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It's been a productive week at the Capitol as my colleagues and I continue to prepare which bills will be discussed and debated on the House floor. During this time, the Appropriations and Finance Committees continue to work diligently in meetings and public hearings on the budget.
As the work at the Capitol continues, over the next few weeks the House will be in session debating and voting on which bills will be passed. I remain dedicated to advocating for Stratford residents and am here as a resource for you. In this email you will find resources and local updates I hope are useful for you and your family. |
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| This Earth Day, I celebrated with members of the Stratford community planting American Elm trees at Academy Hill. Protecting and caring for our environment requires all of us to take an active roll in our community by thinking globally and acting locally. It was wonderful to honor Earth Day by planting trees here in the 120th and spending time giving back to our environment. Special thank you to St. James School, Stratford Conservation Commission and Stratford’s DPW! |
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| Today, we celebrated National Arbor Day at Roosevelt Forest planting more trees! The Mayor honored Bill McCann with a proclamation for his 40 years of service to the Town of Stratford and his environmental stewardship. Thank you for your strong advocacy and active role in protecting Stratford's environment from forest to shore! |
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| On Thursday, we were graced with beautiful live music from Stratford High’s string quartet at the Stratford Education Foundation and BEST Committee 40th Anniversary celebration luncheon. It was wonderful to see so many students honored and recognized as young leaders in our community dedicated to volunteering and helping others. Congratulations to all the awardees! |
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The House will be back in session three days next week. Stay tuned for key updates, votes, and what’s on the legislative agenda.
Here are some great ways to stay informed:
- The Connecticut Network (CT-N) provides live, gavel-to-gavel coverage of legislative sessions. You can watch sessions live on Roku, YouTube or their website: https://www.ct-n.com.
- Connecticut General Assembly's official website offers a Schedule of Events: cga.ct.gov/calendarofevents.asp
- Follow Connecticut House Democrats on social media for legislative updates and policy priorities.
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| National Work Zone Awareness Week |
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This week is National Work Zone Awareness Week which honors the workers and professionals who help keep construction zones safe, including highway crews, public works, utility companies, contractors, and law enforcement. Motorists in Connecticut are urged to take an active role in protecting roadway workers and drivers.
Work zone crashes remain a major safety issue in Connecticut and nationwide. According to data from the Connecticut Crash Data Repository at UConn, between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, there were more than 2,000 crashes and six fatalities in Connecticut work zones. Nationally in 2022, the most recent year of verifiable data, there were 891 work zone fatalities.
In 2023, during Connecticut’s one-year pilot program for work zone speed safety cameras, nearly 25,000 motorists received written warnings for exceeding speed limits by 15 miles per hour or more in designated work zones. A permanent work zone camera program is expected to launch again in this year.
Click here for up-to-date information, safety tips, and more. |
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The drug epidemic in the United States is a clear and present public health, public safety, and national security threat. Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. When they do - it has dangerous and often tragic consequences.
You can help fight that epidemic by participating in DEA Takeback Day. It's an opportunity for anyone to remove unneeded medications from their homes, preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction.
Last year, more than 8300 pounds of prescription drugs were collected across the state.
On April 26th, from 10 am to 2 pm, you can turn in excess drugs at the Stratford Police Department. This is just one of the many locations that will be open across the state. You can find details on the drop-off process and locations by using the DEA Collection Site Locator. Click HERE for more info. |
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This year, the Select Committee on Special Education has in has introduced two transformative proposals, House Bill 7277 and Senate Bill 1561, to better support children with special needs, their families, and the educators who work so hard on their behalf. Special education is a fundamental human right. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in an environment that meets their unique needs. These bills take meaningful steps toward ensuring that right is protected and strengthened across Connecticut.
To be clear, this bill does not abolish or eliminate private placements. It introduces fiscal oversight for how public dollars are spent in special education. Right now, our system is under enormous strain. We’re seeing a significant increase in outplacement costs which districts often continue to be charged and pay. This has caused the excess cost asks to increase while the number of outplaced students has remained roughly the same.
Some districts spend millions to place kids in private programs, and some families are being left behind, struggling with long wait lists and unaffordable costs when out-of-district options are their only choice.
House Bill 7277 and Senate Bill 1561 aim to change that by focusing on building the capacity of local districts to offer high-quality, in-district special education services, giving students the support they need closer to home. They would help standardize tuition rates across the state while making services more accessible and sustainable.
The Select Committee undertook a statewide listening tour to hear from parents, teachers, school administrators, advocates, and students. Their feedback has been crucial in shaping these bills, and the committee remains committed to a fair, transparent process that prioritizes the voices of those most affected. Our goal is to build a special education system that is equitable, effective, and centered on what’s best for our children and families.
These bills are still a work in progress as the Select Committee continues to work in meetings and public hearings to finalize the best way to support Special Education programs across the entire state. |
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The Transportation Security Administration issued an important message recently that will affect anyone who travels on domestic commercial flights.
Beginning on May 7, anyone who wishes to travel on a domestic commercial flight must have a REAL ID or other acceptable form of documentation.
What is a REAL ID?
A REAL ID is a state-issued ID that meets minimum security standards to access federal facilities and board domestic flights. The program was implemented following a 9/11 commission recommendation on making air travel and federal facilities more secure.
How do I get a REAL ID?
- You can visit your local DMV to learn more and apply for a REAL ID, or at the CT information portal here.
- In Connecticut, you'll need:
- a U.S. passport or U.S. birth certificate;
- a Social Security card; and
- two pieces of mail from two different sources dated within 90 days to prove that you live in Connecticut.
- For all new applications for a driver's license, as well as out-of-state transfers to Connecticut licenses, you will automatically be issued a REAL ID.
How do I know if I already have a REAL ID?
- Check your driver's license or ID to see if it has a gold star in the upper right corner, like the accompanying graphic. If you do, then you have a verified REAL ID.
What other forms of ID are acceptable?
- A U.S. passport.
- State-issued Enhanced Driver's Licenses and identification cards are also acceptable, though Connecticut does not issue them.
For more information, visit the following:
Department of Homeland Security website
CT Department of Motor Vehicles website
CT Information Portal website
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| Senior Day at the Capitol |
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| Mark your calendars for May 8. Come learn about senior programs and resources throughout the state of Connecticut. More information to come! |
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that a milling and resurfacing project will be performed on Route 113 in Stratford. This project is scheduled to occur on Sunday, April 27 and be completed on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The project consists of milling and resurfacing a 3.51-mile segment of Route 113 in Stratford from Long Beach Road/Garfield Avenue to Sniffin Lane.
LANE CLOSURE/DETOUR INFO
Motorists can expect lane closures of Route 113 from Long Beach Road/Garfield Avenue to Sniffin Lane in Stratford. Traffic control personnel and signing patterns will guide motorists through the work zone. The work schedule for this project is from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., Sunday night to Friday morning. |
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| The Stratford YMCA is holding their Annual YMCA Healthy Kids on April 26th from 10 am to 1 pm. This event features a variety of family-friendly activities to encourage healthy kids. The event is free and open to the public. |
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| Saturday April 26th is the 12th Annual Independent Bookstore Day. On this day, take some time to support our local bookstores here in Stratford and around Connecticut. Each participating bookstore will have have different specials and activities! |
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| To kick off National Bike Month, the Town of Stratford is hosting a Safety Gear Giveaway at Frenchie's Coffee Bar on May 1st from 11 am to 1 pm. The gear is funded by the CTDOT's Active Transportation Micro-Grant Program. |
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| Next weekend the Stratford Animal Rescue Society is holding their annual plant sale and pet boutique. They will have annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, deco pots, herbs, garden veggies and more! The Pet Boutique will have pet items, candles, T-shirts, Bubble Bead pet necklaces and more! |
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Yours in service,
Kaitlyn Shake
State Representative |
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