Maria Horn

Dear Friend,



This is my State Capitol update for the week of June 12th.



If you prefer to watch rather than read, click on the video below to hear about the issues contained in this newsletter.

Earlier this week, the budget was signed at an official ceremony in the Governor’s office.  There was a significant feeling of accomplishment reflected in the smiles in the room, on the faces of a bipartisan set of elected officials, and staff who worked hard to craft this document. 



Much has been written in the state press about the bipartisanship on display in our budget and other important legislation (both the bills that passed and the ones that didn’t), which leaves some disappointed. I hope we continue to listen to those voices, and I look forward to continuing to work on the kinds of messy compromises that make for durable public policy. 

I missed out on the actual ceremony (and the official pens) because I was busy catching up on all the things I hadn’t been doing for the last several months – doctors and dentist appointments, and getting my tires rotated among them.  And, in general, enjoying being back home in the 64th District.  

This morning I kicked off my day with a visit to Lime Rock Park, accompanying our State Comptroller, Sean Scanlon, on a tour of local businesses that participate in MyCTSavings, a program overseen by his office that helps Connecticut private sector employees save and plan for the future.  As usual, the Lime Rock Park team rolled out the red carpet of hospitality for us, giving Sean and me the opportunity to take a “hot lap” around the track in the skillful hands of driver Simon Kirkby.  That definitely got my heart pounding.  

Last weekend’s events included “Swords to Plowshares” at the community garden in Lakeville.  The event was a powerful one, not only because of the opportunity to use actual strength-pounding decommissioned guns into garden tools (which was definitely fun) but also in the stories told by those touched by gun violence. 



Al Ginouves shared, for the first time, the loss of his brother to gun violence for the first time.  Sharing those stories encourages others to do the same.  I don’t talk a lot about it, partly because my family buried it for a long time, but my own maternal grandfather ended his life with a gun.  My mother was nine years old, the oldest of four kids, and this event was shattering for her family, in so many ways that they chose to bury rather than seek help that was not available to them at the time.  Thanks, as always, to Sophia and Lee Deboer for organizing, and for giving us the opportunity to use these stories to grow, emotionally and literally!  

And it is graduation season!  Many regional graduations have already taken place, and this afternoon,  I visited Housatonic Valley Regional High School to participate in their awards ceremony.  My heartfelt congratulations to all the graduates and their families as one chapter closes and another one begins.  

Finally, happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there!  I’ve had the good fortune to have had several father-figures in my life who have helped me through some challenges, so I hope you all get the chance to be celebrated by those who love you.

• COVID-19 weekly update. Click here
• Governor Lamont Signs Budget Bill. Click here
• Budget Impacts. Click here
• Celebrating Juneteenth. Click here.
• June is Pride Month. Click here.
• This month is PTSD Awareness Month . Click here
• 2023 Summer Reading Challenge. Click here
• Update from Housatonic Meadows Preservation Action. Click here
• Funding Opportunity for Education of Training in Healthcare and Medicine. Click here
• In District Events. Click here

COVID-19 Data

For graphs and tables containing data on COVID-19, including a list of cases in every municipality click the button below.

Governor Lamont Signs Budget Bill

What this does for the residents of our state:

• An income tax cut for the middle class that reduces the two lowest marginal rates. Specifically, the 3% rate on the first $10,000 earned by individuals and the first $20,000 by couples will decrease to 2%. The 5% rate on the next $40,000 earned by individuals and the next $80,000 by couples will decrease to 4.5%. These benefits will be capped at individual filers who earn $150,000 and couples who earn $300,000. It is estimated that one million tax filers will benefit from the rate cuts.
• An increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income workers from the current rate of 30.5% of the federal credit to 40%. The Earned Income Tax Credit is a refundable state income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families that mirrors the federal credit. This change will provide an additional $44.6 million in state tax credits to an estimated 211,000 low-income filers. This new 40% rate makes Connecticut among the top five states in the nation with the largest Earned Income Tax Credit rates.
• An expansion of existing exemptions on certain pension and annuity earnings to benefit seniors. Specifically, the budget eliminates the retirement income tax cliff by adding a phase-out for allowable pension and annuity and IRA distribution deductions against the personal income tax.
• More than $840 million in permanent tax cuts.

Budget impacts

Education

K-12 Education

• Provides $25 million in additional Special Education funding in FY 2024 and FY 2025.
• Provides $48 million in FY 2024 and $96 million in FY 2025 to continue the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula phase-in.
• Provides $6.6 million in FY 2024 and $13.2 million in FY 2025 to hold towns harmless from ECS declines.
• Provides $150 million in FY 2025 for Education Finance Reform.

 

Childcare

• Provides $14.2 million and $53.3 million in FY 2024 and FY 2025 to fund rate increases of 11% for licensed providers and 6% for unlicensed providers in the Care4Kids system. This is supplemented by a $35 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation.
• Provides $15.5 million to increase Infant Pre-K rates to $10,500 per pupil in School Readiness and Child Day Care Contract programs in FY 2025.

 

Higher Education

• Funds the state’s portion of collective bargaining increases for all constituent units.
• Provides an increase of more than $500 million over the biennium in one-time operating support to help the University of Connecticut and Connecticut State Colleges and Universities transition back to a sustainable level of state support.
• Restructures fringe benefit funding to the constituent units to ensure that the state’s unfunded pension liability is not being passed on to students and make the universities more competitive for federal grants.
• Provides $6 million for student loan reimbursements.
• Includes permanent funding for PACT and expands PACT to include students returning to college after being previously enrolled. Increases minimum PACT award amount.

 

Housing

• Provides $810 million over the biennium in capital support towards housing development and housing financial assistance, including:
  
  • $150 million ($75 million annually) towards the state’s popular Time-To-Own program. This level of funding is expected to assist in the purchase of more than 1,250 homes annually.
  • $200 million ($100 million annually) to expand workforce development housing, which is expected to provide an additional 2,000 units of housing.
  • $200 million ($100 million annually) for the Housing Trust Fund, with an emphasis on multi-unit housing in downtown areas close to transportation.
  • $200 million ($100 million annually) for flexible housing.
  • $50 million ($25 million annually) for the Housing Receivership Fund. This funding will provide state resources for rehabilitation of existing housing that have been put under court ordered receivership.
  • $10 million ($5 million annually) for low-interest loans to Time-To-Own recipients for unanticipated capital improvements to their newly purchased homes.
• Provides $2 million in FY 2024 only in ARPA funds to invest in the flexible funding subsidy pool of housing and homeless support to subsidize housing and provide flexible assistance to help individuals, families and youth overcome financial barriers and expedite solutions to homelessness.
• Provides funding of $1 million in both FY 2024 and FY 2025 in ARPA funds for housing support services.
• Provides funding of $10 million in FY 2024 in ARPA funds for various housing initiatives.
• Provides funding of $1.1 million in FY 2024 and $1.38 million in FY 2025 in General Fund dollars for the 24/7 operation of the 2-1-1 Housing Crisis line.
• Provides $5 million in FY 2024 in the General Fund for shelters.

 

Nonprofits

Private providers

• Provides an additional $206.6 million over the biennium to strengthen private providers.
• Funds $53.3 million in each fiscal year across all private providers, including Department of Developmental Services-contracted providers – roughly equivalent to a 2.5% increase.
• Funds $50 million each year specific to Department of Developmental Services-contracted providers – roughly equivalent to a 4.5% increase.
• Includes capital funding for the Nonprofit Grant Program ($25 million in FY 2024, $25 million in FY 2025):
  
  • Facility upgrades to improve health, workplace safety conditions, and strengthen quality of care.
  • New dedicated position in the Office of Policy and Management will oversee the program and future rounds of funding.

 

Autism and intellectual/developmental disability supports

• Establishes lead planning role and dedicated staff at the Office of Policy and Management to review the continuum of autism services across state agencies and school districts, identify gaps, and coordinate services.
• Adds position at the Office of Policy and Management to coordinate programs and services for individuals who have intellectual or developmental disability other than autism.
• Funds Department of Developmental Services caseload growth ($44.0 million over biennium):
  
  • Day services for more than 900 age outs and high school graduates over the biennium ($7.3 million in FY 2024 and $17.5 million in FY 2025).
  • Residential supports for more than 188 age outs and Money Follows the Person transitions over the biennium ($5.8 million in FY 2024 and $13.4 million).
• Adds $21.1 million over the biennium to address Department of Developmental Services waiting lists for residential programs.
• Adds a total of 320 new autism waiver slots by 2026.
• Augments transition services in the Department of Aging and Disability Services and the Department of Developmental Services for youth aging out of high school.
• Stabilizes intermediate care facility providers with one-time support ($5.6 million) and a phased rebasing to reflect actual costs ($1.9 million FY 2024, $2.1 million FY 2025).

Celebrating Juneteenth

Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in our country. This important holiday was unknown to many for several years, but thanks to the tireless work of advocates, it is now rightfully recognized throughout the country. 



During the 2022 legislative session, several of my colleagues spoke passionately on the House floor about why Connecticut needed to make Juneteenth a legal state holiday. The bill received bipartisan support and was signed into law by Governor Lamont, and this is the first year it will be officially observed as a state holiday.

Contrary to popular belief, the practice of slavery did not immediately end after the conclusion of the Civil War. Some communities were not informed of the Union's victory until months after the fact. On June 19, 1865, 2 months after the Civil War ended, a group of Union soldiers traveled to Galveston, Texas and announced that all enslaved individuals were now free. They were among the last group of Americans to be notified of their freedom.

 

Although Juneteenth is a celebration, we must also take time to reflect on the horrors of slavery and how it impacts us to this day. As your state representative, I will continue to push for legislation that promotes equity and inclusivity.

June is Pride Month

Thank you to the Biden-Harris administration for standing up for the LGBTQIA+ community and taking these new actions.🏳️‍🏳️‍⚧️

This month is PTSD Awareness Month.

CT Crisis Services are available 24/7, 365 days a year 1-800-HOPE-135 (1-800-467-3135) or 2-1-1.

2023 Summer Reading Challenge and honoring the winners of the 2022 challenge

A re-envisioned 2023 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge that places a stronger focus on increasing summer reading activities and improved literacy outcomes for all students was launched this week. 

The Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge is a statewide competition for schools based on student population and grade level. Since 1996, this premier program has encouraged students to read books over the summer months when they are out of school. The summer reading program also supports community initiatives run by local public libraries and recognizes “Outstanding Public Library-School Partnerships.”

 The 2023 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge winning schools will be chosen through a renewed series of metrics. Previously, the number of books read determined winning districts. For the upcoming summer, top performing districts will be chosen by the percentage of total school student population participating in reading activities over the summer months. This change will ensure all students, regardless of native language, reading level, and learning ability, are encouraged to participateand read. The Connecticut State Department of Education will also be tracking the number of library visits by participating students.

Also included in the challenge for the first time this year are Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s StoryWalk experiences. StoryWalk experiences encourage students and families to read while enjoying state and local parks that offer these activities. Metrics will be tracked on the number of StoryWalk experiences visited by students at participating schools.

And congratulations to Lee H. Kellogg School in Falls Village for being recognized among the top-performing schools from the 2022 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge!

Update from Housatonic Meadows Preservation Action

On Friday June 4 and Saturday June 5 the core team from Housatonic Meadow Preservation Action (HMPA) and a dozen volunteers planted 1700 native plants in three raingardens along the river bank to control erosion, decontaminate run-off and restore the wildlife habitat and structural ecology. This project is also real boost to the recreational amenities and the economic draw of Cornwall Bridge. Thanks to all these hearty souls. At this point they especially need help watering with the river pump. There may be a bit more planting to do since some of the flats were tardy. In the fall, they will be replanting the trees along the edge. Please stay tuned for updates and volunteer opportunities and contact Kfreygangml@gmail.com if interested. 

Here is the newest article in the Lakeville Journal, thanks to Ollie Gratzinger: 

https://tricornernews.com/sharon/volunteers-rally-restore-housatonic-meadows-park

Funding opportunity for education of training in health care and medicine

We are all aware of the critical need for health care professionals in our community and I wanted to draw your attention to an opportunity, brought to my attention by Sarah Zarbock, President of the Tabor Fund.  

Residents of northwest Litchfield County who plan to undertake education or training in a health care or medical field (nursing, EMT, physical therapy, counseling, etc.) and to seek employment in their community afterwards may be eligible for funding from the Tabor Fund.  

If you or anyone you know might benefit from Tabor funding, you can find more information at (https://berkshiretaconic.org/scholarships/tabor-foundation-fund).  The upcoming deadline is June 30, but this is an annual scholarship program, so it is ongoing. 

In District Events:

It is my honor to represent our district. I look forward to hearing from you about the issues raised in this newsletter, or any other topics you think I should know about. You can email me at maria.horn@cga.ct.gov or call me at (860)-240-8585. Thanks for reading, and I wish you a safe weekend.



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Sincerely,





Maria Horn

State Representative