About HB5002, Legislative Update w/Sen. Honig @ Little Oak Cafe in Canton Saturday

June 25, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor,

The heat has gone from typical summer to dangerous in a very short period. Please remember that Avon and Canton have options available to you if you do not have air conditioning or if yours is broken.

Avon's Free Public Library and Avon's Senior Center, and Canton's Public Library and their Community Center are both open during normal business hours for you to cool off.

Hydration is key, and it's best to start first thing in the morning with 12-17 ounces and then continue throughout the day while avoiding caffeinated beverages and alcohol, while it remains this hot.
 
As you can imagine, I am disappointed by the Governor's veto of the landmark housing bill HB5002, however, I am hopeful that we will be called into a special session relatively soon and in that session, we will do what needs to be done to help people across Connecticut achieve the safe, affordable housing they need to live their American dream.
 
I hope you'll consider joining me and Senator Paul Honig this Saturday at 9 a.m. at Little Oak in Canton for a chat about the legislation we passed and didn't pass this session. We will have another opportunity next month in Avon if you miss this one.
 
Stay cool out there and have a good week.

Eleni

Legislative Update With Sen. Honig in Canton on Saturday
You are cordially invited to join me and Sen Paul Honig for a Legislative Coffee Update on Saturday at Little Oak Cafe in Canton, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. I hope to see you there!
 

About HB5002

About that housing veto . . . Unfortunately, the Governor felt that instead of signing the bill and immediately fixing it in a special session that a veto was needed. The misinformation campaign waged against this bill ran deep.

 

Here are some of the comments that misled people on this bill:

If only we gathered a group of municipal leaders and both sides of the aisle, and advocates and listened to experts . . . (Spent six months on the Majority Leader’s Round Table learning how best to move forward in the 2nd most constrained housing market in the country.)
 
If only we gave towns carrots instead of sticks and incentivized them . . .(5002 includes more money for towns to get technical help and incentives grant funding to make housing possible without "deprioritizing" any communities already eligible for grant funding.)
 
If only we looked at what was best for Connecticut’s economy . . . (Independent, non-partisan report comes out before the bill's passage, illustrating what needs to be done, and many of the suggestions are already included in the bill.)
 
If only we let towns take the lead on this . . . (One entire section of the bill, literally called “Towns Take the Lead,” provided numbers that served as a starting point, allowing towns to then lead on their proposals including decisions on where, when, and how to put in housing.)
 
If only our permit numbers weren’t currently high . . . (They aren’t, and percentages provided play into the disinformation game. They are 49th in the country and lower than 1996-2007.)
 
If only we took into account that towns need sewer infrastructure . . . (Placed a sewer study in the bill to help us understand better where and what the needs are to address the lack of sewer.)
 
If only the public and other partners had a chance to weigh in . . . (We have had conversations on how to solve the housing crisis for years. All of the substantive sections of this bill had public hearings. The public and other partners had the opportunity to continue emailing and calling us throughout the session to share their concerns.

If only we moved forward to help seniors, families, single parents, people with disabilities, and people dreaming of home ownership with legislation that finally seeks to help them with their number one cost of living expense and provide safe, affordable places for everyone to call HOME.
 
If only.

Housing justice delayed will not be housing justice denied.
 

New Laws Effective July 1

Several new laws that were passed during the 2025 legislative session take effect next Tuesday, July 1. 

Our two-year, $55.8 billion budget takes effect on Tuesday. This bill reflects our shared values, marked by historic investments in children through expanded funding for special education and childcare. Our budget strengthens support for working families and ensures that the essential work of nonprofits is both valued and financially supported.

We approved billions of dollars to be used for school construction, transportation infrastructure, housing assistance, and many more local initiatives through our annual bond funding package.

Our students will soon learn about three essential topics in the classroom: civics, media literacy, and Asian American and Pacific Islander history. Under two bills passed in 2022 and 2023, students will gain an understanding of what it means to be an active and engaged citizen, how to analyze the modern media landscape, and the rich history of the AAPI community in our state and the entire country.

Our elections will soon be more secure and transparent as video recording technology will be added to every absentee ballot drop box in our state. This new law will record the drop boxes from the first day that ballots are issued up through when the clerk retrieves the final ballots, and all of these recordings will be made available to the public. 

A novel, landmark bill supporting public libraries struggling to afford the skyrocketing costs of e-books and digital audiobooks will go into effect on Tuesday. The bill bars libraries from entering into or renewing expensive contracts and licensing agreements with publishers. The measure positions Connecticut as a national leader in this arena and marks a significant step toward transparency, equity, and sustainability in how libraries acquire and provide digital resources to the public.

Many more bills are going into effect on Tuesday, including one that reforms Connecticut's towing system, one that requires financial literacy instruction in school, and more.

You can click the link below for the full list of laws going into effect, and please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
 
New Laws Effective Tuesday, July 1

As always, your calls, emails, and testimony at our public hearings directly influenced these new laws. Please continue to share your views and have your voice heard at the Capitol!
 

Fourth of July Events Around Avon, Canton

Our local Patch has compiled a listing of events happening in celebration of July 4th, including fireworks, around Avon and Canton. Please click on the headline below for more details.
 

Avon America 250: Gearing Up for 2026!

Avon, CT is preparing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 2026 - but the winner of the logo contest will be announced on July 4th, 2025, which is next Tuesday as part of the launching of the commemoration of Avon's America 250 as well as the gran opening of the Avon History Museum at 8 East Main Street, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Please see the flyer below for more details about the History Museum.

The town is hosting several events in celebration of Avon America 250 this summer. For more information, please click HERE.  

The town is hosting several events in celebration of Avon America 250 this summer. For more information, please click HERE.  
 

Pride in West Hartford

Thank you to the West Hartford Pride organizers for inviting me to speak at their event last Saturday. I was filling in for a few of their Representatives who were unable to attend due to family commitments.

This event has grown over the last six years, and it’s now one of the largest in the state. It was a great way to celebrate Pride as we come to the end of Pride month.
 

A Pride Month Highlight

In Connecticut, Trans rights are not up for debate…they’re protected.

Sincerely,

Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative

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