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In this week's eblast, you can read about a one-time benefit for SNAP recipients, Connecticut's upcoming minimum wage increase, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
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A reminder that primary elections will take place on Tuesday, August 11, in municipalities where more than one candidate from the same political party has qualified for a particular office.
The primary will be preceded by seven days of early voting, now through August 9. Early voting hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for August 8 and 9.
In Connecticut, only registered members of a political party may vote in that party's primary. Voters who wish to participate in a different party's primary must first update their party affiliation. Under Connecticut law, voters who change their party affiliation must wait three months before they are eligible to vote in their new party's primary.
For additional election information and resources, click here to visit the Secretary of the State's election webpage.
If you plan to vote by absentee ballot, you no longer need to provide a specific reason to request one for any primary or election. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Monday, August 10.
Click here to access the absentee ballot request portal. |
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Connecticut has a semi-closed primary system. Unaffiliated voters who wish to vote in a primary must enroll in a political party by 12:00 p.m. on the day before the primary (August 10), provided they have been unaffiliated for at least three months.
Updating your party affiliation is one of the many changes voters can conveniently do online at https://ow.ly/Vmcn50Z38Qr. |
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Every day, thousands of people walk into healthcare settings to care for others and keep our healthcare system running. Nurses, clinicians, patient care staff, environmental services workers, dietary staff, registration teams, technicians, security personnel, and so many others all play an essential role in creating a safe and healing environment for patients.
Those who provide care and those who support that care deserve to feel safe at work. At the same time, every patient deserves compassionate, respectful, and high-quality care. These goals are not in conflict; they depend on each other.
That is why I am honored to co-chair the Healthcare Worker Safety Flagging System Working Group created through HB 5003.
This working group brings together healthcare workers, patient advocates, hospitals, behavioral health experts, technology leaders, and equity voices to thoughtfully examine how Connecticut can improve safety while protecting patient dignity, privacy, and access to care.
The goal is to make sure the people who interact with patients have the information they need to prepare appropriately, respond effectively, and provide the safest possible care for everyone involved.
A safer healthcare environment means safer care for patients and a safer workplace for the people who dedicate their lives to caring for others.
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A new one-time grocery benefit of $300 each is being distributed to low-income Connecticut residents who have been pushed out of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to federal changes.
The grocery benefits, through a partnership the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) arranged with Connecticut’s network of community action agencies and with support provided by the Connecticut Association for Community Action (CAFCA), will be distributed as prepaid virtual grocery cards—not loaded onto existing EBT cards.
Eligible residents should already be able to access these benefits. For more details, please visit the Department of Social Services website here.
While this one-time benefit will not fully blunt the impact of the federal changes, it will provide immediate relief for those who are in need.
Please read below for more information on this benefit.
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Who qualifies for the grocery benefit?
Any individual in a household who lost SNAP eligibility due to the new federal changes—commonly referred to as ABAWD, or Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents requirements—since December 1, 2025, and who is no longer receiving SNAP, qualifies for the benefit. The benefit is available per individual, not per household, and the amount is the same for every eligible recipient.
Connecticut residents who received a DSS notice stating they do not meet the ABAWD requirements and who are identified in that notice as having reached their three-month SNAP benefit limit should reach out to their local community action agency about how to request the benefit. Eligibility will be confirmed at the time of request.
Losing SNAP eligibility due to ABAWD does not necessarily mean an entire household loses benefits—other household members may still be eligible.
Receiving the $300 grocery benefit will not affect a resident’s eligibility for any other assistance program.
How the grocery benefit works
The grocery benefit functions like a prepaid Mastercard or Visa and can be used at any food retailer that accepts standard credit cards. It does not expire, and any unused balance remains on the card until spent. The benefit is intended for SNAP-eligible food purchases.
Community action agencies will lead outreach, verify eligibility, distribute the cards, and connect individuals with wraparound supports to help them work toward regaining SNAP eligibility. The state and its administrative partners are also establishing processes to prevent duplicate payments.
In Connecticut, we will continue to push back against the federal administration’s relentless attacks on the most vulnerable among us.
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The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) announced the next round of Ignite and Child Care Business Grant Programs.
The Ignite Grant Program is designed to help women-owned businesses in Connecticut grow, offering grants of up to $10,000 for a clearly-defined project that will have a measurable impact on the business, its growth, and profitability. The application period for Ignite grants runs from Aug. 5 through Sept. 13, 2026. You can find additional information on Ignite here. |
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The Child Care Business Opportunity Fund, offered in partnership with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC), provides grants of up to $25,000 to qualified licensed and aspiring child care businesses. The program offers grants that cover critical start-up costs, expand operations, and increase capacity to serve more families. The application period for Child Care Business grants runs from Aug. 3 through Aug. 31, 2026. You can find more information on the Child Care Business Opportunity Fund grants here.
Information sessions for both grant programs are scheduled throughout the application periods. These sessions will help applicants understand the grant requirements and provide an opportunity for those interested to ask questions about the grants. Interested applicants can register for a live information session here. |
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Connecticut’s minimum wage will adjust to $17.48 per hour beginning January 1, 2027—an increase from the 2026 rate of $16.94 per hour.
The change is required under a state law Governor Lamont enacted in 2019 requiring the minimum wage to receive annual adjustments at the start of every calendar year based on economic indicators from the prior fiscal year. This law ensures that as the economy grows, the minimum wage grows with it.
According to the Current Population Survey as calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 60% of minimum wage earners in Connecticut are women and people of color.
Continuing forward under this law, Connecticut workers and employers can anticipate that announcements declaring the adjustment in the minimum wage that will become effective on January 1 of the approaching year will be made during the second half of each calendar year.
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The Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA) has officially launched the MyCHESLA Grad Loan program.
The MyCHESLA Grad Loan is a new state-based graduate loan program designed to preserve access to affordable, fixed-rate financing for Connecticut students pursuing advanced degrees following the elimination of the federal Grad PLUS loan program, effective July 1. CHESLA’s new graduate loan program supports students enrolled in both graduate and professional degree programs.
Borrowers can choose from repayment terms of 5, 10, or 15 years, along with flexible in-school repayment options, including interest-only payments, full deferment, or immediate principal-and-interest payments. Combined, these options provide borrowers with nine fixed-rate offerings tailored to meet a range of financial needs.
Importantly, all approved borrowers have equal access to the same nine fixed rates, ensuring a transparent, fair, and consistent pricing structure.
Fixed interest rates for the MyCHESLA Grad Loan range from 5.50% to 7.99%, depending on the selected repayment term and in-school repayment option. The program offers a cost-effective, borrower-focused alternative to higher-cost private student loans, with every available fixed rate remaining below the current federal Grad PLUS loan rate of 8.94%.
Click here to learn more about CHESLA’s loan programs, financial education resources, and application process. |
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Please see below for the "Roadwork Corner" section of the eblasts, which will include information on current and upcoming roadwork to stay aware of. Please make sure to check in weekly for the latest updates!
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There will be lane shifts on Route 72 in Plainville/New Britain. The project 0171-0501 consists of rehabilitation measures for four (4) bridges that includes, but are not limited to deck rehabilitation, superstructure rehabilitation or replacement and substructure rehabilitation.
Other major project elements include paving, roadway drainage, guiderail replacement, highway design and construction, traffic engineering and work zone traffic control, illumination and Incident Management Systems (IMS) replacement or preservation, and utility coordination, as well as related design and construction requirements detailed throughout the Technical and General Provisions including Appendices and referenced authoritative sources.
Manafort Brothers Incorporated will implement traffic shifts on various Route 72 structures in Plainville/New Britain beginning on or around June 15 and continuing through early December 2026. Traffic will remain open during construction. Motorists should expect shifted travel lanes, reduced shoulder widths, temporary pavement markings, construction signage, and changing traffic patterns throughout the work zone.
Traffic control devices and signing will be installed to help guide drivers safely through the temporary roadway configuration. Motorists are advised to use caution, reduce speeds, and remain alert for construction vehicles, roadway workers, and temporary lane changes in the area.
Please note that the schedule may be modified or extended due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances. Additional traffic shifts will occur as needed in the project area into December 2026.
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that a Joint and Crack Sealing project will be performed on various state routes within the Greater Hartford region (CTDOT District 1). This project is scheduled to occur on Monday, June 1, 2026, and be completed on Friday, November 6, 2026. Project DOT01703229CN consists of pavement joint and crack sealing.
LANE CLOSURE/DETOUR INFO
There will be various lane closures on various state routes (see list below) from Monday, June 1, 2026, to Friday November 6, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Traffic control personnel and signing patterns 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. The following routes are included in this project:
Andover:
Route 316 between Route 6 and Hebron town line
Berlin:
Route 71 between Route 372 (Farmington Avenue) and SR 571
Bristol:
Route 72 East of Blakeslee Street to Main Street No. 1
East Windsor:
SR 510 between Route 5 by Wagner Lane and Route 5 by King Street
Route 140 between Route191 to Route 286
Manchester:
Route 83 between US 6 & 44 (Center Street) to Route 30
Mansfield:
Route 32 between Route 275 and Route 44
Route 44 between the Coventry town line and Route 195
Route 320 between Route 195 and Route 320
Plainville:
SR 536 between Route 372 (East Main Street) to White Oak Avenue
Wolcott:
Route 322 between Woodtick Road and SR 844
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that a tree removal operation will be performed on I-84 east and west bound from Exit 26 in Cheshire to Exit 34 in Plainville. This project is scheduled to occur on Monday, June 22 and be completed on Friday, August 14, 2026. No work will be carried out 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. This work is being performed by J&J Brothers LLC.
LANE CLOSURE INFO
There will be ramp and lane closures on I-84 east and west bound from Exit 26 in Cheshire to Exit 34 in Plainville starting Monday, June 22 to Friday, August 14, 2026, during the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., Monday – Thursday. Traffic will be detoured. 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. No work will be performed around any scheduled holidays.
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You can use the following links for access to town meeting schedules for the three towns in our district:
Plainville Town Meeting Schedule
Farmington Town Meeting Schedule
Southington Town Meeting Schedule
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Sincerely,
Rebecca Martinez
State Representative |
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