Joshua Hall

It’s that time again when we start winding down the summer and begin back-to-school preparations. It can be a chaotic time for families, so I want to share news and events that will help ease that transition for the upcoming school year.

In this e-newsletter: 

• Sales tax-free week
• Expansion of free school meals program
• Investments in education last session
• First-day safety
• Delivering on higher education 

Sales Tax-Free Week

Connecticut's 2023 Sales Tax-Free Week begins on Sunday, August 20, and runs through Saturday, August 26. This is a great opportunity to take the kids back-to-school shopping or to treat yourself or your loved ones while saving money.
 
Many retailers in Connecticut offer additional discounts on clothing and footwear during Sales Tax-Free Week, providing consumers with even more savings.

During this sales tax holiday, most clothing and footwear items priced under $100 are exempt from the Connecticut sales tax. The exemption during Sales Tax-Free Week applies to each eligible item costing under $100, regardless of how many of those items are sold to a customer in the same transaction. The tax holiday applies to purchases made in-store, online, mail-order, and over the phone.

More information about Connecticut’s Sales Tax Holiday, including a list of exempt and taxable items, is available on the Department of Revenue Services website.

Expansion of Free School Meals Program

Hunger and the stigma of not being able to afford school meals is one of the biggest hurdles to learning. That is why I am pleased to report that Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker announced plans to expand Connecticut’s free school meals program for the 2023-2024 school year, enabling more students to receive access to nutritious breakfast and lunch at no additional cost to them or their families.

Investments in Education

We made historic investments in education with millions of additional dollars allocated in the budget and a number of legislative measures that enhance Connecticut’s educational system. Click below for more information:

First-Day Safety

I want to remind parents of a simple safety tip when posting that back-to-school photo.

While I know this photo trend is fun to take and look back on, keeping your child's personal information at a minimum is important. By sharing your child's school, grade, teacher, interests, etc. you are giving predators unique information about your child and where they can find them.

Here are some reminders of what NOT to post:

• Teacher's Name
• School Name
• Interests
• Age
• Weight
• Height

Delivering for Higher Education 

We have made significant strides in supporting higher education and ensuring a brighter future with opportunities, support, and financial relief for our students.

During the 2023 legislative session, we allocated over $135 million more for higher education in our biennial state budget than initially proposed. We did this in order to support initiatives that reflect our commitment to addressing the challenges faced by students and graduates. 

Some of this year's priorities include PA 23-204, which expanded our debt-free community college program to incorporate subsidies for returning students and established a student loan forgiveness program that offers up to $20,000 in debt forgiveness for individuals who meet certain criteria and volunteer at a local nonprofit.

We also streamlined the eligibility requirements for the Roberta Willis Scholarship and enabled the program to notify students of their scholarship awards earlier in the year, so they’ll have full knowledge of their financial aid before choosing which school to attend in the fall.

Additionally, we passed several other measures to support higher education, such as: 

• Lower state-backed loan refinancing rates for nurses (PA 23-60)
• Prohibiting colleges and universities from withholding transcripts due to outstanding debt (PA 23-14)
• Providing student loan subsidies for paraeducators, school counselors, police officers, and EMS personnel (PA 23-70) 

I will continue working with my colleagues to find opportunities that will provide those interested in obtaining a college degree with the necessary tools to help them achieve their goals.