Rebecca Martinez

This week, I want to give you a deep dive on the legislation passed this session to help our veterans.

• We excluded veterans' pension benefits from income eligibility determinations under HUSKY A & D, Medicaid, Medicare Savings Program, and CEAP. Additionally, we exempted service-connected disability compensation from income calculations for public defender eligibility - expanding access to legal defense for veterans with mental health conditions. (PA 25-95) 
• Improved access to capital and job creation among our veterans by prioritizing disabled veteran entrepreneurs in the Small Business Express loan program. (PA 25-95)
• We extended tuition waivers to exempt some hidden fees at public colleges and universities for veterans and National Guard members. (PA 25-95)
• We funded the Joint Enlistment Enhancement Program (JEEP), allowing us to continue a successful incentive that awards National Guard members for peer recruitment. (PA 25-95)
• We increased staffing in the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Advocacy and Assistance, addressing backlogs and improving assistance with benefits claims and initiated a study of "benefits claim sharks" to examine the prevalence of contracts that exploit veterans seeking assistance with benefits. (PA 25-95)
• We designated June 12 as Women's Veterans Day. (PA 25-15)
• We created new commemorative license plates to honor Connecticut Women Veterans, the Borinqueneers (a historic Puerto Rican infantry unit), and Purple Heart recipients. (PA 25-15)
• We provided no-cost driver's license renewals for veterans, and required the DMV to issue vouchers for veterans whose licenses are close to their expiration date. (PA 25-15)
• We ensured education stability for military-connected students by allowing children to remain enrolled in the same school district after relocation and facilitating special education evaluations and record transfers. (PA 25-15)
• Building off our 2024 law, we granted towns some new options to expand property tax exemptions for veterans and Gold Star families, to include: (HB 7287)
  • Gold Star spouses, veterans rated Totally Disabled due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU), and veterans impacted before 2024.
  • Up to two acres of land.
  • A cap on the exemption at the municipal median property value as a means of expanding eligibility in a fiscally sustainable way. 

From tubing on the Farmington River to taking a sunset river cruise on the Connecticut River to exploring one of the many great museums in our state to finding the best seafood shack or ice cream shop -- there is so much to do all over Connecticut this summer.

Click the image above for inspiration from the 40 Things to do in Connecticut list and find something fun to do this July!