Bigg News 10.23

October 23, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

Early voting for the November 4 municipal elections is underway now through November 2. Please see below for early voting locations in District 11.

The federal government has notified all states that funding for SNAP benefits will not be issued for November. Nearly 1 in 10 state residents use these funds to pay for groceries. Please see more information on government shutdown resources available below.

Drug Take Back Day is Saturday. I've included below locations where you can drop off unused, unwanted, or expired prescriptions safely. 

As always, please feel free to reach out to my office with any suggestions or concerns. 

Sincerely,

Patrick Biggins
State Representative
Early Voting is Underway

Early voting for the Nov. 4 municipal elections is underway and will run through Nov. 2. The early voting location in East Hartford is the East Hartford Town Hall, Council Chambers, 740 Main Street, and in Manchester, it's the Mahoney Recreation Center Leisure Lab, located at 110 Cedar Street. I am also including a voting guide for your convenience. Please see below.
 
Government Shutdown Resources

All 50 states have been notified that if the federal government shutdown continues into November, funding for SNAP will not be issued for the month and perhaps beyond. You can read more about it HERE.

Nearly 1 in 10 people in CT utilize these funds to pay for groceries. Grocery stores count on these dollars as part of their profits, and as we have already seen a 3% rise in grocery prices, not having SNAP will drive grocery prices even higher.

You don’t have to utilize SNAP benefits to be affected.

For every dollar of SNAP, $1.54 to $1.80 is generated in economic activity. That generation supports farmers, local grocery stores, and the rest of the supply chain.

Any SNAP benefits loaded onto your EBT card will be good through 10/31, but most likely, not beyond that until further guidance is received and/or the shutdown ends. 

A list of available resources that may be of help to you is below.

*Please consider donating, if you can, to your local pantry or Connecticut Foodshare.
 
Drug Take Back Day is Saturday

The East Hartford Health and Human Services and East Hartford Police Department invite you to take advantage of this initiative to safely and securely dispose of unwanted and/or expired medications.

Officials will collect pills, tablets, capsules, and other solid forms of prescription medication. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), gels, ointments, syringes, and other sharps and illegal drugs will NOT be accepted.

Staff from the East Hartford Health & Human Services Department will be at the Public Safety Complex from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to share information about Narcan, a life-saving medication used in the event of an opioid overdose, and will also be distributing Deterra, medication disposal kits, at no cost.
 

The Manchester Police Department is partnering with the Change Collaborative of Manchester and participating in the DEA National Take Back Day at CVS, located at 1221 Main Street.

This event is your chance to:

  • Safely dispose of unused or expired medications (including pet meds)
  • Help prevent prescription drug abuse or accidental ingestion
  • Protect the environment by ensuring safe and proper disposal
 
Generation Power Emergency Energy Assistance 

The Generation Power CT (GPCT) Emergency Energy Assistance Program provides a one-time grant of up to $500 to help eligible Connecticut households with electric, gas, or fuel expenses.

Increasing energy costs are a challenge for many in the state, but through this program, GPCT has helped to provide families across Connecticut with secure access to heat, power, and water.
 
All GPCT energy programs are available to income-eligible households making up to 75% SMI gross household income. 

Each income-eligible household that receives a GPCT Energy Assistance Award will receive up to $500 toward a future fuel delivery or toward a past-due utility bill. 

For the best chance of approval, and to make full use of this once-per-12-months grant, GPCT strongly encourages households to apply for assistance when they are most in need. GPCT has three upcoming Energy Assistance Application Cycles: 

  • November 2-10
  • January 2-10
  • March 2-10  

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

I love to read!

"Biggins Books" will highlight what I'm currently reading, all via audiobooks, and some highlights and thoughts about what I read.

Full disclosure? I hope that you're encouraged to pick up a book, any book, and just read. Reading is a wonderful way to relax, relieve stress, enhance brain activity, and more.

In the last few weeks, I've read:

The Henna Artist: A Reese's Book Club Pick (The Jaipur Trilogy, 1) by Alka Joshi 

This is a great book about the ups and downs in life and how to keep pushing forward, no matter what life throws your way.

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez 

This is a good book that I read by accident. Apparently, this was my wife’s book, but it popped up on my Libby, so I read it, and it was pretty good, not my typical genre, and apparently, it is the second in the series, but it is a solid standalone book.

Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire. 

I plan to read this book again. I feel like there was so much information, and I don’t think I got all of it as it rolled, but it is great information and a must-read for educators and for legislators.
 
On the Move: Teen Safe Driving Contest 

Create a brief standout video to promote safe driving and enter the Connecticut DMV-Travelers Teen Safe Driving Video Contest. The contest deadline is February 2026. Click on the image below for more details.

Best of luck!
 
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