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Friday is Juneteenth, a day of reflection, celebration, and progress.
As we commemorate the end of slavery in the United States and celebrate the resilience and contributions of the Black community, let's continue to strive for equality, justice, and freedom for all.
Please look at the graphics below for a few great events in the district!
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In this week's eblast, you can read about new laws effective July 1, Access Health CT's Temporary Premium Assistance program, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
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It has been busy in the 40th District recently!
Over the past weekend, I attended an America 250 event at the Jabez Smith house in Groton! It was great to connect with many community members and explore Groton’s Revolution era history.As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, let us reflect, learn, and think about the ideals, moments, and stories that created our country, which will allow us to be inspired by our great nation and guide us as we make our union a little more perfect over the next 250 years.A special thank you to the Groton 250th Anniversary Committee and everyone involved in organizing the event. Visit their website to learn more events happening in the community!
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Last week I attended Southeastern Connecticut Television Studios for their wonderful Summer Open House featuring amazing ice cream from Kohr’s Ice Cream & More! I can’t wait for them to open their new shop in the Groton Post Office Plaza later this summer.
It’s always great visiting SECT-TV - I love hearing about what amazing programming they offer, and what the need is for protecting local public access television.
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I recently stopped by Community Speaks Out's annual Joey Gingeralla Golf Tournament. The tournament was to raise money for their scholarship. Shout out to the all the volunteers who made this a special event!
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| The next stop was United for Ukraine (Mystic) concert to benefit humanitarian efforts in Ukraine at Thrive 55+ in Groton. It was wonderful hearing Ukrainian musicians perform and share their music with our community. |
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I also joined Groton leaders at the groundbreaking for renovations on the skateboard park at Sutton Park! This groundbreaking has been five years coming and is the planned first phase of many.
It was my honor to take part in the special event after working on this project during my time on the Town Council and supporting current attempts to get state funding for the next phases of the project. Thank you to all who made this such a special day! |
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Last week, I joined Governor Ned Lamont for a bill signing that protects labor and expands benefits for Connecticut’s police officers, firefighters, correction officers, EMS personnel, and National Guard members.
I was proud to Co-Sponsor this bill. The bill includes a section I worked on with State Representative Jaime Foster, State Senator Paul Honig, and State Representative Mark Anderson on the Veterans Committee’s Troop to Trades Initiative. This portion of the bill creates a position in the department of the Military to help transition military personnel into the trades field. This provision will help employers like Electric Boat hire veterans here in Connecticut.
In addition to to the Troops to Trades Initiative, this bill gives college tuition waivers, mortgage assistance, and health coverage for survivors of those who lost their life in protecting our community for emergency personnel.
These are the people who show up for our communities every single day, and it is with great pride I support these individuals!
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A new law has been signed strengthening protections for children going to and from school by holding drivers accountable when they fail to stop for school buses has been signed into law.
Beginning October 1, 2026, drivers who violate the state’s school bus stopping law for a third time will face a six-month suspension of their driver’s license. Drivers must stop at least 10 feet from the front or back of a school bus displaying its flashing red lights and remain there until the lights are off.
Violations include a $450 fine for the first offense and a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to 30 days in prison, or both for a subsequent offense. This new law adds another important layer of accountability. |
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A reminder that Access Health CT announced that eligible customers can enroll in a health insurance plan with Temporary Premium Assistance through a Special Enrollment Period that will end on June 30th.
The Temporary Premium Assistance has provided over $1.6 million in savings for 10,580 Connecticut residents to date. At the end of 2025, Governor Lamont announced the Temporary Premium Assistance to help customers who lost financial assistance when the federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits expired. The Special Enrollment Period for Temporary Premium Assistance opened on February 1st, and customers can continue to enroll through June 30th.
Customers who qualify for this Special Enrollment Period include:
- Households with an annual income between 100% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) who are not already enrolled in the Covered CT Program. These customers will receive a state subsidy to replace 100% of the expired federal enhanced premium tax credit amounts.
- Households with an annual income over 400% and up to 500% FPL. These customers will receive a state subsidy to replace 50% of the expired federal enhanced premium tax credit amounts.
To enroll, customers can call 1-855-805-4325, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, with help available in over 100 languages. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use the TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call 1-855-805-4325 with a relay operator.For free help online, customers can visit AccessHealthCT.com. They can also chat live with a customer service representative by clicking the “Live Chat” icon on the website. Live chat is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
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Several new laws that we passed during the 2026 legislative session will take effect on July 1, bringing important changes for Connecticut residents.
Among them is Public Act 26-42, which expands access to voting by allowing any eligible voter to cast an absentee ballot without needing to provide a specific reason. The law removes outdated restrictions that previously limited absentee voting to a narrow set of circumstances.
Another new law, Public Act 26-12, strengthens recruitment and retention efforts for Connecticut's first responders. The legislation expands benefits such as tuition waivers and mortgage assistance for police officers, firefighters, correction officers, EMS personnel, and National Guard members, while also providing support for the families of certain public safety personnel who die in the line of duty.
Public Act 26-1 provides stronger workplace protections for employees at warehouses and fulfillment centers. The law ensures that productivity quotas do not interfere with legally required meal and bathroom breaks and requires employers to clearly communicate any quotas workers are expected to meet.
These measures reflect our ongoing efforts to make voting more accessible, support those who serve our communities, and strengthen protections for Connecticut workers.
You can click here for or a full list of the laws beginning on July 1.
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Due to the passage of HR 1 by the federal government, there are new updates to SNAP and HUSKY Health work rules.
New SNAP work rules took effect November 2025, and new HUSKY Health (HUSKY D) work rules take effect January 1, 2027.
Below, you can find fliers in English and Spanish that clearly lay out the new work requirement rules.
A few key points the flier covers include:
- Many people will NOT lose their benefits — but residents need to check whether the new work rules apply to them.
DSS has free online prescreeners for both SNAP and HUSKY Health so residents can find out quickly.
- Connecticut's Community Action Agencies (CAAs) offer free, in-person help. Residents can find their local CAA at www.cafca.org/agencies.
Please don't hesitate to reach out for more information.
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United Way of Connecticut, in partnership with the Department of Social Services, has launched a grant program for Connecticut food pantries that are not members of the Connecticut Foodshare Agency Network. Organizations that operate a food pantry in Connecticut are eligible to apply for funding to provide food to the general public in the communities they serve
Eligible food pantries must meet the following criteria:
- 501c3 organization in good standing or a municipality that operates a food pantry
- Provided food for human consumption to the general public at no charge for at least twelve (12) months prior to submission
- Not part of the Connecticut Foodshare Agency Network
If eligible, a pantry can receive additional funding up to 25% of their annual food purchase costs, to a maximum of $50,000.
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Governor Lamont has announced a plan to allocate $8.5 million from Connecticut’s Federal Cuts Response Fund to provide $300 grocery assistance cards to approximately 25,000 Connecticut residents who are expected to lose their federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to recent federal rule changes.
Under the proposal, eligible individuals who have lost SNAP eligibility as a result of new federal work requirements will receive a one-time grocery assistance card that can be used to purchase food at participating grocery stores. In addition, applicants will be connected with resources and support services to help them regain SNAP eligibility whenever possible.
The initiative is designed to provide immediate relief to residents facing food insecurity while helping families navigate changes to federal benefit programs. As the cost of groceries continues to place pressure on household budgets, this assistance will help ensure that vulnerable residents can continue to access nutritious food and meet their basic needs.
Connecticut’s Federal Cuts Response Fund was established in late 2025 to help the state respond quickly and effectively to federal policy changes and funding reductions that impact residents. This proposal marks the fourth plan submitted by Governor Lamont to legislative leaders for the use of the fund since its creation, demonstrating Connecticut’s ongoing commitment to supporting residents during times of economic uncertainty and transition. |
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Sincerely,
Dan Gaiewski
State Representative |
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