The Legislative Session is Almost Here

February 2, 2024
The Legislative session begins next week, on Wednesday, February 7th, and I am committed to keeping you informed and engaged in the democratic process.

The resources below will help you stay updated on crucial developments, events, proposed policies, and key discussions as they happen in Hartford. I urge you to please follow along and get involved.

Here's how you can stay connected and actively participate:  

  • The non-partisan Office of Legislative Research (OLR) recently released the 2024 Major Issues Report. This comprehensive document highlights and summarizes key issues the legislature could take up during the upcoming session. 
  • You can view the Connecticut General Assembly's upcoming events by checking out its schedule on the CGA official website. 
  • Follow CT-N for live coverage of committee meetings, as well as House and Senate floor debates. 
  • You can register to monitor any bill's journey as it goes through the legislative process. By signing up, you can enter the bill number and receive real-time updates. Stay informed with email notifications whenever there's a change in the bill's progress. 
  • Visit this website for information on how to testify on a bill at a public hearing.

Together, we can make a positive impact and ensure that our community's needs are represented.
Learning the Legislative Process
It's the Start of Black History Month!

February is Black History Month, a time when we celebrate the many achievements and contributions of individuals from the Black diaspora, as well as reckon with the systemic racism from our past that is still prevalent today. The theme for this year's month-long celebration is “African Americans and the Arts,” which spotlights Black Americans who excelled in various fields of creative expression, and the influence they have on our country's culture.

Connecticut was home to several notable moments in Black history. The Canterbury Female Boarding School was the first boarding school for young Black girls in the country. Abolitionist John Brown was born in Torrington. The 29th Colored Regiment, an all-Black regiment based out of Fair Haven during the Civil War, was one of the first units to enter Richmond, Virginia after it was abandoned by the Confederate Army. Click here to read more about Black history in our state

Thanks to the tireless work of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus and other colleagues in the General Assembly in 2019, Connecticut became the first state to require public schools to include Black and Latino history in their curriculums. Black history is American history, and this law ensures that the stories and triumphs of Black Americans will be taught throughout the school year.

I encourage you to take some time to celebrate and learn more about Black history, locally and throughout America. Connecticut is home to several organizations that honor and celebrate the Black experience, such as the Amistad Center for Art & Culture in Hartford, and the Ruby and Calvin Fletcher African American Museum in Stratford.

Click here to find more places that honor and support Black history and culture in our state.

Newly Announced Grant from the CT Dept. of Agriculture

New grant announcement!

Eligible applicants include local food policy councils and/or food working groups, agricultural producers, food pantries, and farmers’ markets.

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture will be hosting a Food System Capacity Building Grant Webinar on Thursday, February 8, 2024 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM. Learn more and register HERE.

Recognizing Local Excellence

Matt Riordan, a local teacher at Vernon Center Middle School, has been given some exciting news!

He has been appointed to a major military history post in Connecticut, the first of its kind. It looks like we'll be seeing plenty of each other in Hartford.

If you want to learn more, read the news story at the Patch.

Photo Courtesy of the Town Website