Legislative Update June 26

Legislative Update 6/26

June 26, 2023

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Now that the 2023 legislative session has finished, my staff and I are beginning the process of adjusting our operational goals.

Although constituency services has been, and will continue to be, the number one priority for my office, my staff and I are laying the groundwork to communicate this past year’s legislative victories and start the process of developing our legislative priorities for next year.

And now that we are officially in the midst of Summer, I sincerely hope that you and your loved ones are making lasting and meaningful memories during these warmer months.

Summer is a season of joy, warmth, and endless possibilities. As a state representative for this vibrant city, I am filled with pride and enthusiasm as we celebrate the beauty and charm that our city exudes during these brighter times. From our bustling streets to our serene parks, every corner of our beloved city comes alive with a unique energy that is simply contagious.

As always, I write this with our community foremost in my mind, and further in this email you will find information on events I have attended, news articles I have been featured in, breakdowns on key portions of our state budget, and events that I hope will be useful to you and your family.

Post Session Wrap Up with the Stamford Delegation

Earlier this week my colleagues in the Stamford Democratic delegation and I held a held a legislative town hall at the Ferguson Library.

It was great to connect with members of our community, and I was thrilled to sit with my House colleagues to debrief in our recently concluded session. We had a great discussion about our accomplishments, highlights, and goals for the legislative session in 2024.

Here are a few of the bills we discussed: The John R. Lewis Connecticut Voting Rights Act, Cancer Benefits for Firefighters, Student Debt Reimbursement, Increasing access to reproductive healthcare, and the passing of our 50 Billion dollar state budget and the resources it will bring to Stamford.

Thank you to all the family and friends who attended!

Juneteenth Celebration in Stamford

June 19 was Juneteenth. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Justice is never guaranteed. I had the pleasure of attending Stamford's Juneteenth Freedom Day celebration last Saturday at Stamford Government Center.

As a young black man and lawmaker, this holiday is a reminder that up to us to preserve and defend the freedoms we deserve. Click the button below to learn more about the event.

Stamford Advocate - Stamford Celebrates Juneteenth as Legal City Holiday

The House Budget Makes Historic Education Investments

K-12 needed more resources, so we prioritized educational spending and special education funding in the new two-year balanced and bipartisan state budget approved by the House of Representatives.

We make historic investments in local education through Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funds, which helps reduce local property taxes and makes it easier for our urban schools to recruit and retain teachers as peer educators.

Stamford is set to receive $17,145,212 in ECS funding in FY 24 and $19,780,415 in FY 25.

The budget also prioritized higher education and provides significantly more funding to our state colleges and universities.

Below is a breakdown of some of those numbers:

$135 million will be provided to our state colleges and universities
$22 million to expand debt-free community college
$24 million to increase funding for special education to local schools
$6.5 million to prevent towns from receiving a funding cut to their local schools
$67.5 million to increase childcare provider rates
$240 million will be invested in public education for the 2024-25 school year:
Caps tuition payments that local districts pay for kids attending choice programs
$158 million in new funding to local boards of education
$9.3 million in new funding for Charter Schools
$53.3 million in new funding for Magnet Schools
$11.4 million new budget for Open Choice
$7.2 million in new funding for Vocational Agriculture programs

I am grateful for your input and for all the hard work my colleagues put into producing a balanced budget that reflects some of state's greatest needs. In the coming weeks, I will further break down provisions in the budget and how it impacts you.

Detours for Train Station Construction

You can soon expect more traffic and detours near our downtown train station because crews will be installing a pedestrian bridge for the new parking garage to the Stamford Transportation Center.

Lane closures on South State Street and Washington Boulevard will begin on Monday and last through July 2 and then from July 10 through July 15 from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

The project is expected to be completed by September.

New Passport Hours

The Passport Office at the Harry Bennett Branch is now open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You do not need an appointment. The Main Library Passport Office remains open:

Mondays through Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Fridays from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Appointments at the Main Library are recommended

For complete passport information, click here or call (203) 351-8298.

Upcoming Events

Attention!!!
The Stamford Town Center Block Party event and MMC Fashion Show Event has been rescheduled to Saturday, July 15, and Sunday, July 16th due to concerns about the weather!

If you have any issues, concerns, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me at 860-240-8585 if you ever need anything or by email at hubert.delany@cga.ct.gov

Sincerely,