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This week, the House convened on Wednesday, March 25th, to vote on 15 executive nominations, 20 judicial nominations, and a tentative agreement between the State of Connecticut and the Connecticut Employees Union Independent NP-2 Bargaining Unit (CEUI). On Thursday, the Senate convened to vote on the same. During Wednesday's House Session, I was thrilled to welcome Isabel Almeida, President and CEO from United Way Coastal and Western Connecticut to the House Floor.
The majority of committees have wrapped up most of their work for the session and have passed a wide range of bills out of committee. House Leaders are now working together to decide which bills will be referred to another committee and which will be voted on in the weeks leading up to May 6th. Prior to that happening, any bill that has a fiscal note or cost will have to make it out of the appropriations committee prior to being sent to the House or Senate Floor for a vote. Be sure to stay updated with committee meetings by checking the weekly CGA calendar here: https://www.cga.ct.gov/.
If you have any questions, concerns, or if my office can be of assistance to you, please call my office at any time or email me at kaitlyn.shake@cga.ct.gov
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| Blue Collar Caucus Legislative Priorities |
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| This Wednesday, March 25th, I joined House members for a press conference outlining the Blue Collar Caucus legislative priorities. This bipartisan caucus is focused on the issues that matter most to working and middle-class families across Connecticut and is committed to supporting workers in every sector with job training opportunities, worker protections, and policies that put hardworking families first. This legislative session, our priority bills are focused on workforce development, first responder protections, healthcare, affordability, consumer protection, education, and trades. |
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On Thursday, March 26th, my colleagues and I recognized Equal Pay Day.
Equal Pay Day marks how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year, serving as a reminder of the persistent gender wage gap.
Connecticut’s women working full-time, year-round, typically make only 83 cents to the dollar of men. The gender gap is more severe for Black women (59 cents) and Latina women (49 cents) compared to white men in our state. Black women would have to work until July 21st, Latina women until October 8th, and Native American women until November 19th.
Connecticut ranks 22nd in the nation for its wage gap, highlighting ongoing income inequality. And, for the second year in a row, nationally, women are losing ground, earning 81 cents on the dollar to men. In 2024, it was 84 cents.
This year, H.B. 5387 seeks to improve the wage gap by requiring salary ranges to be disclosed in public or internal job postings. I am a proud co-sponsor of this bill, which was introduced by the Labor and Public Employees Committee. This helps women be in a better position to negotiate and to require equal pay for equal work.
During the press conference, we were joined by Tanya Hughes, the Executive Director of Connecticut's Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, who spoke about the work CHRO does to eliminate discrimination. To learn more about the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, visit their website at portal.ct.gov/chro/.
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Congratulations Julia!
Women's History Month Essay Contest Winner |
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In honor of Women’s History Month, I held an essay contest for high school students at Bunnell and Stratford High. The prompt was ‘Why Women Should Run for Political Office at the local, state, and federal levels. I was thrilled to read and hear from students across Stratford who overwhelmingly identified a main concern: we don’t have enough women in office and need to normalize women running for office and serving to better reflect the statistic that US women make up 51% of the United States population.
The winner of the 2026 essay contest was Stratford High Junior, Julia Williams! On Tuesday, March 24th, I went to Stratford High School to present Julia with a citation of achievement from the Connecticut General Assembly and a gift certificate to the Drowsey Whaler!
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| Free Tax Assistance Services |
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With the tax deadline approaching on April 15th, now is the time to take action if you haven’t filed yet. There are several free resources available this year for anyone who needs to file state and federal taxes.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help for low-to moderate-income people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Volunteers, sponsored by various organizations, receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. Visit Connecticut's 2-1-1 website and the Free Tax Help page for VITA assistance updates, or visit the IRS Site Locator.
AARP's Tax-Aide Program, a partnership between the AARP Foundation and the Internal Revenue Service, provides free tax counseling and preparation services to middle-and low-income taxpayers, with special attention to people age 60 and older. Many sites will e-file your federal and Connecticut returns at no cost to you. Visit the AARP Tax-Aide Site Locator to find a location near you.
The UConn Law School Tax Clinic is a pro bono (free) legal clinic that provides free legal help to low-income taxpayers with tax problems, either with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS). Lisa Perkins, Clinical Professor & Director, and law students will work on your case. The Tax Clinic also works with attorneys in Connecticut who volunteer to help low-income taxpayers pro bono. The Tax Clinic is independent and separate from the IRS and DRS. It is important to note that the UCONN tax clinic is only able to assist individual taxpayers with Connecticut income tax problems. Contact Lisa Perkins at lisa.perkins@uconn.edu or 860-570-5165 |
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| Department of Consumer Protection Scam Alert |
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Have you received a suspicious text claiming to be from Amazon? You’re not alone, and it’s likely a scam.
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection is warning residents about fraudulent messages that:
- Claim an order was “recalled”
- Urge you to click a link to confirm a refund
🚫 Do NOT click the link
📵 Block the number immediately
How to Spot the Scam
- Links that look unusual or misspelled
- URLs that do not include the official company name
- Messages creating urgency or asking for quick action
If something doesn’t look right, trust your instincts. When in doubt, go directly to the company’s official website instead of clicking any links.
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| Stratford Community Updates |
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| View the calendar below for the weekly Stratford Eats schedule of community meals, food pantries, and other food resources in the Stratford community. |
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| Sterling Community Center has opened their scholarship applications for graduating seniors who plan to continue their education. Click here to for more information and learn how to apply. |
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Save the date: The Southwestern CT Agency on Aging will be attending the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities Resource Fair coming up on April 23rd!
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Stratford Library will offer volunteering opportunities for teens this summer. Attend an Open House Information Session on April 30th or May 18th for more information. Applications will be available starting April 30th
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Southern Connecticut State University will honor former Stratford Brakette Donna Lopiano for being a trailblazer and leader in Women's Sports at a reception on June 15th. Click here for more information.
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Yours in service,
Kaitlyn Shake
State Representative |
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