Mary Fortier

Be safe and have a great weekend.

We make historic investments in local education through Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funds, which helps reduce local property taxes and makes it easier for our urban schools to recruit and retain teachers as peer educators.



This balanced, bipartisan budget maintains our commitment to promoting fiscal responsibility and stability to continue strengthening our economy, while delivering on key investments to support children, families and seniors.



 With this good budget stewardship and honoring the fiscal guardrails, we will maintain our excellent credit rating and pay down debt.

Key highlights:

• Deposits $3.3 billion into the Rainy Day Fund, helping us maintain a high credit rating and preparing us for any possible economic downfall.
• Pre-pays an additional $2.072 billion in unfunded pension liability.
• Includes the largest Personal Income Tax Cut in CT history ($190.6 million in FY 24 and $421.7 million in FY25).
• Exempts more retiree income from the state income tax.
• Continues our car tax cap
• Increases funding to towns – helping stabilize and lower local property taxes
• Continues property tax credits for homeowners

Supports Our Robust Safety Net Services by:

• Funding our nonprofit providers – 2.5% cost of living increases for critical service workers
• Providing funding to group home employees – roughly a 4.5% pay increase
• Making historic investments of over $30 million for residents with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

In the coming weeks, I plan to share more details on provisions in the measure to help you understand what this means to you.

I applaud the state budget that brings millions in additional municipal funding to the city of Bristol, including a major funding boost to Bristol Hospital.



The biennium state budget awards Bristol Hospital $7 million, giving them much needed support following the COVID-19 pandemic. Bristol Public Schools will also receive $105 million through the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funds.



Given the financial guardrails we were working under, this budget still delivers for Bristol. A special thank you to Speaker of the House Matt Ritter and Governor Lamont for working with the delegation.

Some highlights of the funding Bristol will receive:



• Education Cost Sharing Fund: $105 million

• Bristol Hospital: $7 million

• PILOT payments: $1.9 million

• Town Aid Road: $1.3 million

• Motor Vehicle Tax Reimbursement: $7.2 million

• Adult Education: $808,898

• Bristol Boy and Girls Club: $50,000

• Human Resource Agency of New Britain Inc.: $80,000

ICYMI: Here's a sample of some of the bills that we passed last week:



SB 1088: Senior citizens are often the target of scammers and financial predators. This bill allows for qualified financial institutions to put a hold on suspicious transactions to protect seniors in cases where fraud is suspected and investigate further.



SB 869: Expanding career options for workforce advancement is one of our top priorities. SB 869 will direct the Office of Workforce Strategy to help identify additional career training opportunities and training providers through the Connecticut Career Accelerator Program.

SB 1: Promotes transparency in school districts and helps foster equitable educational experiences for school communities by reevaluating disciplinary measures, conducting opt-in social climate surveys, and setting guidelines for training and documentation with local school boards.



SB 984: This bill streamlines the state hiring process to make it easier for state agencies to hire qualified candidates and ensure that adequate staffing levels are achieved and maintained.



HB 5314: Say goodbye to sneaky subscription charges! H.B. 5314 requires businesses to obtain your consent before charging your card for automatic renewals or continuous services. Plus, this bill makes it easier for you to opt out with toll-free phone numbers, email addresses, and online options.



HB 5003: To protect students and provide a healthy and safe learning environment, This bill seeks to update state laws around school climate and bullying. Additionally, this comprehensive bill aims to help recruit a more diverse teaching corps and improve transparency involving local school budgets.



 HB 6942: This bill authorizes state bonds for state capital projects and grant programs, including housing development and rehabilitation programs, school air quality improvement, school construction grants, economic development, and municipal aid programs.



SB 988: People who own mobile manufactured homes often don’t own the land under their homes. SB 988 would require mobile manufactured home park owners to give the park’s residents notice and an opportunity to purchase the park before completing a sale of the park.



HB 6805: This bill expands the ability to install solar panels on condominiums and cooperatives and ensures swimming pools continue to be required to have fences around them and not just pool covers or alarms.



HB 6741: Healthcare providers have some of the most important jobs in the country. This bill requires the Department of Public Health to take actions to discourage aggressive or violent behavior toward our healthcare providers.



HB 6669: Is a sweeping measure that protect patients and prohibits unnecessary health care costs by promoting more equitable access. It establishes a drug discount card program, lowers prescription drug costs, allows for negotiating discounts with drug manufacturers, and centralizes drug purchasing.



HB 6835: Makes changes to public health and vital record statutes to ensure that those working in healthcare are properly trained, licensed, and certified.



HB 6567: Free speech is a fundamental right. That’s why H.B. 6567 requires the UConn Board of Trustees and the Board of Regents for Higher Education to develop policies protecting freedom of expression on campus while also ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all.



SB 968: Requires all licensed security officers to undergo state and national criminal history records checks during license renewal.



SB 9: This is a multipronged healthcare bill. This measure addresses our state's response to the fentanyl and opioid abuse crisis, ensures access to reproductive healthcare, improves the overall health of Connecticut residents, grows and protects our health care workforce.



HB 1148: Human and bear interactions are growing more commonplace. HB 1148 ensures that you have the right to defend yourself and others from a bear. This law also prohibits the feeding of bears to reduce the number of bears approaching people.



HB 6397: This requires Connecticut state agencies to create a roadmap to decarbonize Connecticut’s economy and secure federal funding for this decarbonization effort.



SB 100:This bill provides funding for cities and towns to test for and remediate drinking water contaminated with PFAS. This will help the communities throughout Connecticut struggling to address well water with elevated levels of PFAS.



SB 7: Secures energy predictability, affordability, and transparency for rate payers. This bill empowers PURA to look out for the rate payers in our state.



HB 6664: Connecticut takes a big step towards sustainable waste management with the passage of H.B. 6664. This bill establishes a funding mechanism through the CT Green Bank for new waste disposal and food scrap diversion facilities.



SB 2: We’re continuing our focus on the mental, physical, and emotional wellness of children. SB 2 is part of a series of bills the General Assembly has passed over the last several years that focus on helping children meet all aspects of their needs.



HB 6580: The affidavit residential property sellers must sign attesting to the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors is a complex document. HB 6580 simplifies the affidavit so sellers can be confident in the safety and compliance of the property.



HB 6718: Prescription drugs that fall into the wrong hands can cause personal damage and or death. HB 6718 will direct pharmacies to affix warning labels on containers or packaging if the substance poses a danger to children and should be kept out of reach.

During the school year, nutritious meals are available through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). These programs end when school ends for the summer.



The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) helps fill the hunger gap by providing nutritious meals and snacks for children ages 18 and younger.



Find no-cost meals for all kids, all summer: endhungerct.org/services/summer-meals/

Please feel free to contact me at the Capitol at 1-800-842-8267 or by email at Mary.Fortier@cga.ct.gov if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,



Mary Fortier