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Last night, June 4th, the House of Representatives adjourned the 2025 legislative session at midnight. It was an exciting—and incredibly busy—session at the Capitol, during which we successfully passed a number of important bills.
It is an honor to serve as your State Representative, and I look forward to continuing the work on behalf of the residents of Stratford. Please keep on reaching out with any questions or concerns—and remember, your voice matters in shaping the policies that impact our community.
In this week’s message, I’ll highlight some of the key bills we passed in the final days of the session, including the biennial state budget for FY2026-FY2027 and what they mean for Stratford.
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| Preventing Senior Scams Event: June 10th |
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You're invited to an engaging discussion in Stratford about the steps seniors can take to prevent becoming victims of scams. Please join Attorney General William Tong, State Representative Joe Gresko, and me on Tuesday, June 10, at 11 a.m. in the Lovell Room at Stratford Library.
Elder fraud is a serious and growing issue as criminals exploit seniors to steal money or personal information. They pose as family members, government officials, or tech support agents with phony phone calls, fake sweepstakes, investment scams, and email-based cons.
I strongly encourage everyone to attend, especially seniors and their caretakers. This is a great opportunity to gain the knowledge and acquire the tools you need to protect yourself and your family. |
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This week, the House passed many critical bills while in session, including:
✅ Senate Bill 1450 to recruit and retain health care providers in the state
✅ Senate Bill 1525 to implement the Teachers' Retirement Board recommendations for changes to the teachers' retirement system statutes
✅ Senate Bill 1542 An Act Concerning The Use of Handcuffs on Young Children
✅ Senate Bill 1357 An Act Concerning the Department of Consumer Protection's Recommendations Regarding Various Statutes Concerning Consumer Protection
✅ House Bill 6951 An Act Concerning Children's Behavioral Health Services
✅ House Bill 7026 to provide greater flexibility to address regional shortages in nursing home beds
✅ House Bill 7191 to phase an increased rate of reimbursement to Medicaid providers over three years in accordance with a rate study commissioned by the Department of Social Services
✅ House Bill 7287 An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2027
✅ Senate Bill 10 An Act Concerning Health Insurance and Patient Protection (co-sponsor)
✅ House Bill 5428 An Act Concerning Mobile Manufactured Home Parks (co-sponsor)
✅ House Bill 6438 An Act Concerning Revisions to the Health Insurance Statutes
✅ House Bill 7200 An Act Concerning Bleeding Control Training and Kits
✅ House Bill 7233 to establish an account to fund Parkinson's disease research
✅ Senate Bill 4 to improve service and reduce costs for electricity ratepayers in the state
✅ Senate Bill 1295 An Act Concerning Social Media Platforms and Online Services, Products and Features
✅ House Bill 6900 to establish a task force to study child development and perinatal depression screening tools and data sharing systems
You can read more about some of these bills below, or click the link for each bill to learn more. These are just some of the many bills passed in the House and Senate this week. For a full list of bills passed during this session, click here.
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| Biennial Budget Puts People First |
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As the CT Mirror’s budget reporter pointed out: “The state House of Representatives adopted a $55.8 billion two-year budget early Tuesday that invests in child care and K-12 education, provides a $250 tax cut to working poor families...” Tax relief for working families; investing in education and special education; transformative funding for childcare and early childhood education; and standing up for nonprofit service providers are the pillars of the next state budget.
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 frontlines every day, serving our most vulnerable neighbors. This budget affirms and reinforces their vital role in building a stronger, more inclusive community for all. |
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The 2025 biennial budget stands up for Connecticut, here's how:
HISTORIC NEW FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION
✅$40 million for Excess Cost Grant in each of next two years
✅$30 million for Special Education Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program
✅$20 million in bonding to expand and upgrade special education facilities
✅$10 million in bonding for capital development
✅$10 million for Governor's Incentive District Grant
✅Hold harmless funding for Education Cost Sharing, so no school district sees a cut
CHILDCARE
✅Investing in 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 non-profit community providers
✅$150 million more for group homes and nursing homes
✅Additional than $60 million in Medicaid rate increases, which will benefit nonprofit providers
TAX RELIEF 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 Connecticut residents are supported and protected. |
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| I am pleased to share that Representative Gresko and I were able to secure a total of $86.6 million in funding for Stratford in Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027. This includes an additional $968,000 through the new Special Education Expansion and Development Fund (SEED) for Stratford Public Schools over the next two years, which is a huge win for our school district to support every student's success. |
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| Addressing the Childcare Crisis |
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| Every Connecticut family deserves affordable, high-quality childcare. With the passage of House Priority Bill 5003 and Senate Bill 1, transformative legislation is set to become a reality by expanding access, supporting educators, and investing in a stronger future for our children and our economy. These smart, sustainable investments position Connecticut to lead the nation in delivering affordable, high-quality childcare and establishing universal Pre-K by 2032. |
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The bills:
Provide a Sustainable Investment
✅ Fund the Early Childhood Education Endowment to invest in childcare now and in the future
Lower Costs and Increase Access
✅ Childcare 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 childcare 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 the recruitment and retention of childcare 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.
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| Transportation and Safety Updates |
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House Democrats passed two Transportation bills this weekend that reflect Connecticut’s commitment to safer streets, smarter infrastructure, and modernized services.
The provisions in the legislation include:
🔹Increasing state funding to our local transit districts, helping local governments apply for federal grants
🔹Stronger DUI and BUI (boating) penalty
🔹Improving pedestrian safety in new crosswalks
🔹Updating helmet rules on bikes and motorcycles for young people
🔹50% fare discount to seniors, veterans, minors, and the disabled on state-owned buses
🔹Creating a “yellow envelope” program to improve interactions between the police and people with disabilities
🔹Designating Special Service Road 495 in Meriden as the "Andrew DiDomenico Memorial Highway" and Bridge No. 01241 in Southington as the "State Trooper First Class Aaron M. Pelletier Memorial Bridge" |
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| 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. |
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Key provisions of the bill include:
✅ Lower Bills
• Paying Down COVID-era Electric Debt
• Cutting Charges for Solar, EVs & Fuel Cells
• Smarter Energy Purchasing to Lock in Savings
• Smoothing $1.2B Storm Costs to Avoid Rate Spikes
✅ Smarter Grid
• Require Cost-Saving Tech Reviews Before Costly Grid Projects
• Improve Planning to Avoid Wasteful “Gold-Plated” Upgrades
✅ Stronger Future for CT Families
• Support Advanced Nuclear & Geothermal
• Incentivize Grid Efficiency
• Expand DEEP’s Clean Energy Planning Authority
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. |
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| On June 7th, Boothe Memorial Park will be holding its annual Hat Off to Roses event. Stroll through the beautiful rose garden with performances of snippets of Shakespeare and background music. Lovely hats are encouraged! |
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Stratford Professional Firefighters IAFF 998 is holding its annual softball game against the Stratford Brakettes. This year the game will benefit Linked- Autism Safety Project to go along with our T Shirt Fundraiser. This year's pregame will feature a kickball game against Stratford Police Union Local 407.
Individual tickets are $15
Family of four for $20
Tickets can be purchased at the gate or ahead of time at the link below.
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Registration is open for the Stratford Veterans Museum and Stratford Seniors Men's Club Golf Tournament!
Check out the flyer below to see how you can reserve your spot! |
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Yours in service,
Kaitlyn Shake
State Representative |
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