State Capitol Update for the Week of November 28th

November 30, 2022
Dear Friend,

This is my State Capitol update for the week of November 28th.

If you prefer to watch rather than read, click on the video below to hear about the issues contained in this newsletter.

 
 
It's been a big week.

On Monday, we held a special legislative session focused on easing the burden of increasing energy costs, passing legislation that will: extend the gas tax holiday through year end, slowing its return over several months; continue to provide free bus service through the end of March; provide an additional $30 million in funding for low-income energy assistance; and increase funding for Operation Fuel and  premium pay for pandemic workers.

And, on Wednesday, my own big news became official when I was named the House Chair of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.  This committee is one of two "money committees" that are responsible for crafting the state budget.  The Appropriations Committee (which I served as Vice Chair in my first term) determines how we spend taxpayer funds, while the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee is responsible for determining where those funds come from.  It's a big responsibility, and this week I've begun to immerse myself in the people and policies involved: it's a little like aiming a fire hose at my head.

It's also an incredible honor to have been entrusted with this responsibility by Speaker Ritter and Majority Leader Rojas, whose leadership I admire greatly, and to be able to work with legislators like State Representative Toni Walker, the House Chair of the Appropriations Committee.  They are all deeply committed to the work required to make life better for the people of CT, including making the hard choices and compromises required to move us forward.  During my term in office, two very fine legislators have held this post – Majority Leader Jason Rojas and Comptroller-elect Sean Scanlon – so I have big shoes to fill and a lot of great leaders to learn from. 

When I was first elected, I got some excellent advice from senior legislators that serving on the "money committees" was the only way to really understand how government works (and doesn't work) and the hard choices involved in addressing the needs of all communities – for clean air and fresh water, for an education that can help build a future, for access to quality healthcare and housing, for safe and secure communities, and for a vibrant economy that provides jobs and opportunity.  Paying for those programs imposes a burden, one that we should seek to make as fair as possible.  I look forward to that work.

With the holiday season around the corner (or already begun), there are a lot of fun local events going on, some of which are featured in this newsletter.  I will miss the first few because of a conference I'm attending, but I hope to see you out there when I return.  Here's a reminder of a few that were featured in earlier newsletters:

  • Salisbury Merry & Bright – weekend of 12/3-4
  • Shepaug Valley School holiday Bazaar – Thurs 12/8 6-8pm
  • Holiday in the Depot 12/9, Washington Depot, starting at 5:45 pm
  • Slices with Santa, Washington Fire House Sat., 12/10 5-8pm
  • Crescendo Holiday concert – 12/11 at Trinity Church in Lime Rock
Here is a list of today's topics:
 
  • COVID-19 weekly update. Click here.
  • Hearing on Nuvance’s request to close maternity at Sharon Hospital on December 6. Click here.
  • Legislation passed in Special Session on Monday. Click here
  • Climate Smart Farming Grant guidance now available. Click here
  • Short-term customer relief plan with utilities to reduce cost of energy. Click here
  • Planning for Native American Studies Curriculum with Connecticut's recognized tribal nations. Click here
  • Access Health CT to host December events to help residents sign up for health coverage. Click here
  • Connecticut Office of Tourism continues "Find Your Vibe" campaign through winter. Click here
  • EIDL Repayment Webinars from SBA on December 6th and 15th. Click here
  • Region 20 Long Term Planning Committee is developing a vision statement for the new district. Click here
  • Kent Singers present: Welcome, Yule! A Holiday Retrospective. Click here
  • David M. Hunt Library 12X12 event returns on December 10 in Falls Village. Click here
  • Candlelight Vigil honoring 10th Anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy on December 14. Click here
COVID-19 update
For graphs and tables containing data on COVID-19, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”
Hearing on Nuvance’s request to close maternity at Sharon Hospital on December 6
 
I wanted to remind anyone who might like to contribute testimony that the hearing, conducted by the Office of Health Strategy, on Nuvance’s request to close maternity at Sharon Hospital, will take place on December 6. The hearing will begin at 9:30 am with public testimony scheduled to begin at 3pm. 
 
If you have not already, please consider providing testimony to OHS on why this decision re Sharon Hospital is important to you.
  •  To provide written testimony: Email ohs@ct.gov by Monday, December 5 and reference Docket #22-32511-CON.
  • To provide oral testimony: Sign up on December 6 starting at 2pm via Zoom, with public commentary starting at 3pm, provided the technical portion (which begins at 9:30am) has ended.

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82873390892?pwd=Q2lqYVNpdmxnN1FHY1VvbU5Yb0dNQT09
Meeting ID: 828 7339 0892
Passcode: 736640
Dial in: 1 646 876 9923
 
Save Sharon Hospital is also hosting a live streaming session of the public hearing at the Sharon Town Hall on Dec 6 to watch the hearing together, and to allow those who wish to testify the opportunity to testify alongside others within our community.  To streamline the signup process, please consider signing up to testify from your personal Zoom account prior to joining us to testify.

Legislation passed in Special Session on Monday

A main driver behind our special legislative session on Monday was the burden that energy costs are imposing on families throughout the state.  As part of our efforts to ease that burden, my colleagues and I voted on Monday to extend sweeping tax relief for the state, provide additional funding for energy assistance programs, and continue

premium pay for frontline workers

How will this relief affect you?

$90M Cut in Gas Taxes
The current suspension of the 25-cent-per-gallon gas tax was set to expire in two days – November 30. With numerous factors still causing increased gas prices, my colleagues and I voted to cut $90 million in gas taxes by extending the gas tax suspension for an additional month, then offering reduced gas tax prices through April 2023.
 
Gas Tax Schedule:
  • November 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022 --> $0
  • January 1, 2023 – January 31, 2023 --> $.05
  • February 1, 2023 – February 28, 2023 --> $.10
  • March 1, 2023 – March 31, 2023 --> $.15
  • April 1, 2023 – April 30, 2023 --> $.20

Free Bus Service
Free Bus Service was also scheduled to end on November 30. The bill we passed extends the Free Bus Service through March 31, 2023.
  • Because fares were halted in April 2022, collection must resume on April 1, 2023, to remain compliant with federal rules
Energy Assistance
Every Connecticut family should have the resources they need to stay warm throughout the winter. I am proud to share that we approved $30 million in additional ARPA funding for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
 
My colleagues and I remain committed to providing any and all assistance we can to ease any added burden from Connecticut Families. To learn more and apply for energy assistance, click the button below:
Learn More & Apply for LIHEAP
We also voted to increase funding for Operation Fuel, an additional energy assistance resource for qualifying low-income families. The increase in funding is sourced by requiring PURA to direct at least 95% of specified proceeds to Operation Fuel, which is expected to roughly double the resources available.
 
To learn more about Operation Fuel, or to apply for upcoming assistance beginning December 19th, please click the button below
Learn More & Apply for Operation Fuel
Premium Pay for Frontline Workers
I was proud to support premium pay for the over 100,000 Connecticut workers who were on the front lines throughout the pandemic. Our goal is to provide the most low-income essential worker applicants with the majority of the financial aid.
Climate Smart Farming Grant guidance now available

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) this week announced that the Climate Smart Farming: Agriculture and Forestry Grant Guidance is now available with up to $7 million available in funding for projects which support climate smart farming practices.
Funding is provided through legislation we passed this year (Public Act 22-118 Sec 12(b)(70)), which provides $7 million for fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. Applications are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.   
The Climate Smart Farming: Agriculture and Forestry Grant can fund projects in a variety of areas including, but not limited to:

  1. Providing technical assistance.
  2. Distributing a grant to producers.
  3. Coordinating training programs.
  4. Coordinating projects that pilot or demonstrate water and land-based conservation practices.
  5. Creating tools that help reduce barriers to accessing assistance for climate smart farming.
  6. Establishing equipment-sharing programs. 
  7. Other activities that will increase the number of farmers who are implementing climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices.

Any agribusiness or entity, including nonprofit organization, soil and water conservation district, colleges and universities, municipality or for-profit organization in the State of Connecticut are eligible to apply. All agricultural commodities can participate including aquaculture, agriculture and forestry. In addition, all production types will be supported including conventional/organic, indoor/outdoor, soil/water, and urban/rural. CT DoAg plans to issue awards in varying amounts for program implementation from May 1, 2023, through May 1, 2028.  
There is no match requirement for this grant.

An informational webinar will be held on Monday, December 19, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. to assist interested applicants in learning about eligible projects, the submission process, and tips for writing an application. Registration is required to attend this workshop. Please pre-register for the event here. Registered attendees will be provided the webinar information 24 hours prior to the start.

Short-term customer relief plan with utilities to reduce cost of energy

In response to calls from legislators, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Office of Consumer Counsel to do more for customers in the state amid historically high electric prices, utility companies Eversource and United Illuminating (UI) have agreed to work with state leaders on a short-term/interim Customer Relief Plan to provide immediate relief to electric customers this winter.
 
The Customer Relief Plan has multiple elements:
 

  • Eversource and UI will file a motion with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) seeking approval for the establishment of bill credits to fast-track the return of long-term power contract earnings to all customers starting January 1, 2023. This proposal will provide Eversource customers with a monthly bill credit of around $10 per month – approximately 12.5% of the average customer increase this winter – for the peak winter months starting January 1, 2023, and continuing through April. Data on how this will impact UI customers is being calculated and is expected to be available soon.
  • The companies will also seek approval for a discount for low-income hardship customers to accelerate the 2021 Take Back Our Grid Act provision enabling a low-income discount rate by providing a flat-rate credit to financial hardship customers starting in January 2023 until the new PURA-approved low-income discount rate goes into effect in 2024.
  • In order to provide additional assistance to customers struggling with unusually high energy prices this winter, the Customer Relief Plan also includes an Eversource shareholder expense of $10 million for energy assistance to customers in need, including moderate and middle-income customers who are struggling to pay their bills.
  • UI has agreed to pay $3 million to Operation Fuel for direct assistance for electricity and heating costs, subject to PURA’s approval of a settlement agreement with the Office of Consumer Counsel.

 
Background information on the rate increases and Connecticut’s efforts to keep prices lower and less volatile is available here.

Planning for Native American Studies Curriculum with Connecticut's recognized tribal nations

Connecticut will work in partnership with the state's recognized tribal nations to create a new Native American studies model curriculum.
 
This partnership and model curriculum stems from recently enacted legislation requiring school districts to include Native American studies as part of the social studies curriculum in the school year commencing July 1, 2023, and each year thereafter. This model curriculum and curricular resources, once finalized, will include the study of Native American tribes in Connecticut, including Northeastern Woodland tribes.
 
Each of the five recognized tribes in Connecticut has its own individual story, and this curriculum will help students become aware of them.
 
Staff from the CSDE Academic Office plan to release this curriculum in June 2023 and have already begun meeting with officials from Connecticut’s tribes, as well as educators and other stakeholders to develop curriculum standards to inform curriculum resources and materials for the Native American studies model curriculum. Once completed, these curriculum resources will be made available on GoOpenCT, Connecticut’s digital library of open education resources.

Access Health CT to host December events to help residents sign up for health coverage

Access Health CT (AHCT) will host nine enrollment fairs in December to help Connecticut residents shop, compare and enroll or renew their health coverage during the current Open Enrollment period. Enrollment fairs offer free, in-person help from enrollment specialists and will take place in Branford, Bridgeport, Bristol, Danbury, Middletown, New Britain, Norwich, Torrington and West Hartford.
Open Enrollment began Nov. 1, 2022 and runs through Jan. 15, 2023. Connecticut residents must enroll on or before Dec. 15, 2022 for coverage starting January 1, 2023. Those who enroll between Dec. 16, 2022 and Jan. 15, 2023 will have coverage starting Feb. 1, 2023.
Connecticut residents who are interested in attending these events can book an appointment online. To book an appointment, visit AccessHealthCT.com/enrollment-events. Walk-in appointments are welcome.

Connecticut residents can also find free help and enroll online or by phone.
For free online help, residents may visit AccessHealthCT.com. Live chat is available by clicking the “Live Chat” icon to connect with a customer service representative in real time. Live chat is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.

There are several ways to get free, in-person help in addition to attending enrollment fairs. Residents may work with a certified broker or enrollment specialist in their community. To find a certified broker or enrollment specialist, visit the Get Help webpage.

Residents may visit any of AHCT’s Navigator partner locations. Expert help from enrollment specialists is available at these locations year-round. To see a list of Navigator locations, visit the Enrollment Events webpage. Please contact the site in advance to make an appointment.
 
Connecticut residents can also visit one of AHCT’s Enrollment locations during the Open Enrollment period. For information about these locations, visit the Enrollment Events webpage.

Residents may also contact the call center at 1-855-805-4325, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on select Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator. The call center will be closed on Dec. 25, 2022, Dec. 26, 2022, Dec. 31, 2022 and Jan. 1, 2023.

Connecticut Office of Tourism continues "Find Your Vibe" campaign through winter

The Connecticut Office of Tourism is continuing its award-winning “Find Your Vibe” tourism campaign through the winter months through the release of a new campaign that puts a spotlight on the abundant activities and experiences available to visitors in Connecticut during the season, including many in the Northwest Corner
 
The “Find Your Vibe” campaign first launched in June, exceeding industry benchmarks, as well as year-over-year performance for the summer months (June to September 5, 2022).

One of Connecticut’s most popular outdoor winter events is Salisbury's own Jumpfest Ski Jumping Competition (February 2023), which includes Eastern Nationals, target jumping under the lights, junior jumping, the Human Dogsled Race, ice carving, and a Snow Ball.
 
Connecticut’s tourism website – ctvisit.com – includes a full list of events and activities to explore in the state throughout the season.

EIDL Repayment Webinars from SBA on December 6th and 15th

COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) deferment periods are approaching an end. As such, business owners must start preparing to make payments.  The Small Business Administration (SBA) is hosting webinars to highlight key points and resources for all COVID EIDL borrowers, where you can learn the following:

  • Where to find your COVID EIDL loan details
  • How to access SBA's digital loan platform and where to download step-by-step instructions on CAFS
  • Where to make payments on your COVID EIDL loan
  • Where to get help and much more

 

Tuesday, December 6th

12:00 - 1:00pm ET

Free Registration Here

 

Thursday, December 15th

12:00 - 1:00pm ET

Free Registration Here

Region 20 Long Term Planning Committee is developing a vision statement for the new district 

The Region 20 Long Term Planning Committee is working on developing a Vision Statement for the new district and is requesting your assistance. 
A "Vision Statement" is best defined as an "inspiration statement of an idealistic future of a company or group."  The Committee is requesting that all suggestions be:  a) not more than a sentence and b) emailed to district@rsd20.org by Wednesday, December 7, 2022.
The Committee expects to review all suggestions at its next meeting on Thursday, December 15, 2022.
The recommended list of ideas will then be sent to the community for feedback before a final choice is made early in 2023.  


 
Kent Singers present: Welcome, Yule! A Holiday Retrospective

The Kent Singers will present Welcome, Yule! A Holiday Retrospective on Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 3:00 pm at St. Andrew’s Church in Kent, CT.
Kent Singers are celebrating their 50th anniversary season with this festive concert featuring favorite selections from their repertoire over the years. The concerts will feature piano, organ and brass accompaniment and will be conducted by Music Director James Knox Sutterfield.
Tickets are $20 in advance online at https://kentsingers.com/tickets/and at the door, with children under 12 admitted free; tickets and further information are available at 860-619-8110 or at https://kentsingers.com/.

David M. Hunt Library 12X12 event returns on December 10 in Falls Village
 
Cancelled for two long years because of the pandemic, the David M. Hunt Library is back with a new edition of 12X12, including nearly 70 artists. A portion of each purchase benefits the library.
 

Candlelight Vigil honoring 10th Anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy on December 14

It is my honor to represent our district. I look forward to hearing from you about the issues raised in this newsletter, or any other topics you think I should know about. You can email me at maria.horn@cga.ct.gov or call me at (860)-240-8585. Thanks for reading, and I wish you a safe weekend.