Celebrating Veterans Day, Legislative Special Session Updates, and more

November 14, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

This week, on Wednesday, November 12th, the House of Representatives met for a Special Session. The legislature used the Special Session to address the funding shortfalls of the federal government, a new housing bill, and more. We passed $500 million to cover reductions in funding from the federal level. Further down in this email, you can read additional details about what the legislature passed during the special session this week. 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.

Celebrating Veterans Day

I hope all Veterans in Stratford had a great Veterans Day, and I want to thank you all again for your service. Tuesday morning, I had the pleasure of attending the annual Raymond T. Goldbach VFW Post 9460 Veterans Day Ceremony at Academy Hill. It was incredible to meet with many Stratford Veterans and hear stories about their service.

Later in the afternoon, Rep. Gresko and I presented $100,000 from the Connecticut General Assembly to the Stratford Veterans Museum to support their window improvement project. Advocating for this state funding was a priority for me during the regular 2025 legislative session, and I am thankful to my colleagues in the legislature who voted to approve the state budget and for Governor Lamont’s support!

And lastly, I am proud to report that on Monday night, the Stratford Town Council PASSED the Veterans Property Tax exemption for those who qualify!

Foodshare Distribution

On Monday, November 10^th, I was pleased to join Representative Gresko and volunteers from Stratford Health Department, Medical Reserves Corps, Stratford YMCA, and Stratford residents at the Connecticut Foodshare's monthly distribution in Stratford at Holy Name of Jesus Roman Catholic Church. We spent the morning setting up the distribution site and providing the Stratford community with food and resources. This month's food distribution served approximately 138 residents, providing those households with food. The Stratford Health Department offered an on-site flu vaccine clinic during the Foodshare distribution, which provided over 15 residents with the flu vaccine.

Food insecurity is a real-life problem for many residents here in Stratford, and this group of dedicated volunteers is able to provide families with direct access to food. We have seen that the federal government has fallen short in delivering SNAP benefits and access to food and resources to families during the federal government shutdown. We will continue to support the Stratford community and provide residents with essential resources during this time.

$500 M Passed to Address Federal Funding Reduction

This week, the legislature convened in special session to address several important matters, including the need for temporary adjustments to the Budget Reserve Fund and the appropriation of funds to offset reductions in federal programs such as SNAP, WIC, and others that directly impact Connecticut residents. We also took up a number of additional priorities aimed at supporting essential state programs and maintaining fiscal stability. House Bill No. HB-8003 is the state's $500 million funding response to cutbacks in federal funding.

The funding will cover gaps in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the Low-Income Heating Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP. Connecticut will not sit by idly as the federal government attacks middle and low-income families.

Addressing Connecticut's Housing Crisis

This week, during the legislature's special session, we passed a new housing bill, HB 8002: An Act Concerning Housing Growth. Partnerships are at the heart of this effort. The bill empowers towns to plan for responsible, data-driven growth using insights from state, local, and regional partners to meet the housing needs. In contrast to HB 5002, this plan was the result of true partnership and compromise with various municipal leaders, regional councils, and officials on both sides of the aisle.

Municipalities will have the option to create a Housing Growth Plan that works for them. It empowers municipalities to take the lead in designing local housing strategies. They will work alongside their Council of Governments (COGs) to determine how to meet regional housing needs.

The state will support municipalities that choose to participate through funding for various projects, including infrastructure, transit, and schools. The municipalities that take steps to implement a plan will be eligible for funding through a new housing growth program and a 5% increase to their school building project reimbursement rate.

The legislation encourages the redevelopment of underused properties, from aging strip malls to vacant commercial spaces, and promotes transit-oriented development that connects residents to jobs, schools, and public transportation. By combining innovation with local control and targeted support, we are strengthening the partnership between the state and municipalities to modernize infrastructure, improve zoning and land-use planning, and create vibrant, inclusive communities across Connecticut.

Beginning earlier this week, Stratford residents received their residential property revals from the town's contracted company: Vision Government Solutions, and the response from many is the same: The value of my home is up another 65-85%—what will that mean when the next property tax bills go out? Does my PMI go up? Does flood insurance go up? Yes, the Mayor and the town council will have to set a mill rate by the end of June 2026. But in the meantime—residents are deeply concerned about being priced out of their homes and the serious consideration of selling their home because they can’t afford to stay in Stratford.

I will do everything I can to work with our town leaders and state delegation to bring financial relief back from Hartford to Stratford residents. This crisis touches every part of life — from economic opportunity to education, health, and even public safety. Just last week, the CBIA Foundation for Economic Growth released a report on the economic impact of Connecticut’s housing shortage. Many of the solutions they recommend are included in HB 8002, including upzoning for middle housing and beginning an effort to rethink parking requirements that add to the cost of housing and have significant impacts on the environment and stormwater management.

There’s still more work ahead, but An Act Concerning Housing Growth marks a major step forward in our shared effort to expand housing opportunities, support local economies, and ensure every Connecticut resident can find, and afford, a home in a community they’re proud to call their own.

A Commitment to Children's Behavioral Health

During the special session on Wednesday, we passed legislation that continues to build on House Democrats’ commitment to children’s behavioral health care.

Highlights include:

Statewide study to assess the demand for children’s behavioral health services and improve data collection
New grant program to support care coordination and resource navigation for kids and families
Insurance companies must now cover autism treatments — including applied behavior analysis and cognitive behavioral therapy — up to age 26
Adding substance abuse treatment providers for children to the Transforming Children’s Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee (TCB)

Together, these measures represent a stronger, more coordinated system of care for Connecticut’s children.

Early Start CT Expansion

Thanks to the Early Childhood Education Endowment, an initiative that was passed by the General Assembly in the 2025 legislative session, the expansion of the Early Start CT program in 2026 marks an important step forward in meeting the growing demand for high-quality early childhood care and education across Connecticut.

Beginning in January 2026, up to 1,000 new spaces will be added to the state’s Early Start CT program, expanding access to affordable early learning opportunities for more families. In addition, the state will increase provider payments by up to 8% to help offset operational costs and support higher staff compensation. The endowment supports the governor’s initiative to implement the largest expansion of early childhood education services in Connecticut’s history. We are thrilled about this program and the tremendous benefits it will bring to children, families, and communities across the state.

Early Start CT is a state-funded early care and education program serving income-
eligible families with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. The program is administered by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC).

To support this expansion, OEC will soon launch a Request for Applications (RFA) for child care providers interested in offering Early Start CT spaces. The RFA will be open to child care centers, group child care homes, family child care homes, and public school preschool classrooms throughout the state.

Click here for more information on Early Start CT.

Local Stratford Updates

The Stratford Health Department will be holding Flu Clinics throughout October, November, December, and January. Check out the November clinic dates below, as well as what insurance is accepted at the clinic.

Stratford PAL and United SEPTSA of Stratford invite United SEPTSA families and friends to enjoy a day of activities, games, and fun with some of Stratford’s Police Officers on November 15th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the PAL Building at 900 Longbrook Avenue.

This month's Sunday Afternoon Talks at the Stratford Library will highlight "The Irish Famine Immigrants of Connecticut" with a presentation by Loretto Horrigan Leary from Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum of Fairfield. This month's talk will take place on November 16th, starting at 2 p.m. at the Stratford Library, and is free to attend.

The Sterling Community Center has begun collecting donations for its Thanksgiving Food Drive. Bring donation items to Sterling House now through November 19th.

The Stratford Chamber of Commerce Shop Small in Stratford will take place from November 29th through December 31st. Be a part of an inspiring community event that celebrates and supports local businesses during this Holiday Season!

The Sterling Community Center's The Great Rake will take place from November 21st through November 29th. Volunteers will help rake leaves from pathways and yards at no cost for anyone in Stratford over the age of 65 or those with disabilities who physically can't rake themselves or pay for a service. Click here if you would like to volunteer, and reach out to tgockley@sterlingcc.org if you would like your yard raked.