Housing Bill Vetoed, UI Update, and more

June 27, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor,

Happy Friday! I hope you've been staying cool, hydrated, and safe in this year's first massive heat wave.

You may have heard that the Governor vetoed this year’s major housing proposal, HB 5002. As I’ve previously shared, I did not support this bill—primarily due to concerns about the practicality of the “fair share” housing allocation model.

Nonetheless, we do need thoughtful, practical solutions to increase access to housing and respond to the real pressures facing our residents and businesses across the state. Our high cost of housing is one of the most significant drivers of our high cost of living, and we are leaving many in our communities with impossible choices. Similarly, our business community has listed our housing costs as the greatest challenge to them growing their businesses, attracting talent, and for more business to relocate to CT.

In order to grow our economy and continue to have more taxpayers rather than more taxes, we need places for people to live. I remain committed to working toward that goal—and I’m hopeful the legislature will return for a special session to take responsible, bipartisan action.

I also believe that Special Session must  include the education initiatives that were blocked in the final hours of session—not because of disagreement on the merits, but because of political obstruction. When our own Senator played a key role in failing to pass the bipartisan House omnibus education bill, several critical proposals were lost—many of which directly impacted Fairfield. That includes protections under the Racial Imbalance law, reforms to school safety drills, and initiatives to strengthen civics education, confront antisemitism in our schools, and limit kids exposure to cell phones during the school day. I'm already in conversation with House leadership about this.

As I said before: real progress takes persistence, collaboration, and a willingness to show up—not just at the finish line, but at every step along the way.

I am committed to focusing on what truly matters: fighting for legislation that reflects the values of Fairfield and Connecticut, and doing what's right for the children and families that count on us.

In the rest of this week's eblast, you can read about new laws effective July 1, Independence Day celebrations in Fairfield, and more.

You can click on the links below to navigate between sections.
 

United Illuminating Update 

You may have seen in the news recently that the Connecticut Siting Council approved a motion by United Illuminating granting them a stay on their monopole case until the governor appoints one more ecologist to the council.

I'm disappointed the Siting Council didn’t vote on Docket 516R as expected. As a community, this has been a trying, stressful, and difficult process. We are eager for a favorable decision so we can move forward.

Nevertheless, as we approach the nearly two-year mark of when this fight began, we remain strong and united in our fight for transparency, property rights, and to protect our environment and historical resources. Our community has fought passionately so far, and we will continue our advocacy as long as it takes.

I am hopeful that adding an ecologist to the Council will be a voice to fully represent the environmental impacts of this proposal on our communities. I look forward to working with the Governor to ensure a strong candidate is selected to fill this important position, and I will keep you updated every step of the way. 
 

New Laws Effective July 1 

Several new laws that were passed during the 2025 legislative session take effect on Tuesday, July 1. Please see below to read about some of them!

Our two-year, $55.8 billion budget takes effect July 1. This bill reflects our shared values, marked by historic investments in children through expanded funding for special education and childcare. Our budget strengthens support for working families and ensures that the essential work of nonprofits is both valued and financially supported.

We approved billions of dollars to be used for school construction, transportation infrastructure, housing assistance, and many more local initiatives through our annual bond funding package.

Our students will soon learn about three essential topics in the classroom: civics, media literacy, and Asian American and Pacific Islander history. Under two bills passed in 2022 and 2023, students will gain an understanding of what it means to be an active and engaged citizen, how to analyze the modern media landscape, and the rich history of the AAPI community in our state and the entire country.

Our elections will soon be more secure and transparent as video recording technology will be added to every absentee ballot drop box in our state. This new law will record the drop boxes from the first day that ballots are issued up through when the clerk retrieves the final ballots, and all of these recordings will be made available to the public. 

A novel, landmark bill supporting public libraries struggling to afford the skyrocketing costs of e-books and digital audiobooks will go into effect July 1. The bill bars libraries from entering into or renewing expensive contracts and licensing agreements with publishers. The measure positions Connecticut as a national leader in this arena and marks a significant step toward transparency, equity, and sustainability in how libraries acquire and provide digital resources to the public.

Many more bills are going into effect July 1, including one that reforms Connecticut's towing system, one that requires financial literacy instruction in school, and more.

You can click the link below for the full list of laws going into effect, and please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
New Laws July 1, 2025

As always, your calls, emails, and testimony at our public hearings directly influenced these new laws. Please continue to share your views and have your voice heard at the Capitol.
 

Major Public Acts Report

I wanted to share the 2025 Legislative Session Major Public Acts document with you. The document, composed by the Office of Legislative Research (OLR) with assistance from the Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA), briefly describes the most significant, far-reaching, and publicly debated acts adopted by the General Assembly in the 2025 regular session. You can click HERE to read the full OLR report, or click the graphic below. 

If you're interested in more information on bills that passed and didn't pass this legislative session, please click HERE.
 

Avoiding Travel Scams 

As you make plans to travel this summer, it is important to stay alert, especially when it comes to scams targeting travelers like you.

There is a rise in fraudulent websites posing as legitimate services offering to assist travelers with passport and visa documentation. These sites charge users fees to access application forms, which are free through the official U.S. Department of State website. These sites aim to collect your private and personal information, and charge for unnecessary fees.

How to spot these scams:

  • Be cautious of third-party sites with URLs that do not end in ".gov"
  • Avoid advertisements that promote "fast results" or "shortcuts" for obtaining your passport or visas

Make sure you are planning ahead of your trip by researching official passport processing times directly through the U.S. Department of State and give yourself plenty of time to obtain your documentation before your scheduled trip to avoid looking for a fast solution and becoming a victim of one of these scams. If you come across a suspicious website, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

Keep you and your family safe while traveling this summer by staying informed and aware of any potential scams. Safe travels!
 

Supporting Our Local Businesses! 

Mark your calendars for two amazing Fairfield events: the Sidewalk Sale & Street Fair, and Fairfield Restaurant Week!

The Fairfield Sidewalk Sale & Street Fair will be held in Fairfield Center Saturday, July 19 from 10-4pm. 

Over 50 local businesses will participate, offering all kinds of merchandise for sale. Sherman Green will feature family-friendly activities, and there will even be music at multiple venues throughout downtown!

Fairfield Restaurant Week's summer edition will run from Monday, Aug. 25 - Sunday, Sept. 7. More than two dozen restaurants will participate with special prix fixe lunch and dinner menus showcasing their finest offerings.

These two events are wonderful opportunities to explore all that Fairfield has to offer, and I hope you'll check them out!
 

Fourth of July Celebrations 
Daughters of the American Revolution Independence Day Celebration
Fairfield Town Green (611 Old Post Rd., Fairfield)
Friday, July 5, 10am
Read more here

Independence Day Fireworks Celebration
Jennings and Penfield Beach
July 5, 9:15pm
Read more here
 

I'm committed to ensuring your voice is heard. Please don't hesitate to call my office at (860) 240-8585 or email me if there's anything I can do for you. Be sure to follow @LeeperForFairfield on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on everything I'm doing at the Capitol.


Sincerely,

Jennifer Leeper
State Representative

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