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We had several important announcements this week from Hartford that I want you to be aware of in addition to the committee work my colleagues and I continue to progress. If there are committees raising bills or offering public hearing opportunities, you can sign up to testify or submit written testimony via that committee with the links provided in this email below. But first, I would like to share with you a few key issues raised in my committee hearings this week.
On Tuesday 2/18, the Public Safety & Security committee held a public hearing where we heard compelling testimony regarding several bills on topics including the Firefighter Cancer Fund, organized retail theft, and the organization of the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
On Thursday 2/20 we had 10 hours of public testimony. The Labor & Public Employees Committee heard from local police officers and firefighters about H.B. No. 6953 AN ACT REQUIRING MUNICIPALITIES TO PROVIDE A PENSION TO POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OR ANOTHER COMPARABLE PENSION SYSTEM and H.B. 6954 AN ACT ADDING WITNESSING A SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY AS A QUALIFYING EVENT FOR PURPOSES OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COVERAGE.
During this public hearing we had the opportunity to hear directly from many of our local Stratford Police and Firefighters. First responders across Connecticut who have a pension in their respective town/city of employment came to testify and advocate on behalf of secure retirement benefits for all municipal police and firefighters. I fully support our first responders and I am proud of their continued advocacy efforts. Though their personal experiences, they believe this bill to create a secure retirement plan will lead to higher staff retention and better morale. |
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Public testimony also continued until 8PM last night in the Human Services Committee where we heard feedback from the public on multiple bills concerning Medicaid. Topics included requiring 2 preventative dental screenings per year, children's hospital rate parity, expanding eligibility and coverage for older residents and those with disabilities, and expanded coverage for diabetes resources.
As bills continue to move through the legislative process this session, I will keep you updated on their status. I look forward to seeing legislation progress through committees and continuing discussions with my colleagues about the work we aim to accomplish. |
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| Stratford State Senate Special Election |
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| There will be a special election next Tuesday February 25th for the vacant State Senate in our District. Please make a plan to get out and vote early or the day of. Early voting is taking place at The Baldwin Center from February 20-23 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Find your polling location to vote on February 25th below. |
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| The House will be back in session on Monday February 24th at 5pm! You can watch live on CT-N which can be found on YouTube or Roku. CT-N provides other livestreams and recordings for press conferences and committee meetings happening around the capitol. Visit their site below: |
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| An Upcoming Vote for Special Education Funding |
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House and Senate leadership announced that both chambers will vote next week on an immediate $40 million injection of state funding to cities and towns to support Special Education needs for the current fiscal year. This funding will be allocated through the Excess Cost Grant program and distributed through a tiered reimbursement structure that prioritizes funding for the neediest cities and towns. The House convenes on Monday, February 24 and the Senate on Tuesday, February 25.
Special Education is 2025 legislative priority for House Democrats. We have heard from cities and towns across Connecticut that Special Education costs are squeezing local budgets. This investment will help school districts now though we recognize the challenges municipal governments face going forward, which is why we are working to lower costs, strengthen services, and provide more financial support.s |
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Don’t forget - you only need to register if you wish to provide testimony. If you want to observe the hearings, you can tune in and watch them live on the committee’s YouTube channel.
Register to testify and learn more about this week’s schedule, including the bills that will be heard, in this week’s CGA Bulletin. |
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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. Click here to check out their website.
- 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.
Together, we can ensure all voices are heard.
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All politics is local! Get involved and make change in your community by participating in public hearings. Many people find the idea intimidating, but I encourage you to get involved.
Accessibility:
- ️All public hearing rooms are wheelchair accessible.
- If you are not able to attend the hearing, you can submit written testimony ahead of time.
- ️You can follow along live on the committee’s YouTube channel.
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| RESCHEDULED: Stratford Delegation Meet and Greet |
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| Join me, State Representative Joe Gresko, and State Senator Herron Keyon Gaston for a community meet and greet on Saturday, March 1st at 3:00 pm. We are looking forward to connecting with community members and discussing the priorities for this legislative session. The event will be held at Stratford Library in the Lovell Room. We encourage all members of the community to attend! |
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| Students Can Apply To Join CT Board of Ed |
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Do you know of a public school student who wants to participate in statewide education policy? If so, please encourage them to apply now to potentially serve on the Connecticut State Board of Education! The selected students, who will soon enter their senior year, will serve a one-year term, beginning July 1, 2025.
Take a look at the graphic below for application requirements. |
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| The governor will appoint two public school students who will lend an important perspective to deliberations on the State Board of Education. The selected students will not have voting privileges. |
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| The Stratford Health Department will host free health screenings in 4 community locations from February 7th to March 3rd. The mission of the Know Your Numbers (KYN) campaign is to empower community residents with information about their health status and educate them on how to reduce their risks of chronic disease. The screenings will include body mass index, blood pressure, and blood sugar (A1c). |
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Stratford Parents' Place, in partnership with the Stratford School Readiness and Child Care Advisory Council, is hosting a Stratford Preschool Info Night on February 26, 2025 from 6:30-8:00pm for families with young children to learn about the educational and community opportunities available to them.
Meet with licensed preschool programs, local businesses, and community partners, and chat with early childhood professionals about what to expect during the preschool transition! All families will receive a book and other fun giveaways, and have a photo opportunity with Clifford the Big Red Dog! |
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Yours in service,
Kaitlyn Shake
State Representative |
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