Melissa Osborne

The 2025 legislative session is underway, and I am as motivated as ever to support Simsbury at the Capitol! It's easier than ever to follow the action from home and get involved. Please read below for a list of resources to stay connected and participate in the democratic process.

On Monday, the nation will celebrate and honor the life of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who spent two summers in our community. You are invited to join a service remembering his life and legacy. I will share the details of the event in this newsletter.

Scammers are resorting to texting people claiming they owe an unpaid toll. I'll show you what the text looks like and break down how to avoid becoming a victim.

Here are the sections in this week's email:

• Back in Session & Legislative Resources
• Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.
• Scam Alert: Unpaid Toll Text
• Reminder: Apply for Student Loan Reimbursement Program
• Community Events

It's easier than ever to follow the action at the Capitol and get involved. There are several resources below you can utilize to stay updated on the legislative process as it unfolds in Hartford.

Here's how you can stay connected and actively participate:

• The Office of Legislative Research (OLR) provides nonpartisan and unbiased research to members of the General Assembly and their staff. Part of their duties include writing bill analyses, which are summaries of bills in plain language. 
• You can view the Connecticut General Assembly's upcoming events by checking out its schedule on the CGA official website. 
• Follow CT-N for live coverage of committee meetings, as well as House and Senate floor debates. 
• You can register to monitor any bill's journey as it goes through the legislative process. By signing up, you can enter the bill number and receive real-time updates. Stay informed with email notifications whenever there's a change in the bill's progress. 
• Visit this website for information on how to testify on a bill at a public hearing.

As most of you know, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., spent pivotal summers right here in Simsbury. As a Morehouse College student in the 1940s, Dr. King worked in Simsbury as part of a group of young men from the South who came to Connecticut to harvest tobacco. His time in Simsbury left a profound impact on him, providing his first experiences of racial integration and equality. Unlike the segregated South, Simsbury exposed him to a community where Black and white people lived and worked together, influencing his vision of a more just and equitable society.

Dr. King’s reflections on his summers in Simsbury reveal the seeds of his commitment to social justice and civil rights. In letters home, he described the freedom he felt and the inspiration he drew from attending an integrated church and witnessing a different way of life. These formative experiences in Connecticut shaped the values and principles that he carried into his leadership of the Civil Rights Movement. Today, Simsbury honors Dr. King’s legacy, recognizing its special place in his journey toward becoming a global icon for equality and human rights.

Let us honor his memory by recommitting ourselves to the pursuit of equity, inclusion, and unity in our communities. You're invited to join the First Church of Christ - the very church where Dr. King worshipped - for a service and ceremony commemorating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 20 at 2 p.m. at 689 Hopmeadow Street.

The ceremony will include musical performances and guest speakers in celebration of Dr. King's life and his time in Simsbury during the summers of 1944 and 1947. Following the program at First Church there will be a short march to the MLK in CT Memorial at Simsbury Free Library and a closing presentation.

Here are some tips from the FBI:

• If you receive one of these messages, file a complaint with the IC3, www.ic3.gov. Include where the number of the originating text came from, and the website from which the number was generated
• Delete any scam texts received
• If you clicked any link or provided your information, take efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts. Dispute any unfamiliar charges
• Always verify any toll-related charges directly through official state websites or customer service
• Stay vigilant and share this message with your friends and family to help protect our community

The requirements are the following:

• Must have graduated from a public or private college or university in Connecticut with a bachelor’s or associate degree
• Must be a Connecticut resident for at least five consecutive years
• Must have an income below $125,000 if filing single in 2023
• Must have an income below $175,000 if filing married in 2023
• Must have made payments towards student loans
• Must have 50 hours of volunteering time after January 1, 2024

This is an opportunity to support the people of Connecticut and to spur economic growth across our state.