Weekly Update: Legislative Resources, Scholarship Opportunity, and more

January 8, 2021

The 2021 legislative session will begin moving fairly quickly and I want to remind you that there are several resources available for you to track everything happening at our state capitol. These include:

  • The non-partisan Office of Legislative Research recently published the 2021 Major Issues report, which summarizes key issues the legislature could take up during the upcoming session. You can also find policy briefs, major acts from past sessions and more.
  • The CGA website lists a schedule of events and ways for you to make your voice heard throughout the legislative process.
  • Follow CTN for live coverage of committee meetings and House and Senate floor debates.
  • Click here to register as a bill tracking user to receive email updates on any bill as it makes its way through the legislative process.
  • OpenConnecticut allows residents to track state government’s spending in real time and is operated by the Comptroller's office.

As we head into a digital session, communication will be key to ensure the public remains an integral part of the legislative process. If you have any concerns, questions, or ideas for legislation, my office is always open and I encourage you to reach out to me at 860-240-8585 or email me at Kate.Farrar@cga.ct.gov. 

Below you will find information on the following:

  • COVID-19 Update
  • Legislative Business
  • State & Community Resources

COVID-19 UPDATE

Specific Updates for Our Community
 

Town Total Cases Total Deaths Number of Tests Number of Positive Tests
West Hartford 2,798 200 79,794 3,237

 

Click Here for COVID Data Updates
Click Here for Governor Lamont's Updates

LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS

In case you missed it, there were three opportunities to connect with me and members of the West Hartford delegation. If you could not tune in, you can find recordings of the virtual events linked below. 

  • Legislative Lowdown with the West Hartford Delegation, Watch it here
  • West Hartford Chamber of Commerce Serving Up Support: Addressing Concerns of Local Restaurants, Watch it here
  • West Hartford Chamber of Commerce's Minority Business Network Colorful Conversation Series on What the Election Means for Communities of Color, Watch it here

I recently penned an Op-Ed in We-Ha.com on how our state can overcome the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in this new year. We are serving our community at a highly critical time and we will need to work collaboratively to rebuild our state. We will have to address our regressive tax system, the reality of our dual pandemics - of COVID-19 and racial injustice, and seek out avenues to expand access to opportunity.

Read the Op-Ed Here

STATE & LOCAL RESOURCES

 

 

Foodshare is bringing its Free Food Distribution back to Rentschler Field starting January 12. The distribution will be held Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Read more at Foodshare.org. 

Residents who cannot make it to the distribution can access food from Foodshare Mobile, which has stops in West Hartford. Download the schedule here.

211/CT United Way can also connect residents to food resources in the area. Residents can visit www.211ct.org. or call 2-1-1 to find a food pantry near them.

 

The Connecticut Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity, and Opportunity is offering six scholarships totaling $6,000 to African American and Latinx high school seniors that attend school and reside in Connecticut.

The African American Sub Commission will present the "Young Civic Leaders Scholarship." Three scholarships, each in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded to African American high school seniors. Access the African American Sub Commission's "Young Civic Leaders Scholarship" here.

The Latino and Puerto Rican Sub Commission will present the "Latino and Puerto Rican Scholarship." Three scholarships, each in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded to Latinx high school seniors. Access the Latino and Puerto Rican Sub Commission's "Latino and Puerto Rican Scholarship" here.

Interested students are asked to submit their application via email no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, January 29, 2021. Awardees will be notified by CWCSEO staff by end of day on February 28, 2021.

Access the scholarship letter and criteria here. Please contact Denise Drummond, Legislative Policy Analyst, African American Sub Commission at Denise.Drummond@cga.ct.gov or Werner Oyanadel, Director, Latino and Puerto Rican Sub Commission at Werner.Oyanadel@cga.ct.gov. 

Retirees in Connecticut are now able to claim a larger deduction on pension and annuity income. Thanks to a six-year plan that began with the 2019 tax year, seniors are seeing an increase in the percentage of pension and annuity income they can deduct from their annual tax returns. The deduction for 2019 was 14% and increases to 28% for 2020. By 2025, seniors will be able to deduct 100% of their pension and annuity income!

The deduction applies to pension and annuity income for individuals earning less than $75,000 annually or married couples earning under $100,000 per year.
 
I am proud to help our seniors on fixed incomes reduce their tax burden in appreciation for their years of service to the community.