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Happy Friday - I hope you had a great week.
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This week, the Blue-Collar Caucus - which I chair along with Rep. Kara Rochelle - joined to unveil their 2026 legislative priorities.
Over the past several months, we’ve been meeting weekly with a wide range of stakeholders—workers, unions, advocates, and community leaders—to hear directly what blue-collar families are facing. And what we’ve heard is clear: rising costs, workforce shortages, and job conditions are putting real pressure on the people who keep our state running.
These bills support our educators, protect our healthcare workers and first responders, reforms worker rights in our trades, and addresses affordability for our blue-collar families.
You can learn more about the priority bills for the caucus here!
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In the rest of this week's eblast, you can read about tax prep assistance, energy consumption and conservation, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
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Below is a message from the state Department of Transportation:
A tree removal operation will be performed on I-84 eastbound from Exit 31 to 34 in Southington and Plainville. This project is scheduled to occur on Monday, March 30 and be completed on Friday, June 5, 2026. No work will be performed around any scheduled holidays
To ensure the safety of the public, CTDOT is removing dead, diseased, and decaying trees. Additionally, trees and vegetation that have grown into the clear zone, which is the safety space along the side of the roadway, are also being removed. This work helps save lives in the event of a crash or vehicle leaving the roadway.
LANE CLOSURE INFO
There will be various overnight ramp and lane closures on I-84 eastbound from Exit 31 in Southington to Exit 34 in Plainville starting on Monday, March 30 during the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., Monday – Thursday. No work will be performed around any scheduled holidays.
Traffic will follow posted detours. Traffic control personnel signing patterns and trailer mounted attenuators will guide motorists through the work zone.
Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this area.
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Next Thursday, April 2 at 6pm, the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority will be hosting an information session with the Town of Farmington at the Farmington Library (6 Montieth Dr.).
The event is part of the CT Paid Leave's ongoing outreach to municipalities across the state and collaborations with them to raise awareness of the program.
CT Paid Leave provides income for Connecticut workers who need to take off time for various reasons, including dealing with serious health conditions, having a child, or caring for a family member.
If you would like to learn more, please consider attending this event! |
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A reminder that with the tax deadline approaching on Wednesday, April 15, 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 (under $58,000) 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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During a recent Energy and Technology Committee meeting, an energy expert testified about how we can keep our oil and gas costs in check.
While there isn't much that can be done concerning the current cost of commodities, residents can control consumption through conservation, according to the expert.
That incudes the following:
- Drive your vehicle the speed it's built to be driven. That means driving the speed limit, which is a great way to conserve fuel.
- Inflate your vehicle's tires.
- Homeowners should call their fuel companies and schedule annual preventative furnace and boiler maintenance, including burner cleaning and efficiency testing.
You can click here to watch that testimony.
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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
Image of the scam text
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
Stay Safe
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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Governor Ned Lamont announced that the state will implement new federal Workforce Pell Grants through the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy (OWS), marking a major expansion of financial aid for short-term, career-focused training.
Enabled by H.R. 1 Workforce Pell expansion, the policy allows low-income students to use Pell Grants for programs lasting 8–15 weeks (150–599 hours). Previously, only programs at least 15 weeks and 600 hours qualified. This change is designed to open faster, more flexible pathways into high-demand fields, especially for working adults and non-traditional learners.
OWS will coordinate a broad statewide effort involving agencies and institutions such as the Connecticut Office of Higher Education, Connecticut Department of Labor, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, and the University of Connecticut, along with workforce boards and credentialing bodies. The goal is to align training programs directly with employer needs and regional labor shortages.
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To qualify for Workforce Pell funding, programs must meet strict performance and quality standards:
- Align with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industries
- Lead to a recognized, stackable postsecondary credential
- Achieve at least a 70% completion rate and 70% job placement rate
- Result in wages above the state median for high school graduates
- Be in operation for at least one year
The initiative is intended to strengthen Connecticut’s talent pipeline while making education more accessible and outcomes-driven. Workforce Pell Grants are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.
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Prom season is right around the corner. Every high school student should have an opportunity to attend if they so choose - the cost should not be a hurdle.
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is holding an Olive Branch "Prom Shop". Any high school student that is receiving or has received DCF support is eligible for a free grown or suit. The shops have a variety of options to ensure that students look sharp on their special night. |
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To help these students in need, DCF is collecting gently used prom gowns, men's suits and tuxes, fancy shoes, and accessories, such as ties, jewelry, and purses. Please see the list of drop off locations below.
Please reach out to Jacqueline Ford (Jacqueline.Ford@ct.gov) if you have any questions. |
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Sincerely,
Rebecca Martinez
State Representative |
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