Sales Tax-Free Week Ends Saturday, Troop 274 Can & Bottle Drive

August 19, 2026



 

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Dear Neighbor,

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend The Council of State Governments’ Medicaid Leadership Academy.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I frequently vote on issues related to Medicaid, and with the enormous changes coming as a result of the federal bill, HR1, this academy addressed and explained much of what is to come shortly after the midterm elections on January 1. I’ve explained more about the conference below. 

It’s tax-free week, and as you may have heard, we voted to expand the benefits. Typical school supplies that are non-electronic are free throughout the year, and individual items are tax-free this week up to $300. More details can be found in the e-news. 

Canton and I are grateful to welcome a special education grant that they will share with New Hartford as they stand up additional programming for students as part of their regional effort to provide quality programming at lower expense. Congratulations to Barbara McLean and the team!

Wishing you a good week,

Eleni

Sincerely,

Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative
 

Sales Tax-Free Week Ends Saturday
Connecticut Sales Tax Free Week continues through Saturday, August 22, giving families and shoppers a chance to save money on back-to-school supplies and other everyday essentials.

During Sales Tax Free Week, eligible clothing, footwear, and backpacks purchased from Connecticut retailers and participating online retailers are exempt from the state's 6.35% sales tax.

This year, my colleagues and I expanded the tax exemption to include clothing, shoes, and backpacks priced under $300, helping families stretch their budgets as students prepare to head back to the classroom.

We have also permanently removed the sales tax on non-electronic school supplies such as pens, pencils, crayons, notebooks, paper, folders, binders, lunch boxes, and more.


Please don't miss out on this opportunity to save on back-to-school shopping and perhaps pick up something for yourself, too!
 
Click Here to Learn More
 

Need School Supplies Help in Canton?

If your family could use a little extra support with school supplies, please complete the attached application and return it to Social & Community Services.
 

Special Education for Canton, New Hartford

"This is phenomenal news for Canton's students and our broader community," Lou Daniels, Chair of the Canton Board of Education, said in a press release from Canton Public Schools. "It reflects the hard work of our staff, the strength of our partnership with New Hartford, and our shared belief that all students deserve access to high-quality programming close to home. We are incredibly proud."

So am I!

Senator Honig and I attended the January Board of Education meeting where Barbara McLean shared the incredible regional programming for special education students, information I took directly to the Governor as something that could be duplicated elsewhere in the state. 
 
The Canton/New Hartford award includes $328,660 in programmatic funding and $171,340 in capital funding, for a total state investment of $500,000.

According to the release, the Canton/New Hartford collaboration, in large part, will be the development of Encompass, a new specialized regional program designed initially to serve young students with significant and medically complex disabilities.

The funding will support program start-up, specialized staffing and services, instructional supplies, equipment, and the facility improvements necessary to meet students' educational, accessibility, health, and safety needs.

It will also strengthen specialized programming within Canton, further developing the district's capacity to serve students with a range of learning, behavioral, functional, and communication needs in our local community.

I'd like to thank Governor Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker, and all those involved in securing this funding for Canton and New Hartford.
 

Troop 274 Can & Bottle Drive

All profits go towards funding the scouts' high adventure trips during the summer!
 

CT Grown for CT Kids Grant Open

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture has opened the CT Grown for CT Kids (CTG4CTK) grant program for Fiscal Year 2027. Passed in the 2021 legislative session, CTG4CTK is a statewide grant program to help establish and further farm-to-school initiatives.

Microgrant applications are due by September 9, and full grant applications are due by November 9. A total of $950,000 is available to support farm-to-school efforts that connect Connecticut children with local food while strengthening local agriculture and nutrition education. Full grant awards will be funded up to $50,000, while microgrants will receive up to $5,000 each.

Eligible applicants include local and regional boards of education, regional education service centers, private schools and institutions, colleges and universities including student‑led groups, cooperative arrangements under section 10‑158a, childcare centers, group childcare homes, family childcare homes under section 19a‑77, and organizations or entities—including Connecticut farmers—that administer or support farm‑to‑school programs.

Program updates include revised categories aligned with the three Cs of Farm‑to‑School: Cafeteria, Classroom, and Community. In addition, hosting a CT Grown for CT Kids Week event is now a priority for awarding and no longer a post‑award requirement.

This is the sixth round of funding for CTG4CTK, which was originally established as a two-year pilot program in 2021. In June 2025, the legislature allocated up to $1 million annually in the FY26 and FY27 budgets.

An informational webinar will be held on August 25, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Register for the webinar here.
For additional information, please visit the CT Grown for CT Kids Grant webpage. 
 

Medicaid Leadership Academy

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the Medicaid Leadership Academy hosted by The Council of State Governments with State Representative Kai Belton.

The focus of the academy is to help legislators and state commissioners understand the changes coming to Medicaid on January 1, 2027, as a result of HR1, which was passed last year.

Changing work requirements for people with disabilities is the most concerning piece to me as of now, especially since Medicaid is what our citizens need to live with dignity.

Medicaid covers approximately 88 million enrollees in the United States, and 36% of those are children. 9.7 million are seniors, and 9.3 million are disabled.

It is a significant portion of our state budget, and if federal dollars go away, that doesn’t mean the people who need care disappear.

States will have to bear the burden of administering these new work requirements, and there will be spillover costs as a result of HR1 (like when someone who was on Medicaid now shows up at a hospital ER for care instead).

It’s critical, as legislators, that we understand as much as we can about the implications and consequences of these upcoming changes.
 

Stand Down 2026

The Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs Stand Down 2026 will take place on Friday, September 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. across six statewide locations, INCLUD

  • Bridgeport: University of Bridgeport at Wheeler Recreational Center - 400 University Avenue
  • Bristol: DoubleTree by Hilton - 42 Century Drive
  • Danbury: Danbury War Memorial - 1 Memorial Drive
  • Norwich: Easter Seals Veterans Rally Point - 24 Stott Avenue
  • Rocky Hill: Connecticut Veterans Affairs - 287 West Street
  • Stamford: UConn Stamford - 1 University Place

Connecticut’s veterans, active duty, National Guard and reserve military personnel, and their immediate families are welcome to this “one-stop” access to a range of programs and services offered by state and federal agencies, veterans' organizations, and community-based non-profits at these regional sites across the state. 

Held rain or shine.

Visit the DVA's dedicated Stand Down page for the most up-to-date information HERE. 

For any additional information, call 860-616-3772 or email standdown@ct.gov. 
 

Minimum Wage Increase in '27

Connecticut’s minimum wage will adjust to $17.48 per hour beginning January 1, 2027—an increase from the 2026 rate of $16.94 per hour.

The change is required under a state law that Governor Lamont enacted in 2019, requiring the minimum wage to receive annual adjustments at the start of every calendar year based on economic indicators from the prior fiscal year. This law ensures that as the economy grows, the minimum wage grows with it.
 
According to the Current Population Survey, as calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 60% of minimum wage earners in Connecticut are women and people of color.
 
Continuing forward under this law, Connecticut workers and employers can anticipate that announcements declaring the adjustment in the minimum wage that will become effective on January 1 of the approaching year will be made during the second half of each calendar year.
 
 

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