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| Happy Sunday! We are moving into the final stretch of the legislative session. This past week, the House was in session Tuesday through Saturday, debating and voting on crucial bills from the early morning to late night. With our last few days coming up, I remain dedicated to passing legislation that will benefit Stratford’s residents. There is still time if you are concerned about certain legislation that has yet to be voted on, and I encourage you to email me so that I can take your feedback into consideration before voting. It is an honor to serve as your State Representative and be one of the voices for Stratford residents at our State Capitol. |
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| On Wednesday, May 28th, I met with members of SEIU1199 New England, the state's largest healthcare workers’ union in Long Term Care. Their continued advocacy on legislation that is important to them helps us understand the issues that matter most and how we can assist and support our frontline healthcare workers. Last Friday, SEIU1199 reached a historical deal with Governor Lamont’s Administration to avert a strike that would have involved more than 6,400 caregivers at 51 nursing homes and 193 group homes for people with disabilities. |
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| Childcare advocates returned to Hartford this week. It was great to see more residents from Stratford on Wednesday, May 28th, at the Capitol advocating to increase childcare funding, a priority of many legislators, including myself, this session. |
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On Friday, May 30th Rep. Gresko and I had the pleasure of introducing Stratford resident to the chamber. She spent the afternoon with me getting a first hand civics lesson of what it's like during the last few days of the busy legislative session.
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| Stratford Day at the Capitol |
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On Wednesday, May 28th, we celebrated Stratford Day at the Capitol, and I had the privilege of welcoming businesses, local organizations, and residents from across Stratford, each representing one of our town's many aspects. This was a great opportunity to highlight what our town has to offer, from our history to dedicated community organizations and members.
I also had the honor of recognizing 4th and 5th grade classes from Nichols Elementary School on the House Floor who were up in Hartford visiting the Capitol. It was a very exciting day around the Capitol with community members of all ages from Stratford. I look forward to continuing this tradition of highlighting the best of Stratford. |
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This week, the House passed many critical bills while in session, including:
✅ House Bill 6835 to adopt the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact
✅ House Bill 7134 to extend protections available under section 52-196a of the general statutes to privileged communications made in connection with incidents of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and discrimination on the basis of sex
✅ House Bill 7276 An Act Concerning the Municipal Employees Retirement System and Group Life Insurance for Retired State Employees (co-sponsor)
✅ Senate Bill 9 to provide municipalities certain authorities concerning climate resiliency efforts and restrict the use of neonicotinoids and second-generation rodenticides
✅ Senate Bill 1221 to implement the recommendations of the Comptroller concerning the administration of the Connecticut Retirement Security Program (co-sponsor)
✅ Senate Bill 1284 An Act Concerning the Illegal Use of Certain Vehicles and Street Takeovers (co-sponsor)
✅ House Bill 5001 to improve the quality and delivery of special education services (co-sponsor)
✅ House Bill 7131 to require the Office of Workforce Strategy to identify and publicize sources of financial aid for students in paramedic certificate programs (co-sponsor)
✅ Senate Bill 3 An Act Concerning Consumer Protection and Safety (co-sponsor)
✅ Senate Bill 7 to protect continued access to health care and the equitable delivery of health care services in the state (co-sponsor)
✅ Senate Bill 1336 to require the Department of Banking to conduct a study and submit a report concerning banking issues in the state
✅ House Bill 5607 to eliminate the subminimum wage for persons with disabilities
✅ House Bill 6438 to make minor and technical changes in a statute related to veteran's affairs
✅ House Bill 6932 to establish a state board to set standards for interpreting services for persons who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing
✅ House Bill 7079 to require the Insurance Commissioner to conduct a study concerning insurance regulation in the state
✅ Senate Bill 8 An Act Concerning Protections for Workers and Enhancements to Workers' Rights (co-sponsor)
✅ Senate Bill 1239 to establish that the surviving family of a firefighter killed in the line of duty shall be paid a death benefit from the Fallen Officer Fund and provide health insurance coverage to the survivors of a firefighter killed in the line of duty
I am also thrilled to share that during Saturday's House Session, we passed both Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 5003, increasing access to childcare across Connecticut. I am proud to support both of these bills and give our families the services they deserve and need.
You can read more about some of these bills below, or click the link for each bill to learn more. These are just some of the many bills passed in the House and Senate this week. For a full list of bills passed during this session, click here.
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| My Vote on the Housing Bill HB 5002 |
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Thank you to ALL of my constituents who reached out to share their views on HB5002, both for and against it. I sincerely appreciate hearing your thoughts on the housing bills that have been in committee, along with the larger HB 5002 that was before us on the floor on Tuesday, May 27th, as it helped shape my position.
Like many of you, I had concerns about HB5002, similar to when our community members opposed the Center School Property Development project that passed through the Town Council a few years ago. I want you to know that I actively engaged in conversations with both the bill's proponents and many of my colleagues to get clarity and push for greater improvements. We worked hard to address constituents' concerns, and while meaningful changes were made, HB5002 led to many of my constituents contacting me in opposition. After more than 11.5 hours of debate on the House Floor, I made the decision to vote NO on HB5002.
This conversation is not over. Moving forward, it is essential that we continue our discussion on how to build a vibrant housing market in Stratford. We must ensure our housing market meets the evolving needs of our residents - providing real affordable options, creating senior-friendly living, offering options to downsize and stay in our community, increasing housing options for young adults wanting to start their lives here, and the most recently raised point; how to address the serious parking concerns of developments in residential areas.
I will continue to advocate for thoughtful, locally guided housing policy that meets the real needs of our community and is cognizant of parking and sewer capacity concerns. I appreciate everyone’s advocacy and commitment to our town, and I encourage you to reach out again at any time regarding any issues. Your voice matters, and together, we can drive the change we need here in Stratford.
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| Cracking Down on Street Takeovers |
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I wanted to share an update on an issue that’s affected our community: illegal street takeovers, reckless ATVs, and dirt bike use. We’ve seen firsthand how these incidents threaten public safety in Stratford.
That’s why I cosponsored SB 1284, which we passed on Wednesday, May 28th.
This bill gives towns like ours new tools to address the problem by:
✅ Allowing municipalities to seize and destroy illegal ATVs, dirt bikes, and mini motorcycles.
✅ Letting towns fine and impound vehicles used in street takeovers.
✅ Requiring permanent license revocation after a third offense involving illegal racing or takeovers.
Some have argued that the real issue is Connecticut’s restrictions on high-speed chases. But the truth is, public safety has to come first, especially when those chases could endanger innocent people. What SB 1284 does is give our local law enforcement meaningful, proactive tools to hold people accountable without risking lives in a pursuit.
We’ve all had enough of the reckless driving and disruptive behavior. This bill is a big step forward in restoring safety and order on our roads. |
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| House Democrats passed a bill on Wednesday, May 28th, to stop the weaponization of our legal system by using defamation lawsuits to silence victims. Communications that detail sexual discrimination, harassment, or assault will now be kept confidential in civil court. |
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| Transforming Special Education in Connecticut |
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For too long, Connecticut's special education model has faced fundamental flaws that prevented all students from receiving the proper education they deserve. With our recent passage of HB 5001: An Act Concerning the Quality and Delivery of Special Education Services in Connecticut, we are taking important steps to reform this system.
This bill, which passed 148-0 in the House on a bipartisan basis, makes historic investments for students in special education, delivers better access to services, and provides cost controls and greater transparency. |
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Key provisions of the bill include:
- Historic investment in our students, including $30 million for the Special Education Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program, which will help build capacity to serve students closer to home.
- Prioritizing better access to services through enhanced development screenings, behavioral assessment, and intervention plans, access to remedial classes in higher education, and involvement of parents and local school districts before a student is moved from their school.
- Reining in costs by regulating third party rate processes and developing new billing and licensing standards.
- Increasing oversight through on-site compliance visits and detailed system-wide reporting to reduce unpredictability and improve accountability.
Children are our future, and it is our responsibility to provide them a proper education. In a state that has one of the best K-12 public school systems in the country, HB 5001 makes sure our special education program maintains that same level of quality.
The bill must now pass the Senate and be signed into law by the governor.
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| Enhancing the Connecticut Retirement Security Program |
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| This Thursday May 29th, the House passed Senate Bill 1221, An Act Making Changes to the Connecticut Retirement Security Program, with bipartisan support. SB 1221 aims to broaden the reach of the Connecticut Retirement Security Program, ensuring that more private-sector employees, especially those in small businesses, have access to retirement savings options. This expansion addresses the gap for workers who previously lacked employer-sponsored retirement plans. This bill is a significant step towards ensuring all Connecticut workers have the opportunity to secure their financial futures through accessible retirement savings options. |
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| Protecting Consumers and Enhancing Data Privacy |
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On Thursday, May 29th, the House passed Senate Bill 3, which provides real quality-of-life benefits for all people in our increasingly digitally connected, but far less-private, world. This bill passed with bipartisan support, and I am proud to have voted in favor of its passage.
The legislation sets in place new safeguards against eavesdropping by televisions, home appliances, and toys, as well as curtails the targeting of junk fees and price gouging in consumer goods. Senate Bill 3 requires companies to provide users with privacy notices before enabling microphones in home appliances, TVs and toys, and gives consumers the option to decline.
The bill also provides consumers the opportunity to opt out of targeted advertisements based on these voice recordings and requires companies to maintain security measures to safeguard users’ information.
Senate Bill 3 seeks to address the affordability of goods and services by expanding the state attorney general’s ability to crack down on price gouging during disasters. While current price gouging statutes apply only to retailers, the bill broadens the policy to include the entire supply chain. |
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| Supporting Health Care Equity and Access |
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I am happy to share that on Thursday May 29th, the House passed Senate Bill 7 taking a significant step in support of health equity and access. This legislation reinforces our state's support of reproductive freedom and gender-affirming care by strengthening legal protections for both providers and patients.
Other key provisions of this bill include:
- the creation of a Safe Harbor fund designed to assist patients traveling from other states to Connecticut for healthcare
- allocates $3 million to launch a pilot program aimed at enhancing mental health resources for students
- establishes funding to ensure effective communication during public health emergencies
- the creation of financial safeguard funds to offset potential reductions in public health funding
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We passed legislation on Friday that makes it easier for our Veterans to access their benefits, and serves as a reminder that “just because your service in uniform may end, our service to you does not.”
Key provisions of this bill include:
- Making it easier for disabled veterans to qualify for state benefits: exempting veteran disability pay as an income requirement for certain state benefits
- Hiring more state employees to help connect veterans to their benefits: hiring veteran service officers to this Connecticut Department of veterans affairs to assist veterans and qualifying for the VA disability claims.
- Guaranteeing free college tuition for disabled veterans: preventing higher Ed institutions from charging fees, waivers in lieu of tuition.
- Making it easier for veterans to qualify for free legal service: exempting veteran disability pay from an income requirement when determining access to public defenders.
- Making it easier for veterans and veteran own businesses to qualify for loans Through D.E.C.D.
- Directing the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs to study: claim sharks and the municipal veterans representative program.
This bill ensures our veterans receive the support and recognition that they deserve.
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| Senior Scams Event: June 10th |
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You're invited to an engaging discussion in Stratford about the steps seniors can take to prevent becoming victims of scams. Please join Attorney General William Tong, State Representative Joe Gresko, and me on Tuesday, June 10, at 11 a.m. in the Lovell Room at Stratford Library.
Elder fraud is a serious and growing issue as criminals exploit seniors to steal money or personal information. They pose as family members, government officials, or tech support agents with phony phone calls, fake sweepstakes, investment scams, and email-based cons.
I strongly encourage everyone to attend, especially seniors and their caretakers. This is a great opportunity to gain the knowledge and acquire the tools you need to protect yourself and your family. |
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Yours in service,
Kaitlyn Shake
State Representative |
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