New Laws, Savings on Car Tax, Bear Safety, and Free Mobile Food Truck

July 16, 2024


Dozens of new laws are now in effect, and I'll break down how they are saving you money, improving our election security, and increasing our online privacy.

One big talker from June's special session was motor vehicle taxes. I was proud to vote in favor of a measure that will see your assessments go down and save our businesses that own commercial vehicles from a huge tax hike. I'll break down just how much you can expect to save.

With rising prices on virtually everything including groceries, our community is offering a lifeline to those in need. Starting this month, in addition to our town food bank that eligible residents can access through Simsbury Social Services, Connecticut Foodshare is sending its mobile food truck to Simsbury. Please keep scrolling to see when and where those free meals are coming. 

Here are the sections in this week's email:

  • New Laws in Effect
  • Savings from Changes to Motor Vehicle Tax Assessments
  • Mobile Food Truck Comes to Simsbury
  • Bear Safety & What They're Up to in July
  • Fourth of July Celebration
  • Summer Water Safety
  • Little League Champs!
  • Limited Parking at Town Hall
  • Hometown Heroes & Pride Month Celebration
  • Celebrating Juneteenth
  • Community Events
 
New Laws in Effect
Several new laws that address many issues aimed at improving our great state went into effect on July 1st.
New laws include mandatory video cameras at absentee drop boxes as part of sweeping legislation to ensure election security, allowing firearm sellers access to the arrest records of potential buyers under 21, prohibiting the selling of a person's health data without their consent, and requiring the departments of Social Services and Public Health to post a reporting tool on their websites that use a five-star system to compare nursing homes.
 
Additional laws include requiring social media companies to comply following a request to unpublish and delete accounts held by minors. The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) will have a mobile crisis-response vehicle available 24-7.
 
We also held a special session to tighten up a few loopholes, including one that avoids a motor vehicle tax increase for commercial vehicles and implemented a predictable depreciation schedule for individually owned vehicles so that we don’t experience another increase in car taxes if the resale value oddly goes up even though your car got older, like it did during Covid (more on that below). You can access the new laws that will go into effect on July 1st by clicking the button below.
New laws effective July 1st
Lastly, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your calls, emails, and testimony at public hearings. They had a direct influence on these new laws. I encourage you to continue sharing your views and make your voice heard during the legislative process.  
 
Savings from Changes to Motor
Vehicle Tax Assessments

I wanted to inform you about the changes to motor vehicle tax assessments adopted by the Connecticut General Assembly during the special session last month. Here’s what you can expect going forward.

In addition to the recent income and property tax cuts, this measure will result in lower taxes for the vast majority of vehicle owners and small businesses. These changes were a bipartisan effort to lower the tax burden on Connecticut residents.

Many car owners will see their assessments fall compared to the previous system. According to the analysis done by CT Tax Assessors, the average Simsbury resident will see their assessment rate go DOWN by 5.2% with this change.
This reform was passed in response to rising used car prices during the pandemic. It creates more predictability for future car assessments.
 
I hope this information helps clarify the recent changes and provides a better understanding of what to expect in the future.
 
Mobile Food Truck Comes to Simsbury
A mobile food truck with Connecticut Foodshare has started serving those in need in Simsbury. The van stops by the First Church of Christ on 689 Hopmeadow Street from 1:00 P.M. – 1:30 P.M. every other Monday through December 23.
 
Please look at the schedule below for more information.
 
Bear Safety & What They're Up to in July
We’ve experienced what seems like an exponential increase in bear break-ins here in town, and our Simsbury Police Department recently held a forum at the Henry James Middle School to provide greater information about bear safety.  You can watch that forum by clicking on the video below.
Kyle Testerman, a wildlife biologist with DEEP, discusses Simsbury bear safety
We can all do our part to keep ourselves and our community safe by:
 
  • keeping our garbage cans indoors or securing them with a bear lock lid
  • limiting bird feeders to food that is known to be less attractive to bears
  • keeping our unattended doors and larger windows closed

Carrying a bear whistle with you and keeping dogs on leashes are important safety measures when out walking as well.   
Courtesy: Bearwise
You may be wondering what these animals are up to in July. Bears of both sexes mark trees and adult bears mate. Yearlings are now trying to find food without their mom’s help. CLICK HERE to learn more.
 
Fourth of July Celebration
Simsbury came together to celebrate the Fourth of July in style with an awesome concert and fireworks. It was a great time to express our American pride, reflect on our history, and celebrate our freedoms and cultural heritage with family and friends.
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra put on a show at the annual Celebrate America! Concert at the Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center. Even the rain didn't dampen this celebration as 4,500+ people turned out. I’m so proud to have secured state funding to assist in the expansion of the facility, making the jewel of the Farmington Valley even better.
 
Summer Water Safety
It’s important to keep safety in mind now that more people are heading on the water including the Farmington River. Remember to always bring a life jacket.
 
The Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company recently took part in water training course at Tariffville Gorge. They practiced drills and will continue to do so throughout the month of July. Thank you for hard work and commitment to keeping us all safe!
 
Little League Champs! 
Simsbury has been on an incredible tear this year in athletics! All three divisions in Simsbury Little League swept the district championship for the second year in a row! That’s never happened before!
Big shoutout to the Under 11 All-Stars who are now Section 2 Champions! They defeated Southington in the title game and now moved on to the CT State Final Four in Trumbull. Congratulations!
 
Limited Parking at Town Hall
The parking lot at Simsbury Town Hall has limited parking because crews are removing existing asphalt in preparation for paving. Parking spaces may not be ADA compliant during construction, which is expected to wrap up on Friday, July 26. Please avoid the area while work is being conducted.
Learn more here
 
Hometown Heroes & Pride Month Celebration
Last month, we honored our annual Hometown Heroes and raised the Pride Flag to reaffirm Simsbury’s commitment and welcoming atmosphere for our LGBTQ+ community.
 
Celebrating Juneteenth

We had a gorgeous day to celebrate Juneteenth and had a great time talking to so many of the people who came from far and wide to enjoy the beautiful weather, great music, food, and much more.

Our Juneteenth celebration featured the largest LEGO Black Brick Play Zone and full-sized Lego Black Panther Photo Zone. The kids and adults alike enjoyed taking pictures of these amazing pieces of work.

We also watched inspiring performances on the stage, enjoyed a few salsa lessons, and munched on delicious meals from Soul Fully Vegan. I hope this is the first of many more Juneteenth events to come!
 
Community Events
 
Get your tickets here
 
 
 

The next yoga session will take place on Wednesday, July 24 at 9:00 A.M. at Simsbury Farms Hill. This program will be held weather permitting. If you're interested, click here to register for $15.

To get up to the hill, park at the bottom of the rink/pool lot, follow path from sidewalk up the hill under the oak tree. 
 
Buy your tickets here