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This week at the Capitol, committees continued to hold meetings to raise concepts for the 2026 legislative session and public hearings to hear directly from advocates, professionals, and residents across the state on legislative priorities. Thank you to all the nurses, educators, social workers, and other professionals who attended the Higher Education and Employment Advancement public hearing on CHESLA this week. Your input helps continue to push these policies forward through the legislative process. Next week, the House will be in session again on Thursday, February 26th. Click here to follow along on CT-N during next week's House Session.
In this week's email, you can learn about the 2026 Reproductive Rights Caucus priorities, find information on proposed Child Tax Credit legislation, and more. 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.
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Proposed Firefighter and Police
Recruitment and Retention Incentives |
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This Tuesday, February 17th, I joined Governor Lamont and many of my colleagues to announce the Governor's legislative proposal that will establish two new incentives benefiting state and local police and firefighters. The overall goal of these incentives is to encourage more individuals to join these critical public safety career fields and help retain those currently serving, increasing recruitment and retention across these fields.
The first incentive would waive the tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate programs at all Connecticut public colleges and universities (UConn, the Connecticut State University System, and Connecticut State Community College) for state and local police officers and firefighters with five or more years of service, as well as students attending the Connecticut Fire Academy.
The second incentive would create a mortgage assistance program specifically tasked with helping these public safety professionals purchase homes in the communities they were hired to protect. Under this proposal, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority will be responsible for developing the terms of this program and administering it. The types of assistance offered would include down payment support or any other appropriate housing subsidies.
The police officers and firefighters across Connecticut are the backbone of our communities and are there for us when we need them the most. These incentives will ensure Connecticut is providing adequate support for public safety officials in our state. I look forward to discussing this bill in the Public Safety and Security Committee with my colleagues and listening to public hearing testimony from firefighters and police officers as it moves through the legislative process. The Public Safety and Security Committee has more proposed bills, aside from the Governor's proposed incentives, to come this session to address recruitment and retention across all critical public safety career fields, including police, firefighters, EMS, and more. |
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| Proposed Child Tax Credit Legislation |
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| On Wednesday, February 18th, I attended a press conference alongside many of my colleagues and community advocates from across the state, including lifelong Stratford resident Ivy Royster, to discuss proposed legislation for a child tax credit. This bill would provide a $600 tax credit per child for up to three children. If this bill is implemented, it would support 550,000 children in our state. We know that simple necessities are becoming more and more unaffordable for working families, and it's time for the state to give back. This bill is about providing families with financial support and helping them continue to pay for essentials, including utilities, bills, and other everyday expenses that quickly add up. |
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| Click here to listen to remarks from Stratford Resident Ivy Royster |
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Reproductive Rights Caucus
2026 Legislative Priorities |
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| This Wednesday, February 18th, the Reproductive Rights Caucus held a press conference to announce their priorities for the 2026 legislative session. This year’s Caucus priorities include expanded access to care, protecting reproductive health access, ensuring sustainable reproductive healthcare funding, strengthening support for providers and patients, and supporting policies addressing equitable healthcare access as a whole. These priorities will support communities and families across our state as a whole and will ensure healthcare providers are able to continue to provide essential, quality services to those who need them. |
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| Click here to listen to my remarks |
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| This Week in Committee Meetings |
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This Tuesday, February 17th, the three committees I serve on, Human Services, Public Safety and Security, and Labor and Public Employees, all held meetings to vote to raise more concepts to be discussed over the upcoming weeks.
The Labor and Public Employee Committee voted to raise concepts on labor laws, changes to the Firefighter Cancer Relief Fund, and more. Click here to review the agenda. Next Tuesday, February 24th, the Labor and Public Employee Committee will hold a public hearing on some of the committees proposed bills this session. Click here to review the agenda and sign up to testify or submit testimony. The Human Services Committee raised numerous concepts regarding nursing homes, home care, and Medicaid-related topics. Click here to review the agenda. During the Public Safety and Security Committee meeting, we voted on the final round of concepts to be raised, which included issues such as State Police and highway construction projects, statewide emergency telecommunications, and more. Click here to review the agenda. These concepts will now be discussed in each committee, and the proposed bills will have public hearings. This part of the legislative process is essential in establishing what each committee's priorities will be as we move forward. |
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| Human Services Committee Forum with Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities |
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This Wednesday, February 18th, the Human Services Committee held an informational forum with the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities. During the forum, we heard directly from council members on key issues impacting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, including topics related to access to healthcare and the need for improved services. The Council helps individuals with developmental disabilities with housing needs, employment opportunities, and general support. Our committee works alongside the Council to determine ways the state can improve services and better support residents with developmental disabilities.
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This week, I met with advocates from the Nurse-Family Partnership, which is run through the Office of Early Childhood. The Nurse-Family Partnership helps first-time, low-income parents have a healthy pregnancy and birth by pairing them with specialty trained nurses. Nurse-Family Partnership home visit routines start early in the parents' pregnancy and continue through the child’s second birthday.
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May this Lunar New Year bring peace, luck, and success to you and your family - Happy Year of the Horse!
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Ramadan Mubarak! Here's to a month of reflection, community, and communal prayer.
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| Wishing those observing Ash Wednesday a season of reflection and peace. |
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| Stratford Community Updates |
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| View the calendar below for the weekly Stratford Eats schedule of community meals, food pantries, and other food resources in the Stratford community. |
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| Stratford C.A.R.E and Stratford Forward will host a Vigil for Peace and Community Conversation this Saturday, February 21st beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Stratford High School. The evening begins at 6:30 pm with a candlelight vigil on the front steps, where we’ll pray for peace and collective healing as well as remembering Keith Porter, Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and others we’ve lost this past year. At 7 pm, the gathering moves inside for a Community Conversation moderated by Ken Pugh focused on healing divisions, supporting Stratford’s vibrant immigrant community, and strengthening bonds across different faiths and backgrounds. |
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The Stratford Library is bringing She Thrives presented by Live Girl to the community. SHE THRIVES supports high school girls as they explore their identity, build confidence, and strengthen leadership and social-emotional skills. Through group mentoring and supportive conversations, participants develop resilience, meaningful connections, and the tools to thrive in school, relationships, and future opportunities. If you have or are a high school young lady interested in joining this 10 week program starting February 10th click the link below to register.
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| Stratford Community Services is offering a Leaders in Training Spring Cohort. This program is a hands-on opportunity for Stratford youth ages 13–18 to build real-world skills, give back to the community, and grow their confidence along the way. |
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| The Mayor's Ball for All will take place on February 28th, from 1 to 5 p.m. at The Baldwin Center. This is an inaugural community celebration to bring community members together to celebrate new beginnings. This is a free event, open to all members of the Stratford community. |
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| Arts Alliance of Stratford is holding a production inspired by International Women's Day on Saturday, March 7th, at 3 p.m. at the Sterling Community Center. |
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Yours in service,
Kaitlyn Shake
State Representative |
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