OLR Major Issues Report, FVHD Food Insecurity Summit

January 16, 2026



 

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Dear Neighbor,

This week, before a short session, is the week everyone comes out of hibernation, and there are workshops, site visits, speed dating with the people advocating for bills this session, and colleagues clamoring for their own bills. 

Wednesday, Avon was the host for the Farmington Valley Health District’s Food Insecurity Summit. Advocates and interested parties attended from all over the state (one woman even drove from New York) to discuss our food insecurity challenges and how we can best address them. More details below. 

Senator Honig and I also had the opportunity to celebrate the Women’s Business Development Council’s latest Ignite Grant recipient, Amy Wasseluk, of From the Woods Farm. Check out the pictures I included this week. 

Please save the date for an upcoming event for parents at Avon High School on the “764 Network” and other online threats to our kids. The date is Monday, February 23rd, at 6:30 pm. It will be a difficult, but important topic. 

Only 20 days left until the short session begins. Check out the Major Issues Report prepared by our nonpartisan staff for a preview of what we may work on.

Have a great weekend,

Eleni

OLR's 2026 Major Issues Report 

The Office of Legislative Research Report provides brief descriptions of important issues the General Assembly may face in the coming session. Please click on the image below for details. 
 

FVHD Food Insecurity Summit

Excellent event this week put on by the Farmington Valley Health District - FVHD on Food Insecurity. I participated in the “Understanding the Problem” panel.

We discussed federal cuts and the discontinuation at the USDA of critical data that helps us understand who is experiencing food insecurity and where and how we can work to address it.

We also talked about common misconceptions around food insecurity: how people on SNAP want healthy food options, that living in a wealthy town doesn’t mean people aren’t hungry, and that many people who access food pantries are working.

We also discussed the importance of access, ensuring that there aren’t food deserts and that people who need to access pantries have transportation to get there.

Thanks to the FVHD for convening us!
 

Voting Record? 100 Percent Proud

CT News Junkie has a story out regarding the voting records of CT State Representatives during the 2025 legislative session. One third, according to the article, had perfect voting records, and I am proud to be among them.

Please click on the image below to read the story.
 

Snap & Cash Changing Benefit Loading Dates

Connecticut passed new legislation requiring DSS to spread out SNAP benefit issuance dates throughout the month rather than concentrating them in the first few days. 

This change will help reduce congestion at retailers and improve the overall client experience.
 

 Congratulations, Canton High

Last fall, the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) released the results from the 2024–25 Next Generation Accountability System, which offers a comprehensive view of school and district performance across 12 indicators.

Implemented in 2014–15, the system looks beyond test scores and graduation rates to reflect the many ways schools support student learning and well-being.

Results show that Connecticut students improved on most indicators, including academic achievement, chronic absenteeism, ninth-grade students being on pace to graduate on time, postsecondary readiness, four- and six-year graduation rates, physical fitness, and arts participation. 

Canton High School (Canton School District) was recognized as a School of Distinction based on the 2024-25 results. Congratulations!
Photo credit: Patch

The results were released at an event at the Legislative Office Building. The event showcased how state investments in dual credit expansion are yielding dramatic growth in the percentage of 11th and 12th-grade students earning three or more college credits with a grade of C or better before graduation.

The percentage increased from 22.3 percent in 2021–22 to 30.7 percent in 2024–25—a nearly 40 percent increase since 2021–22.
 
Across the state, many schools demonstrated high performance, notable academic growth, and/or substantial improvement. Each year, these schools are recognized as Schools of Distinction for excelling academically, closing achievement gaps, and creating supportive environments where every student can thrive.

In 2024–25, 140 schools earned this recognition, including 34 in Alliance Districts, demonstrating that progress is taking root in communities statewide.
 

Go, Amy! Go!

One of the best parts of the job is learning about businesses in our district.

This week, I had the chance to meet Amy Wasseluk, owner of From the Woods Farms in Canton.

Part tree farm, part wedding and party venue, part working farm, and soon to be flower farm, Amy is the most recent recipient of the Women's Business Development Council (WBDC) Ignite Grant.

As you’ll see below, the facilities are beautiful, and we can’t wait to go back to see the flowers!

Go, Amy, go!

We also made some new animal friends like Georgie the donkey and Gus, the highland cow.

To learn more, click HERE.
 

 Heart of The Arts Award Deadline Friday

A reminder:

The deadline for nominations for the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) 2026 Heart of the Arts Award has been extended to Friday.

This prestigious award honors students, adults, or groups involved in high school performing or visual arts who exemplify the core values of education-based activities—integrity, citizenship, courage, and good character.

If you know someone who has shown exceptional "Heart,” gone above and beyond to support others in the school community, or overcome significant challenges, nominate them for this award! 

The nomination form can be found HERE, while a playlist of past winners can be found HERE.
 

Presentation in Avon: What is an ADU?

You can register HERE for an in-person presentation on ADU’s: accessory dwelling units. These are self-contained dwelling units that are separate from the main home on a property.

These dwelling units are allowed in Avon!
 

CT Connecting Businesses With Content Creators

Governor Lamont announced the launch of the Connecticut Content Creator Collaborative, or C4, this week.

This new, digital platform is designed to connect businesses, organizations, and agencies with content creators and influencers who authentically represent Connecticut.

C4 serves as a centralized, searchable database where content creators can list their profiles at no cost, and where businesses can easily discover, filter, and connect with creators based on industry focus, geography, audience demographics, and content specialty, from lifestyle and culinary to travel, culture, family, and entrepreneurship.

Users can explore creators by:

  • Content category (culinary, lifestyle, travel, family, culture, business)
  • Geographic focus
  • Audience demographics
  • Platform reach and specialties

C4 is free for creators to join, boosting visibility, credibility, and access to new opportunities while giving businesses a trusted, efficient way to find partners who bring stories to life.

Click here to explore what C4 has to offer.

Sincerely,

Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative

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