stability and high-quality care for local families.   Please click on the video below to listen to the entire conversation.

Rep. Pat Boyd highlights his work in the community at the Capitol.

Farmland Tax Adjustment

During the radio show, Representative Pat Boyd discussed the growing concerns among farmers over sharp increases in property tax assessments on farmland and open space. He explained that the sudden sticker shock came from a recent update to land valuations by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, based on a formula established under Public Act 490.

In response to mounting pressure from farmers across the state, Governor Ned Lamont took swift action to prevent dramatic tax hikes on farmland, forests, and open space. The state will reinstate the recommended land use values from 2020, providing immediate relief and stability. Originally passed in 1963, Public Act 490 was designed to assess farmland and open space based on how the properties were used, not its development potential. Land values vary depending on whether the property is used for crops, livestock, forest, or wetlands. The governor has also directed the state to convene a working group to improve data collection, ensuring tax policies support farmers who preserve our open spaces.

This decision has important local implications for the Commercially Licensed Cooperative Kitchen (CLiCK) in Windham. CLiCK's relies on partnerships with local farmers to supply fresh, locally grown ingredients for tis shared-use commercial kitchens. By keeping farmland affordable and in production, the state is helping protect CLiCk's mission to support farmers, incubate food-based businesses, and provide healthy, sustainable food throughout Windham and the region.

Stabilizing farmland taxes doesn’t just help farmers. It strengthens the entire local food system and the community organizations that depend on it.

Understanding Medicare & Medicaid Dual Eligibility

There are a lot of questions about Medicare and Medicaid, especially for people who qualify for both. This section of my newsletter is intended to help clarify what it means to be dually eligible and how these benefits work together.

Medicare and Medicaid dual eligible beneficiaries are individuals who qualify for Medicare and also receive assistance through Medicaid, such as HUSKY or a Medicare Savings Program. Having both types of coverage can significantly reduce healthcare costs by helping pay for premiums, copays, prescriptions, and services not fully covered by Medicare alone.

Click here to learn more

Recognizing Windham Water Works

I would like to congratulate Windham Water Works (WWW), the municipal utility that provides clean, safe drinking water to Windham residents, on earning another well-deserved award for excellence and reliability. In 2025, WWW received the Connecticut American Water Works Association’s Best Drinking Water Taste Test Award, a recognition that reflects the dedication of its staff, the strength of its watershed protection efforts, and the precision of its operations.

This award follows an earlier honor from the New England Water Works Association, recognizing WWW for making critical improvements to water system infrastructure, customer service, staff training, and overall operations.

These achievements underscore the tireless work that goes into protecting public health and safeguarding Windham’s water supply for generations to come. Our entire community is deeply grateful for to the Windham Water Works team for its commitment to service.