Juneteenth, New Laws, and more

June 18, 2026



 

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Dear Neighbor,

Friday is Juneteenth, a day of reflection, celebration, and progress.

As we commemorate the end of slavery in the United States and celebrate the resilience and contributions of the Black community, it's important to reflect on our history both complex and beautiful. Here in CT, we continue to strive for equality, justice, and freedom for all and I am proud and grateful for that.

For all of us with school-aged children, summer has officially begun! I hope it is off to a lovely start.If you're looking for ways to keep your kids busy, Connecticut has a great resource at Visit CT with activities all over the state with many free options.

And with the summer break for our students comes the important reminder bike and e-bike riders to stay safe on the road! Fairfield's Bike and Pedestrian Committee put out the graphic below that contains important information on bike safety, including following traffic laws, making yourself seen, and most important, always wearing a helmet.

In this week's eblast, you can read about new laws effective July 1, new SNAP and HUSKY Health work rules, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
 

Pints and Policy Event Recap 

Thank you to everyone who attended the Pints and Policy event at Elicit Brewing in Fairfield recently! We heard your concerns about key topics like housing and healthcare, and we continue to keep these conversations in mind when we work on your behalf at the Capitol. As always, if you ever want to share your comments or concerns, please never hesitate to reach out. 
 

ConnCAN "Counted Out" Screening 

Last night, I joined ConnCAN for a screening of “Counted Out” about the impacts of our education system producing not nearly enough math-literate students and the ways in which that holds people back. 

Math literacy is a critical skill to succeed in society, and it is my job as the Education Committee Co-Chair to ensure students have access to the resources and support they need to not fall behind.

This film highlighted some hard truths about where our education system has fallen short, but reaffirmed my commitment to our kids. We did pass HB-5323 this past legislative session, which starts important work to improve our math curriculum by:

  • Redesigning mathematics pathways to prepare students for relevant postsecondary careers.
  • Consulting with our existing Connecticut Educator Preparation and Certification Board to develop guidelines for the role of math specialists to support math interventions.
  • Developing a list of professional development providers to support the implementation of high-quality math instruction.

Moving forward, we will continue to map out a long-term plan to modernize math in Connecticut. It’s going to take deep collaboration across state agencies, math experts, families and community, advocacy groups, and the business sector to give students the math foundation they need and
deserve in our state.
 

Birth to Three Interagency Council Champion

It was such an honor to be recognized by the Birth to Three Interagency Council as a champion for Connecticut's Birth to Three system that supports our youngest who are experiencing delays and disabilities. It is so important to me to work and engage with these children as early as we can, and I'm so grateful to the council for recognizing my support and advocacy!
 

Access Health CT Special Enrollment Deadline: June 30th 

A reminder that Access Health CT announced that eligible customers can enroll in a health insurance plan with Temporary Premium Assistance through a Special Enrollment Period that will end on June 30th. 

The Temporary Premium Assistance has provided over $1.6 million in savings for 10,580 Connecticut residents to date. At the end of 2025, Governor Lamont announced the Temporary Premium Assistance to help customers who lost financial assistance when the federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits expired. The Special Enrollment Period for Temporary Premium Assistance opened on February 1st, and customers can continue to enroll through June 30th. 

Customers who qualify for this Special Enrollment Period include: 

  • Households with an annual income between 100% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) who are not already enrolled in the Covered CT Program. These customers will receive a state subsidy to replace 100% of the expired federal enhanced premium tax credit amounts.
  • Households with an annual income over 400% and up to 500% FPL. These customers will receive a state subsidy to replace 50% of the expired federal enhanced premium tax credit amounts.  
To enroll, customers can call 1-855-805-4325, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, with help available in over 100 languages. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use the TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call 1-855-805-4325 with a relay operator.

For free help online, customers can visit AccessHealthCT.com. They can also chat live with a customer service representative by clicking the “Live Chat” icon on the website. Live chat is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. 
 

New SNAP and HUSKY Health Work Rules 

Due to the passage of HR 1 by the federal government, there are new updates to SNAP and HUSKY Health work rules.

New SNAP work rules took effect November 2025, and new HUSKY Health (HUSKY D) work rules take effect January 1, 2027.

Below, you can find fliers in English and Spanish that clearly lay out the new work requirement rules. 

A few key points the flier covers include:
  • Many people will NOT lose their benefits — but residents need to check whether the new work rules apply to them.
    DSS has free online prescreeners for both SNAP and HUSKY Health so residents can find out quickly.
  • Connecticut's Community Action Agencies (CAAs) offer free, in-person help. Residents can find their local CAA at www.cafca.org/agencies.
Please don't hesitate to reach out for more information.
 

New Laws Effective July 1 

Several new laws that we passed during the 2026 legislative session will take effect on July 1, bringing important changes for Connecticut residents.

 

Among them is Public Act 26-42, which expands access to voting by allowing any eligible voter to cast an absentee ballot without needing to provide a specific reason. The law removes outdated restrictions that previously limited absentee voting to a narrow set of circumstances.

 

Another new law, Public Act 26-12, strengthens recruitment and retention efforts for Connecticut's first responders. The legislation expands benefits such as tuition waivers and mortgage assistance for police officers, firefighters, correction officers, EMS personnel, and National Guard members, while also providing support for the families of certain public safety personnel who die in the line of duty.

 

These measures reflect our ongoing efforts to make voting more accessible, support those who serve our communities, and strengthen protections for Connecticut workers.
 

United Way of CT Grant Program for Local Food Pantries 

United 

of Connecticut, in partnership with the Department of Social Services, has launched a grant program for Connecticut food pantries that are not members of the Connecticut Foodshare Agency Network. Organizations that operate a food pantry in Connecticut are eligible to apply for funding to provide food to the general public in the communities they serve 

Eligible food pantries must meet the following criteria:
  • 501c3 organization in good standing or a municipality that operates a food pantry
  • Provided food for human consumption to the general public at no charge for at least twelve (12) months prior to submission
  • Not part of the Connecticut Foodshare Agency Network
If eligible, a pantry can receive additional funding up to 25% of their annual food purchase costs, to a maximum of $50,000.
 

Upcoming Local Events 
For Which It Stands...
On view through Saturday, July 25
Fairfield University, Bellarmine Hall Galleries and Walsh Gallery (1073 N. Benson Rd., Fairfield)
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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