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The HERO Act Passes
I was glad to see the HERO Act has passed the Connecticut House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support, delivering meaningful protections and resources for our veterans and military families.
This legislation strengthens oversight to protect veterans from predatory claims assistance, expands access to dental care, supports military-connected families with early childhood services, and provides tax relief for National Guard members. It also invests in training for those who serve our veterans, establishes an emergency response fund, and honors our National Guard’s role in Connecticut.
Now, the bill moves to the Senate as we continue working to support those who have served our country.
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Legislation Passed Last Week
There is some additional legislation passed last week that I wanted to highlight:
- HB 5157 – Tire Stewardship - Extends the deadline for retailers to join Connecticut’s tire recycling program to increase participation and reduce environmental waste.
- HB 5289 – Local News Modernization - Allows municipalities to post legal notices online instead of in newspapers, saving money and improving public access.
- HB 5399 – Public Health (Dentistry) - Updates dental practice standards and oversight to improve patient safety and quality of care.
- HB 5333 – Environmental Protection - Cracks down on illegal striped bass fishing and protects marine ecosystems by banning horseshoe crabs as bait.
- HB 5163 – Affordability Task Force - Creates a task force to identify and recommend solutions to lower living costs for families and young professionals.
- HB 5509 – Justices of the Peace - Requires a training manual and prohibits misconduct to ensure accountability and professionalism in the role.
- HB 5265 – Common Interest Communities (Housing Transparency) -Gives residents access to association financial records and limits excessive fees for obtaining those documents.
- HB 5595 – Earmark Reform - Strengthens oversight and transparency by requiring clearer reporting on how state funds are allocated and spent
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Southeastern Connecticut Day at the Capitol
Southeastern CT Day at the Hartford Capitol is an inaugural event designed to showcase regional businesses, restaurants, and culture to state legislators and the public.
It features local vendors serving food samples and displaying merchandise to highlight regional creativity and strengthen connections with policymakers.
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Veteran Resource Fair
On Monday, April 20 at 10am at the State Capitol, I will be joined by my legislative colleagues to host a veteran resource fair. This fair can connect you with benefits, jobs, and support, and I hope you will take advantage of this great event!
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Coalition for Community Healing Event
Had a great opportunity to be part of Coalition for Community Healing. Appreciate the team that came together for some great conversation on community healing and change. Nice to see people come together, advocate, listen, speak truth about issues, and talk about ways to create solutions. Look forward to the next. Special thanks to Ruben Santiago for the pics and continued push bringing folk together.
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Democracy School Event
It was great to join the New London for Democracy School event today in the City of New London, Connecticut. Thank you to Connecticut For All & Hearing Youth Voices and each advocate table for the great conversations about funding for families, not billionaires! Discussion about build unity, skill, and courage to act in coordinated and powerful ways, preparing to confront authoritarianism and challenge inequality, and grow the organized people power needed to win lasting change!
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Whale City Invitational Boxing Tournament
I had the great opportunity to stop by the New London Community Recreation Center to check out Shelly Vincent Shelito’s Way Boxing and Fitness at - The Whale City Invitational, a boxing tournament, blending high-level amateur competition with music, energy, and community.
Live entertainment by Suave-Ski Ski, sounds by Smoke The World, and Cool Ray engaging the crowd. This event showcases some of the best of what local and regional talent has to offer.
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Alpha Day at the Capitol
Thank you to the Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity that visited the Hartford Capitol for Alpha Day. The event was held in partnership with the Connecticut chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., in partnership with the Organization of New England Chapters of Alpha (ONECA).
The theme, Equity and Affordability, framed a dialogue on issues affecting families and communities throughout the state. Senator Gaston and State Representative Kadeem Roberts for bringing together fraternity members, community leaders, and policymakers for a conversation on policy priorities.
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Powerful Event at Connecticut College
I had the great opportunity this week to stop by Connecticut College’s Crozier-Williams Center to present a Citation from the Connecticut General Assembly to Tamara K. Lanier
Tamara Lanier, a retired Norwich resident, challenged Harvard University for control over daguerreotypes depicting her enslaved ancestors, Renty and his daughter Delia. Her long legal battle, now chronicled in her memoir, From These Roots: My Fight with Harvard to Reclaim My Legacy, has helped spark a broader public conversation about archival stewardship, human dignity, institutional accountability, and who has the authority to tell family histories rooted in enslavement.
Lanier’s case is widely seen as unprecedented, marking a rare legal and ethical victory for a descendant seeking redress from a major academic institution.
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Expanding Access to Locally Grown Food
A total of $1.55 million in state grants is being awarded to 12 organizations (including food pantries, community health centers, and nonprofits) to support the purchase of healthy, Connecticut Grown products from local farms for distribution to food-insecure residents.
One organization in the New London area will be receiving a portion of this grant money:
- New London Community Meal Center, Inc. (New London) – $200,000: The New London Community Meal Center will expand access to locally grown food through its meal programs, market, and new wellness hub, serving low-income residents and seniors across southeastern Connecticut.
These grants are being distributed through the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Grant Program, which is designed to expand access to fresh, locally grown food while also strengthening Connecticut’s agricultural sector. By connecting local producers with community-based organizations, the program helps ensure that nutritious food reaches those who need it most.
Now funded by the state, the program builds on a previously federally supported initiative and serves as a critical bridge in the wake of recent federal funding cuts, ensuring continued support for both vulnerable communities and Connecticut farmers.
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Clean Air Funding
The state is making $15 million available through the national settlement of the Volkswagen emissions scandal to support clean air projects across Connecticut. Eligible projects must reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, key contributors to smog, and help advance the state’s efforts to combat air pollution.
Older diesel engines are a major source of nitrogen oxide, which is linked to asthma, lung damage, and other serious health conditions, with children particularly at risk. Funding will prioritize projects that replace, repower, or retrofit aging diesel-powered vehicles and non-road equipment, significantly reducing harmful emissions.
Organizations interested in applying for grants can learn more through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). DEEP will also host an informational webinar on Tuesday, April 21 at 1:00 p.m. to review the application process and provide guidance. Proposals must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on June 11. Click here to register for the webinar.Click here for more information on the VW settlement.
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ABLE to Save Month
April is recognized as ABLE to Save Month in Connecticut, a time to raise awareness about financial empowerment for individuals with disabilities. The ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) program allows eligible individuals to establish tax-advantaged savings accounts that support greater independence and long-term financial security.Recent expansions have broadened access to the program, making thousands more residents, including veterans, eligible by increasing the disability onset age to 46. ABLE accounts allow individuals to save more than $20,000 annually without jeopardizing eligibility for critical federal benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid, providing a vital pathway to stability, opportunity, and self-sufficiency.Click here for more information on eligibility requirements and to enroll.
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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
This is a time for advocates, survivors, their loved ones, and the broader community to come together to speak openly about sexual violence by supporting survivors, raising awareness, deepening understanding, and identifying effective strategies and resources to prevent it.If you need support, The Connecticut Alliance to end Sexual Violence offers a 24-hour toll-free hotline, call 1-888-999-5545 (English) or1-888-568-8332 (Spanish).
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If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact me at my Capitol office at 860-240-8512 or email me at Anthony.Nolan@cga.ct.gov. Don't forget to "Like" my official Facebook page and follow me on Twitter for news and legislative updates.
Sincerely,
Anthony Nolan
State Representative |
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