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I hope you're having a good week! We are now entering crunch time in Hartford, and I wanted to share a quick update with you all. On Tuesday, my colleagues and I held a long debate on the floor around Housing Bill 5002. I really appreciated hearing from so many of you – I responded to more than 150 emails on this! Your thoughts and questions are so important to me.
As you know, the conversation around housing in our state is a significant one. Like many of you, I recognize the importance of fostering housing growth that creates opportunities for everyone, from those looking to downsize to young adults hoping to build their lives here. We share the goal of a vibrant and accessible community.
However, after careful consideration of HB 5002 and the potential impact on our town, I ultimately voted No. While I believe the bill is rooted in good intentions, I have concerns that it imposes challenges that would be unworkable for our local context. Growth, as we all understand, needs to be carefully managed, considering our existing infrastructure, economic planning, and, crucially, the voices of our community.
Our work doesn't end here. My next step is to thoroughly evaluate this legislation specifically through the lens of our towns. I want to identify how the bill may pose particular challenges and bring that detailed feedback back to Hartford. My aim is to work towards solutions that truly address our housing needs in a way that respects our local character and capacity.
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Beyond housing, over the next week, we will be deeply engaged in debates on key issues that I know are also top of mind for you: bringing down the cost of energy, ensuring strong funding for education, and maintaining fiscal responsibility for our state.Your input on these matters is invaluable. If you have specific thoughts or perspectives on any energy or education bills being debated, or on the upcoming state budget, please don't hesitate to email me at Savet.Constantine@cga.ct.gov. Rest assured, I read each and every email you send, and your feedback plays a vital role in my decision-making process. As the pace intensifies on these important issues, I'll be sharing more frequent updates on my Facebook and Instagram accounts. If you'd like more immediate insights into what's happening in Hartford, please feel free to follow along there! Thanks again for being such an engaged and thoughtful community. It's a privilege to represent you.Warmly, Savet ConstantineState Representative
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Please join me for an open and engaging discussion over coffee about the policies we passed this legislative session. This is your chance to ask questions, voice concerns, and share your thoughts.
The first community coffee event will be held on Saturday, June 7 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at CT Coffee in Wilton. Your feedback helps me better serve our communities, and I look forward to a great conversation! Stay tuned for upcoming events in Ridgefield and New Canaan! |
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| We passed legislation that will foster a more inclusive and responsive system that better meets the needs of individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities. |
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House Bill 7108, An Act Concerning Autism and Intellectual Disability Services and Abuse and Neglect Investigations:
- Tracks delays & gaps in critical services
- Requires public reporting on abuse & neglect cases
- Reviews DDS investigation policies every 5 years
- Launches statewide autism needs assessment
- Studies future of Southbury Training School
- Proposes urgent help for complex autism cases
Such policies recognize the inherit dignity and potential of every person as we move closer to a future where everyone can participate fully and equally.
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The second round of medical debt relief is on the way, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and made possible through our partnership with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt.
Keep an eye out for an official letter from Undue Medical Debt. THIS IS NOT JUNK MAIL! There is no application process, no catch, just relief. |
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Who qualifies?
- Individuals earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level
- Those whose medical debt equals 5% or more of annual income
This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to health equity, financial relief, and a more compassionate healthcare system for all Connecticut residents.
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| Connecticut is proud to have one of the strongest TRUST Act’s in the country, and my colleagues and I took important steps last week to bolster it even further. |
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| Our goal is to strike a thoughtful balance – focusing enforcement on serious criminal activity while pushing back against an unprecedented federal immigration crackdown that has, at times, targeted properly documented individuals and undermined fundamental rights like due process and Habeus Corpus. We remain firmly committed to our Connecticut values: protecting the rights and dignity of all our residents and standing in solidarity with our immigrant friends and neighbors. |
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The TRUST Act:
➡️ Ensures that officials like juvenile probation officers, and employees of the Division of Criminal Justice and the Board of Pardons and Paroles are included in existing TRUST Act protections.
➡️ Allows cooperation with federal immigration authorities when someone has been convicted of serious crimes.
➡️ Adds a slew of Class C and Class D felonies including those related to domestic violence, sexual assault, and possession of child sexual abuse material to the list of post-conviction offenses where law enforcement can cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
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| State Funding for New Canaan & Ridgefield |
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| The state is awarding funding to a pair of our communities for important upgrades. New Canaan will receive $300,000 to improve Waveny Park Playground. The town will pitch in $325,000 and Friends of Waveny Playground will contribute another $150,000 to cover the cost. The state approved approximately $280,000 for Ridgefield to replace a concrete endwall on Canterbury Lane. The town will provide about $102,00 for the project. |
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| My colleagues and I worked all session to pass legislation providing universal free breakfast and lunch in public schools because no child should have to learn on an empty stomach. I proudly co-sponsored House Bill 5845, alongside dozens of other legislators, to ensure that kids get the nutrition they need to flourish in the classroom and beyond. While the bill has not made it to the floor, we are advocating for this change next year. CLICK HERE to learn more! |
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I am grateful for all of our traditions in Wilton, Ridgefield, and New Canaan that let us honor the brave and dedicated men and women who sacrificed everything for the freedoms we enjoy today.
Thank you to Governor Ned Lamont, Treasurer Erick Russell, Senator Ceci Maher, Representative Aimee Berger-Girvalo, and many others for participating in our Memorial Day remembrances. |
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