Ron Napoli, Jr

I was proud to join the Connecticut General Assembly in unanimously approving legislation providing enhanced survivor benefits for families of state employees who were killed in the line of duty. I'll break down how this law will make a big difference.

There are many issues that we need to address at the State Capitol. House Democrats recently unveiled our top priorities for 2025. Please read below to learn how we plan to support special education.

The electricity crisis and subsequent expensive bills are a major concern across Waterbury and Connecticut. Keep scrolling to learn how my colleagues and I are trying to pass new legislation to provide relief.

Here are the sections in today's email:

• Expanding Survivors Benefits
• Special Education Priority Bill
• Electricity Update

Because of their ages and years of service, neither of those state employees were eligible to receive pensions at the time of their deaths. The change, which we helped ratify, means that both surviving families will begin receiving survivor benefits, based on their individual eligibility circumstances.

Additionally, this change will apply to all future situations in which a state employee who was not eligible to receive a pension is killed in the line of duty. State employees do the jobs that make Connecticut a safer place to live and work. This agreement serves as a symbol of our deep gratitude and respect for those workers. 

Collectively, we recognize that special education is the biggest budget wildcard for municipalities, which is why House Bill 5001 is a caucus priority in 2025.

The proposal:

• Incentivizes educating children in-district or regionally
• Makes special education student counts factor in the ECS formula
• Recruits and retains more special education teachers and staff
• Strengthens parent/educator communication and education

The rising cost of electricity has been a significant burden for many households, and I share your frustration. That’s why I am committed to holding energy companies accountable, bringing relief to ratepayers, and working to fix our broken energy system.

Many constituents have reached out to share their concerns about the financial strain caused by rising electricity rates. As the son of elderly parents on a fixed income, I understand firsthand how these increasing costs impact families.

We are looking to support a series of new proposals aimed at lowering electricity costs, including House Bill 5927, House Bill 5953, House Bill 5751, and House Bill 5952. They focus on the following crucial areas:

• Reducing Hidden Charges on Electric Bills – Conducting audits of the "Combined Public Benefits Charge" and eliminating unnecessary programs.
• Providing Tax Relief for Overcharged Ratepayers – Establishing a tax credit to offset excessive utility fees.
• Expanding the State’s Natural Gas Supply – Mandating the expansion of natural gas infrastructure to enhance availability and affordability.
• Exploring Local Utility Alternatives for Lower Rates – Investigating the feasibility of municipal electric utilities, as an alternative to Eversource, to increase competition and drive down prices.
• Ending Conflicts of Interest That Drive Up Rates – Prohibiting members of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) from joining utility companies for 15 years after their term. 

I continue to work closely with bipartisan lawmakers to evaluate additional proposals that will provide much-needed relief to ratepayers. My goal is to negotiate, find common ground, and push for real solutions to address the electricity crisis.