Ken Gucker

Key provisions of the bill include:

• Historic investment in our students, including $30 million for the Special Education Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program, which will help build capacity to serve students closer to home.
• Prioritizing better access to services through enhanced development screenings, behavioral assessment and intervention plans, access to remedial classes in higher education, and involvement of parents and local school districts before a student is moved from their school.
• Reining in costs by regulating third party rate processes and developing new billing and licensing standards.
• Increasing oversight through on-site compliance visits and detailed system-wide reporting to reduce unpredictability and improve accountability.

Children are our future, and it is our responsibility to provide them a proper education. In a state that has one of the best K-12 public school systems in the country, HB 5001 makes sure our special education program maintains that same level of quality. As a person with dyslexia, I had first hand experience with special education programs in our state - this bill understands the needs that we must meet as a society. 

HB 5001 must now pass the Senate and be signed into law by the governor.

Attention homeowners - if you plan on to take on a home improvement project, please be wary of potential scams. 

In 2024, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection received 265 complaints related to unregistered contractors and 60 complaints regarding deposits for home improvement work that was never completed.

Home improvement projects are expensive and often lengthy, but not a process that should be rushed.

Before hiring a home improvement contractor, you should:

•  Ask for recommendations: Talk with family, friends, or neighbors that completed similar projects. Ask about the price, quality, and dependability of the contractor’s work.
• Verify the credentials: Once you have a list of names, verify that they have an active registration with DCP by visiting ct.gov/DCP. A Home Improvement Contractor registration is required for all projects that cost more than $200. Consumers should ask their contractor for proof of general liability insurance coverage of at least $20,000.
• Check all the options: Meet with different contractors and get at least three quotes. Ask about the price, expected timeline, and their current workload. Do they have identification that matches their credentials? Did the contractor provide referrals of recent clients?

Please visit the CT DCP website for more information.