Legislative Update for Sept. 2, 2025

September 2, 2025

Having just celebrated the holiday, I wanted to share this Labor Day statement from the Democratic members of the Labor and Public Employees Committee.

"Labor Day is the day we honor and celebrate the achievements, social and economic, of the American worker as well as the labor movement that fought for better working conditions during the 19th century.

Today, the American worker is under attack by the most anti-worker, anti-labor administration in our history, and just recently, the administration intensified its attacks on the union rights of federal employees at several agencies.

Here in Connecticut, state lawmakers have taken action to protect workers, including strengthening labor laws at the state level and launching programs to mitigate potential changes from the federal government. We also enhanced wage protections and expanded paid leave.

The Office of the Attorney General is in place as an advocate for federal workers facing challenges. We care about workers in Connecticut, and we stand with them. We will continue to fight back against policies or Executive Orders that would harm them and their families."

I endorse this message.

Strengthen the Trust Act

We had the chance to boldly strengthen our state's Trust Act, to extend greater protections for our residents and refuse to do business with companies that comply with ICE's unlawful demands. While we saw promising progress in the legislature, the final result fell short of the robust defense our community deserves.

Our initial call for stronger protections was right, and recent events have only made it clearer: we must do better to safeguard these fundamental human rights against authoritarian overreach.

Editorial: Homes not Handcuffs

Being unhoused is not a crime; it’s a visible sign that our government must do more. My letter to The Day argues that if we want stronger communities and a healthier economy, the first step is to address housing head on.

Please read my editorial that appeared in The Day.

Energy Assistance Program

The Generation Power CT (GPCT) Emergency Energy Assistance Program (formerly named Operation Fuel) opened on Tuesday, Sept., and will run through Sept. 10.

This program provides a one-time grant of up to $500 to help eligible Connecticut households with electric, gas, or fuel expenses 🏠💡

Increasing energy costs are a challenge for many in the state, and GPCT has helped to provide families across Connecticut with secure access to heat, power, and water.

All GPCT energy programs are available to income-eligible households making up to 75% SMI gross household income. Each income-eligible household that receives a GPCT Energy Assistance Award will receive up to $500 toward a future fuel delivery or toward a past-due utility bill.

For the best chance of approval, and to make full use of this once-per-12-months grant, GPCT strongly encourages households to apply for assistance when you are most in need. GPCT has four Energy Assistance Application Cycles:

Sept. 2-10
Nov. 2-10
Jan. 2-10, 2026
March 2-10, 2026

To learn more about eligibility requirements and application materials, visit: https://gpct.org/gethelp/

Around the 37th

Congratulations to Luxe Pilates on an incredible first year in business!

Owner Andrea Chappelle-Pinnock has built a studio that’s become a real asset to our community and it’s no surprise that Luxe Pilates was voted The Day’s Best of the Best Pilates & Yoga Studio for 2025!

As someone whose wife is a frequent customer (and who’s even joined a class myself!), I know firsthand the dedication, hard work, and welcoming spirit Andrea brings to every session.

Wishing Luxe Pilates many more years of success, growth, and wellness here in Niantic.

Honored to present a citation to Jim Harris in recognition of his 25 years as Shoreline Leo Club Advisor!

Through his dedication, Jim has guided generations of young people, giving Leo members a model of leadership, service, and community spirit to learn from. His commitment has left a lasting impact not just on the Leo Club, but on our entire community.

Thank you, Jim, for your years of service and for inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Great turnout at my Oswegatchie Hills walk

It was wonderful to walk the trails, learn about the history of the preserve, talk about the environmental work we’re doing in Hartford, and pick up trash along the way.

A big thank you to the Sierra Club and everyone who joined, protecting our environment takes all of us, and I’m grateful to be part of a community that shows up.