Kevin Brown

This is a final reminder for those interested in securing health and dental coverage through Access Health CT: the last day to enroll is January 31. If you or your family still need coverage, please act before Saturday's deadline.

In addition, the governor has extended Connecticut’s Severe Weather Protocol through next week due to the dangerously cold temperatures across the state. This extension ensures continued access to critical warming resources and shelters for those in need.

Please continue reading for more details on these important updates, along with information about the start of the 2026 legislative session, which begins next week.

Reminder: Access Health CT’s extended enrollment deadline runs through Saturday, January 31. Customers who register or renew by this date will have health and dental coverage beginning February 1.

Connecticut is stepping up by offering financial assistance despite recent federal cuts. Some customers may qualify for new state subsidies or other low- or no-cost coverage options, including the Covered CT Program or HUSKY Health, Connecticut’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Customers can visit AccessHealthCT.com and click the “Get Help” button on the homepage to find the option that works best for them, including scheduling an appointment, finding a nearby Navigator site or attending an enrollment fair. Help is available in over 100 languages.

Free help to sign up is available online, in person and over the phone.

Next week, the 2026 legislative session will officially get underway at the state Capitol. My legislative colleagues and I will begin several months of debate, deliberation, and decision-making on a wide range of key policy issues that will shape our state in the year ahead.

Watch the 2026 legislative session live on CT-N beginning Wednesday, February 4, at 10:00 a.m., with coverage of opening day. Live streams of subsequent session days and committee meetings are also available at any time.

The 2026 Office of Legislative Research Major Issues Report provides concise summaries of key topics anticipated to come before the General Assembly during the upcoming legislative session.

Click on the image below to access the report. 

The forecast indicates that bitterly cold weather will persist for an extended period, with temperatures remaining well below seasonal averages through the middle of next week. This prolonged cold spell is unlike anything Connecticut has experienced in many years, raising concerns about public safety and infrastructure impacts. In response to these conditions, Governor Ned Lamont has extended Connecticut’s Severe Weather Protocol through noon on Thursday, February 5.

Please be reminded that warming centers are available for those in need. These centers provide a safe, heated place to seek shelter during dangerously low temperatures. If you or someone you know could benefit, please take advantage of the resources below and help spread the word so our community can remain safe and warm throughout the harsh winter weather.

The Vernon Cultural District and the New England Motorcycle Museum are hosting a special event to help raise funds for a series of summer events in downtown Vernon called "Meet on the Street."

The fundraiser is from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 31 at the New England Motorcycle Museum (200 West Main Street, Rockville).

Click here for more information and to make a donation or you can send it via mail to Planning Department, 14 Park Place, Vernon, CT 06066. Please write “Streetfest” in the memo line of your check.

Details are still being worked out, but events would be on a weeknight in May, June and July. Sponsorships are also available. 

The Vernon Cultural District received state designation in August 2025. It encompasses much of downtown Vernon and includes a variety of cultural assets, including the New England Civil War Museum, the New England Motorcycle Museum, Henry Park, historic structures, and the planned performing art space in the former Vernon Senior Center on Park Place. 

Free income tax preparation is available to eligible Vernon residents through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. IRS-certified volunteers are available to help income-eligible residents complete and file their income tax returns.

VITA volunteers will be at Vernon Town Hall (14 Park Place) on Mondays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., January 26 through April 6.

To get information about the program, call Vernon Social Services at 860-870-3661. Residents must have all necessary tax documents before scheduling an appointment.

To be eligible for this free assistance, including e-file and direct deposit, you have to have earned $69,000 or less in 2025.

Save the Date!

On Wednesday, March 11, from Noon–1:00 p.m. I’m excited to join Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas and Duanecia Clark (Chief Strategy & Communications Officer at FaithActs for Education) for a dynamic virtual conversation on Civics Legislation: What to Know This Session.

We will break down key civic legislation to watch for this session and what it means for our communities.

Click here to register for the zoom.