Kevin Brown

During a special session in November, we took decisive action by voting to establish a $500 million emergency response reserve fund to help address potential federal cuts to critical safety-net programs. This proactive investment is already making a real difference in communities across the state, supporting healthcare subsidies, preventing homelessness, and strengthening essential services for those who need them most. Keep reading to learn more about how these funds are being put to work and the impact they’re having.

There is also an important update to share, due to a system outage the Access Health CT Deadline has been extended to Saturday, December 20. Please continue reading for full details.

Thank you to everyone who joined me, alongside State Representatives Jaime Foster and Patrick Biggins, for a thoughtful and productive conversation with homeschool families. This discussion provided an important opportunity for families to share their perspectives directly with legislators who are committed to developing safety-based homeschool regulations. We are grateful for the open dialogue, meaningful engagement, and the collaborative spirit that made this conversation both informative and impactful.

On Wednesday, I joined my colleagues, House Chair of Education Rep. Jenn Leeper, Rep. Nick Menapace, and the Connecticut Education Association (CEA) to address a new survey that shows a the decline in teacher preparation program enrollment and educator diversity caused by unpaid student teaching. As House Vice-Chair of Education and a teacher myself, I know that compensating student teachers is a critical step toward addressing our teacher shortages. When future educators are expected to work full time without pay, too many are pushed out before they ever enter the profession. By removing these barriers, we can build a stronger, more diverse teacher workforce that better reflects the students in our classrooms.

On Tuesday, I was proud to participate in the Connecticut Association of School Councils Mock Legislative Session Day at the Capitol, an event that offers Student Council members a rare and immersive opportunity to experience the legislative process firsthand. By stepping into the roles of Connecticut legislators, students gained a deeper understanding of how a bill becomes law, from committee discussions and debate to negotiation and final decision-making. The day emphasized the importance of civic engagement and provided a meaningful platform for students to practice public speaking, collaboration, critical thinking, and respectful discourse while making their voices heard on issues that matter to them.

During the session, I had the opportunity to advise one of the student legislative committees as they navigated the complexities of the lawmaking process. This included helping students develop effective strategies for negotiating with other legislators, articulating their positions clearly, and building coalitions to garner support. Through thoughtful discussion and advocacy, my committee successfully lobbied for the defeat of a bill they did not believe should be passed regarding the use of artificial intelligence by teachers. The experience highlighted the value of informed debate, compromise, and leadership, and reinforced the power of student voices in shaping policy conversations.

Due to a system outage that may have prevented many customers from enrolling in health and dental coverage by the December 15, 2025 deadline for coverage effective January 1, 2026, Access Health CT is extending the enrollment deadline. Customers now have until Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. to enroll in coverage beginning January 1, 2026,

To receive coverage effective January 1, 2026, enrollment must be completed by contacting the Access Health CT Call Center. Applications completed on the website will result in coverage beginning February 1, 2026.

Call: 1-855-805-4325 or TTY: 1-855-789-2428

• Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Customers should expect longer-than-normal hold times and are encouraged to call before 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 20 to ensure enrollment is completed. Assistance is available in more than 100 languages.

If you work with a Certified Broker, please contact your broker for assistance enrolling by Saturday, December 20.

Open Enrollment ends January 15, 2026. You may continue to enroll online at AccessHealthCT.com, but coverage will begin February 1, 2026.

According to the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, one in every 1,000 state residents is experiencing homelessness. The federal government has suspended its primary homelessness prevention and support services grant program, exacerbating the issue.

In response, the state of Connecticut will consider using at least $5.2 million from the state's emergency response fund to offset the losses from the federal Continuum of Care program. The aim is to help those who do not have a home and prevent others from falling into the same situation.

Governor Lamont will submit his plan soon, and legislative leaders will have 24 hours to respond. 

Gov. Ned Lamont announced this week that an additional 40,000 Connecticut residents will have their medical debts erased, part of an initiative launched in partnership with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to give relief to those struggling to pay medical bills.

This is the third round of the initiative, which has now eliminated $198 million for 160,000 Connecticut residents since Dec. 2024. The program's arrangement allows the debt to be forgiven at a fraction of its face value, typically costing a few pennies on the dollar.

Those affected by this program should receive a letter in the mail this week informing them of their debt forgiveness. There is no application process for this relief, and it cannot be requested.

Relieving tens of thousands of Connecticut residents from the stress of paying down burdensome medical debt will make a profound difference in their lives, especially during the holiday season.

Click here to read more about the program.

Starting February 1, 2026, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin charging a $45 fee for air travelers who arrive at airport security without a Real ID or another acceptable form of identification, such as a valid passport or trusted traveler card. Travelers will be charged this fee to use TSA's ConfirmID identification verification system. The verification is valid for a 10-day period, so it may cover a return trip within that window.

To avoid unnecessary costs and potential security delays, travelers without a Real ID are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment at their local DMV to update their ID as soon as possible. Click here to make an appointment with the CT DMV.

The Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program, administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), is now accepting applications!

This scholarship supports diverse students graduating from public high schools in Alliance School Districts such as Vernon and enrolling in teacher preparation programs. Eligible students can receive up to $10,000 per year for tuition. The application deadline is February 6, 2026. This initiative is part of Connecticut’s commitment to diversifying its educator workforce and addressing statewide teacher shortages.

Eligibility Requirements for applicants:

• Graduate from a public high school in an Alliance District
• Be enrolled, or planning to enroll in a teacher preparation program at a four-year college or university
• Be in good academic standing
• Meet all additional CSDE requirements

Who Can Apply:

• High school seniors beginning a teacher preparation program this fall
• Undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in an approved program

Don’t miss this opportunity to receive financial support as you prepare to inspire the next generation of learners.

Click here to apply now and take the next step toward becoming an educator!

If you are looking for a career in manufacturing, applications are now being accepted for Skill Up for Manufacturing 2026.

Learn fundamentals in as little as 5 weeks, connect with employers, and start earning competitive wages. The class offers free training, hands-on experience, and industry-recognized credentials.

Upcoming Sessions:

January 20 – March 13, 2026 | Middlesex/Vinal Technical H.S., Middletown

February 23 – March 27, 2026 | Gateway CC, New Haven

Click here for more information and to apply now. Take the first step toward a rewarding career in manufacturing!

Connecticut’s recent progress in funding retired teachers’ and state workers’ pension plans marks an important step toward meeting the state’s long-term obligations, and it matters to every resident.

Here is a breakdown of the numbers:

• State workers’ pension fund: up more than $2.3 billion in 2025 thanks to strong investments and additional contributions. The unfunded liability dropped from $19.2 billion to $17.6 billion, and the funded ratio climbed from 55.2% to 59.6%.

• Teachers’ pension fund: grew by more than $1.6 billion, with the funded ratio rising to 63.7%.

If those ratios still seem low, it helps to remember where we were. Back in 2018, the funded ratios were just 37% for state retirees and 52% for teachers. For decades, Connecticut under-funded its pension obligations, allowing a massive, compounding debt to build up. But since 2011, the state has stuck to responsible budgets, fully funding pension contributions each year and working with labor and management on needed reforms.

Connecticut is steadily putting its financial house back in order. And one major ripple effect of healthier pension funds is improved credit ratings, now Aa2, AA-, AA, and AA+ across the agencies which lowers the cost of borrowing by securing better interest rates.

Vernon Social Services is seeking the community’s support this holiday season by collecting gift cards for local teens ages 13–17. These donations help ensure that every young person in our community can experience some joy and independence during the holidays.

The department is open for in-person drop-offs Monday through Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Please note that the office is closed on Fridays.

For your convenience, gift cards may also be placed at any time in the department’s secure drop box located in front of Town Hall.

Your generosity makes a meaningful difference, thank you for helping support Vernon’s youth this holiday season!