Legislative Update 2.28

February 28, 2026

Greetings Community,

We passed an emergency certification – or e-cert – bill in the House on Thursday, following the Senate's action on Wednesday. The omnibus bill is comprised of legislation introduced last year, including education funding, protections for warehouse workers, and public safety initiatives. Read more HERE.

Earlier in the day, I was proud to welcome some fantastic students from UConn to the chamber. Their visit was a highlight among the day's activities; please see more details below.

This newsletter offers a lot of information and updates, but I wanted to highlight a couple of items, including the Earned Income Tax Credit, SNAP changes set to take effect on Sunday, and a very special video further down.

Have a great weekend!

Please feel free to contact me at the Capitol at 1-800-842-8267 or by email at Trenee.McGee@cga.ct.gov if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Trenee McGee

Welcoming UConn MPA Program Students

I was proud to join Rep. Derell Wilson in welcoming students from UConn's Master of Public Administration Executive Leadership Program to the chamber on Thursday.

Click on the video below to hear my remarks.

CWCSEO Event: Preserving Black History

I was proud to serve as a panelist for the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity (CWCSEO) Black History Month event "Beyond Commemoration: Preserving Black History."

Our diverse panel examined the need for commemoration, building for the future, and defining a new American dream.

Earned Income Tax Credit

Connecticut increased its Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to 40% of the federal credit for the 2024-2025 tax year, providing a significant, refundable tax boost to low-income working families. Eligible residents must file a state income tax return and claim the credit to receive it.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), or Earned Income Credit (EIC), is a tax benefit for working people with low or moderate incomes.

The EITC/EIC is designed to reduce the tax burden on eligible income workers and to supplement their wages. Workers who qualify for the EIC and file a federal tax return can have some or all of the federal income tax withheld from their pay during the year refunded to them. Workers whose earnings are too small to have paid taxes can also obtain an EITC/EIC. The EITC/EIC also reduces any additional taxes eligible workers may owe.

Workers who raised children must file Form 1040 and must fill out and attach Schedule EIC to be eligible for the tax credit. Married workers must file a joint return to get the EITC/EIC. These workers write “EIC” (or the dollar amount of their credit) on the Earned Income Credit line on the tax form. They do not need to file Schedule EIC. Schedule EIC forms can be obtained by mail or downloaded from the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/. Forms can also be obtained at libraries, post offices, and local IRS offices
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These calculations are for the 2025 IRS Tax Schedule filing for the 2026 Tax Year - click HERE.

Reminder: SNAP Changes Set to Take Effect

Beginning Sunday, March 1, important changes to Connecticut law will take effect regarding how the state will issue SNAP benefits.

Connecticut will begin staggering the distribution of SNAP benefits throughout the first eight days of the month, rather than loading them primarily in the first few days. This change is designed to:

Reduce congestion at grocery stores and retailers
Improve access to food
Create a smoother, more dignified experience for SNAP recipients

Generation Power CT Assistance Available

Generation Power CT's Emergency Energy Assistance Program Cycle #4 is set to open on March 2. Eligible Connecticut households can receive a one-time grant of up to $500 to help cover electric, gas, or fuel expenses.

To learn more about eligibility requirements and application materials, please click HERE.

Talking Student Loan Forgiveness

Fellow Reps. Corey Paris and Eleni Kavros DeGraw teamed up for a short video clip to talk about the state's Student Loan Reimbursement Program. Please click on the image below to watch.

Stem Funding Available

The National Lieutenant Governors Association annually awards a scholarship to 12 different schools for STEM-related projects in the classroom. The first scholarships were awarded in 2022.

Teachers or project advisors in state-accredited public, private, or tribal pre-K – 12th grade schools may apply to further STEM education through a project, equipment, program, or curriculum. Eight schools across the country will be awarded $1,000 each, and four schools will be awarded $500 each.

Applications will be accepted until March 6. More details can be found HERE

Bo Kolinsky Scholarship

The deadline to apply for the $3,000 Bohdan "Bo" Kolinsky Memorial Sports Media Scholarship is Friday, March 13.

The award is given to a Connecticut high school senior with plans to study in college for a career in sports media - print, digital, radio, TV, documentaries, production, or graphic arts. The scholarship is given in memory of longtime Hartford Courant school sports editor Bo Kolinsky, who died in 2003.

The scholarship is sponsored by the Connecticut Sports Media Alliance.

If you have questions, contact John Holt, scholarship chairman, at johndholt@yahoo.com. Be sure to leave your name and number where you can be reached.

Details, including how to apply, please click HERE.

Reminder: West Haven Public Library Scholarship

Applications are being accepted through March 31! Graduating seniors who live in West Haven are eligible to apply. Please see the flyer below for more details.

Wanted: High School Poets

Here's an opportunity for high school poets to, well, wax poetic and earn some cash. Please see the flyer below for more details, including the deadline for submissions.

ICYMI: Honoring the CGA's Fab Five

Black History Month may be ending, but not before we honor five fabulous legislators from the Connecticut General Assembly who have made their own mark by being the first black female to represent their districts.

Sen. Pat Billie Miller, State Representatives Toni Walker, Tammy Exum, Kai Belton, and Trenee McGee are proud, friendly, and faithful.

Most of all, they are doing the work they set out to do. Check them out! I am so proud of them! Please click on the video below.