Investing in Special Education & Lowering Electric Rates

June 6, 2025


 
 

The legislative session has come to a close after many long days and nights of meaningful and productive debate at the Capitol. As always, I am honored to serve as your state representative and voice in Hartford. Every vote I cast is to support Windham.

It's a privilege to collaborate with my colleagues, engage in thoughtful debate, and push for progress together. I'm proud of the work we accomplished including investing in special education, cutting your electric bill, lowering child care costs, strengthening services for our veterans, and much more. I'll walk you through how these bills will support our community.

Our town is trying to pass a new budget. Members of the town council joined my radio show to discuss how a recent failed referendum affects the public. You can listen to the podcast below.

Finally, you should be aware of a text message scam trying to con you into paying a traffic ticket. I'll break down how the scam works and how to avoid becoming a victim.

Here are the sections in today's email:

  • Our Budget Puts People First
  • Lowering Electric Rates
  • Addressing the Child Care Crisis
  • More Support For Our Veterans
  • Let's Talk About It: Windham Budget
  • Text Message Scam Warning
 

Our Budget Puts People First

The House adopted a $55.8 billion two-year budget that invests in child care, K-12 education, and special education, while providing tax relief for working families and supporting nonprofit service providers.

Our budget reflects shared values, marked by historic investments in children through expanded funding for special education and childcare. It strengthens support for working families and ensures that the essential work of nonprofits is both valued and financially supported. These organizations are on the front lines every day, serving our most vulnerable neighbors. This budget affirms and reinforces their vital role in building a stronger, more inclusive community for all.

This budget stands up for:

HISTORIC NEW FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION

  • Excess Cost Grant in each of next two years
  • Education Cost Sharing Grant
  • Special Education Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program
  • Bonding to expand and upgrade special education facilities
  • Bonding for capital development
  • Governor's Incentive District Grant
  • Hold harmless funding for Education Cost Sharing, so no school district sees a cut

CHILDCARE

  • Investible trust to provide sustainable funding for new childcare programs
  • Funding for direct healthcare of our children through DSS Medicaid

NONPROFIT PROVIDERS

  • Access to better health care and nonprofit community providers
  • $150 million for groups homes and nursing homes
  • More than $60 million in Medicaid rate increases, which will benefit nonprofit providers 

TAX RELIEF FOR WORKING FAMILIES

  • Targeted, meaningful relief and long-term support for working families
  • Refundable tax credit of $250 through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) framework
  • $500 refundable tax credit for home daycare owners that recognizes and sustains the vital care workforce
  • Tax credit for employers who contribute to their employees' CHET accounts

This is a budget that works for the people — one that safeguards essential services, uplifts communities, and lays the foundation for a future where every resident is supported and protected. I'm proud to have cast a vote in support of this measure.
 

Lowering Electric Rates

The House and Senate took bold, bipartisan action to lower electric bills—passing a comprehensive energy reform bill with more than $780 million in savings for ratepayers. CLICK HERE to watch a short video as I explain the benefits of this measure.

By easing costs on consumers, modernizing the grid, and investing in clean energy, we are powering a more affordable, reliable, and accountable energy future for all.

I was pleased to collaborate with my colleague, Rep. Steve Winter, whose deep knowledge of Geothermal Networks proved invaluable. Several key components of the bill focus on advancing the development of Geothermal Network infrastructure in Connecticut. These systems offer a clean, efficient alternative to traditional heating and cooling and represent a major step forward in our transition to a more sustainable energy future.

This legislation also expands access to a broader range of renewable energy sources, ensuring that the benefits of clean energy are more equitably distributed -- particularly in Environmental Justice communities that have faced the brunt of pollution and energy inequity. By prioritizing sustainable solutions and environmental equity, this bill moves Connecticut closer to a cleaner, fairer energy future for all.
 

Addressing the Child Care Crisis

The House and Senate took bold, bipartisan action to lower electric bills—passing a comprehensive energy reform bill with more than $780 million in savings for ratepayers. 

The bills:
 
Provide a Sustainable Investment 

  • Fund the Early Childhood Education Endowment to invest in child care now and in the future

Lower Costs and Increase Access

  • Child care and Pre-K will be free for families in state-funded programs earning up to $100,000 and families making over $100,000 will pay no more than 7% of income
  • Add 16,000 new child care and Pre-K slots across the state
  • Create an online portal to help families find and enroll in programs

Attract and Retain Early Childhood Educators

  • Pay qualified educators on par with public school teachers
  • Provide funding for health insurance coverage for educators   

This legislation delivers lasting solutions for families, educators, and the economy. Together, these measures provide relief for families, bolster recruitment and retention of child care educators, and invest in the construction and renovation of early learning facilities. These bills represent a transformational step forward in Connecticut’s commitment to children and their future. 
 

More Support For Our Veterans
The House of Representatives passed the final portion of the CT Hero Act via House Bill 6438, a crucial step toward strengthening and expanding the services veterans rely on.
 
The bipartisan legislation represents our commitment to ensuring services for those who’ve served our country.

This measure reaffirms Connecticut’s commitment to honoring our veterans and standing with those who have served.

Key provisions of the bill include: 

  • Making it easier for disabled veterans to qualify for state benefits: exempting veteran disability pay as an income requirement for certain state benefits
  • Hiring more state employees to help connect veterans to their benefits: hiring veteran service officers to this Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans in qualifying for the VA disability claims.
  • Guaranteeing free college tuition for disabled veterans: preventing higher ed institutions from charging fees
  • Making it easier for veterans to qualify for free legal service: exempting veteran disability pay from an income requirement when determining access to public defenders.
  • Making it easier for veterans and veteran own businesses to qualify for loans through D.E.C.D.
  • Directing the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs to study: claim sharks and the municipal veterans representative program.

The bill moves to the governor's desk for his signature after passing both chambers.
 

Let's Talk About It: Windham Budget

The Windham Town Council is trying to pass its new budget after a recent referendum failed. My co-host, Dennis O'Brien, hosted "Let's Talk About It" and had a great conversation with town council members Bill Sayers and Eddie Rios.
 
In this week's episode, our guests explained how the recent vote affects our access to local government services, regional taxes, property values, and so much more. Sayers and Rios also looked back at how they found their way to the Windham Town Council!
 
To hear the wide-ranging conversation, listen to the full episode below.
Windham Town Council members discuss recent budget.
 

Text Message Scam Warning

Connecticut State Police are warning all of us of a new text message scam involving a phony traffic ticket. The criminals pretend to be with the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and claim the recipient has an outstanding traffic ticket that must be paid immediately.

If you receive a text like the one below, DO NOT click on the link. It leads to a fraudulent website where your personal and financial information can be stolen.

Here are some tips from the Federal Trade Commission on how to avoid being a victim of these types of scams:

  • Do not respond to the text or click any links. The DMV would not ask for your information or money by text.
  • If you think the message might be real, contact the DMV using a trusted phone number or website.
  • Copy the text message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This will help your wireless provider spot and block similar messages.
  • Report the text on the messaging app you use. Look for the option to report junk or spam.
  • Report the text to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov and/or file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

If you did click the link and experienced a financial loss, please contact local law enforcement as soon as possible.