Legislative Priorities, Avoiding Scams, and more

January 17, 2025


 
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Hey Neighbors,
Happy Friday!
 

Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. On the third Monday of January, we take a moment to celebrate the legacy of a consequential figure in American history. Dr. King worked alongside other civil rights leaders, and they were able to successfully push the federal government to pass legislation that addressed the horrible sins of our past.

MLK Day is also a national day of service. If you have the day off, I'd encourage you to consider volunteering in your community. Click here to find an opportunity near you.

You can also consider attending the following events:
 
2025 Session Preview
I hope you'll join me and State Rep. Jane Garibay on Monday, Jan. 27 from 6-7pm at the Leland P. Wilson Community Center (599 Matianuck Ave, Windsor) for a legislative session preview!

We'll be talking about our priorities on the committees we serve on and for the legislature as a whole. These meetings are critical to the work we do at the Capitol, so I hope to see you there!
 
Select Committee on Special Education's First Meeting
This week we held the first meeting of the Select Committee on Special Education, of which I am the House Chair.

It was great hearing from every member of the committee about what their priorities are for this session, and I look forward to working collaboratively to help our students.

If you'd like to watch the committee meeting in full, click here.
 
Press Conference Announcing Legislative Priorities
This week, I was thrilled to attend a press conference with House and Senate Democratic leadership to announce education and housing as our priorities this session.

It's rare for House and Senate leadership to join together in a press conference like this, indicating how important working on these two issues are to our state.

I spoke about some of the special education goals we identified, including adding an Education Cost Sharing weight for special education, looking at excess costs, incentivizing in-district programs for special needs students over outplacements, focusing on retention and recruitment for our teachers, and keeping students and parents front and center in all of these policies.

As a special education teacher myself, these issues are near and dear to my heart, and is a key reason I chose to run for State Representative. And as House Chair of the Select Committee on Special Education, I can't wait to make meaningful reforms to this strained system.

To watch my remarks, click here.

To watch the press conference in full, click here.
 
Staying Safe During the Winter Weather
As Connecticut continues to go through a chilly winter, please read below for some critical tips to stay safe during winter weather!
 
Warning: Unpaid Toll Text Scam Alert
I want to make sure all of you stay safe and informed! A new scam is circulating where fraudsters are sending text messages claiming you have an unpaid toll and asking for payment. Please DO NOT click any links or provide any personal information.
Here are some tips from the FBI:
  • If you receive one of these messages, file a complaint with the IC3, www.ic3.gov. Include where the number of the originating text came from, and the website from which the number was generated.
  • Delete any scam texts received.
  • If you clicked any link or provided your information, take efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts. Dispute any unfamiliar charges.
  • Always verify any toll-related charges directly through official state websites or customer service.
Stay vigilant and share this message with your friends and family to help protect our community!
 
Warning: Unpaid Toll Text Scam Alert
I encourage you to get your taxes filed for FREE this year!  Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or VITA is a volunteer-supported program, that helps people making up to $68,000 annually file federal and state income tax preparation for FREE.

Click here to find a location near you
VITA is available in the Hartford, Tolland, and Windham areas.   Last year, taxpayers received $28 million in refunds and credits due to the amazing group of volunteers.

Click here for more information on how to help

Become a VITA volunteer today! 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Taniqua Huguley at

THuguley@unitedwayinc.org or 860-420-2141.
 
If you have any issues, concerns, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me at 860-240-8585 if you ever need anything or by email at maryam.khan@cga.ct.gov.

Sincerely,

Maryam Khan
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