Gary Turco

Please continue to scroll down to learn more about the following:

• Warming Centers in New Britain and Newington
• Housing Committee work
• A St. Mary's School visit
• A thank you to Newington Human Services
• Remote Access Medical clinics
• Early registration for the Newington Library 5K
• Lunar New Year celebration announcement

On Thursday, the House was in session and passed two important bills: Senate Bill 298 and Senate Bill 299.

Senate Bill 298 is a comprehensive measure that advances several key priorities for our communities. It delivers millions of dollars in targeted grants and earmarks to support local projects and organizations. The bill strengthens education by extending the moratorium on measures addressing racial imbalance in schools and providing $750,000 to the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for teacher training.

It supports first responders by aiding the firefighter cancer relief fund and increases reimbursement rates for intermediate care facilities. The bill also updates child support enforcement, behavioral health regulations, and freedom of information and election laws to improve efficiency and transparency.

For workers, SB 298 establishes stronger, worker-friendly standards for warehouse operations, including a clear private right of action so employees can seek damages if workplace standards are violated. It revises police training standards for interactions with individuals with disabilities, adjusts municipal pension calculations, and repeals a prior building code change to ensure responsible development standards. It also includes a certificate-of-need change designed to support UConn Health.

Senate Bill 299 addresses bottle redemption fraud following the increase in Connecticut’s beverage container deposit. The bill increases penalties for fraudulently redeeming out-of-state containers and lowers the threshold from 2,500 to 1,000 containers before identification is required at redemption centers. These changes protect the integrity of the system while maintaining the 10-cent deposit.

Together, these measures invest in education, workers, healthcare, public safety, and consumer protection — delivering support and clear standards that benefit residents, businesses, and communities across Connecticut.

If you or someone you know needs a warm place during extreme cold, the following Warming Centers are available in New Britain:

• New Britain Public Library – 20 High Street
• Friendship Service Center, Inc. – 61 Arch St.
• First Lutheran Church – 77 Franklin Square
• New Britain Senior Center – 55 Pearl St.

In Newington, the following locations serve as Warming Centers during extreme cold events:

• Lucy Robbins Welles Library - 100 Garfield St.
• Newington Senior and Disabled Center - 120 Cedar St.

Please spread the word to ensure everyone in our community stays safe and warm. For additional resources, visit www.211ct.org or dial 2-1-1.

Early Bird Registration for the Newington Library 5K Challenge Road Race is open until March 31. Register early for the Newington Library 5K Challenge Road Race that will be held on Sunday, May 17, and save. Early bird registration is $25.