CEA Report Card
July 17, 2026
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Dear Neighbor,
I hope you are having a great week.
Please read below for updates in our community!
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I am proud to announce that I received a 99.5% and an honor roll distinction on the Connecticut Education Association's (CEA) legislative report card. Every year, CEA calculates a score for every legislator in the General Assembly based on their support of legislation that benefits teachers and public education. Education is the cornerstone of a thriving society, and I will continue to advocate on behalf of educators throughout the state.
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Last week, I attended a swearing in ceremony for 12 Connecticut Superior Court Judges, including Hamden resident Felice Gray-Kemp. Congratulations!
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Earlier this week, I attended the bill signing in Rocky Hill for PA 26-33, which will require insurance companies to cover the cost of prosthetic devices for athletic purposes.
I attended the press conference with Herb, a Hamden resident and constituent.
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Last week, I attended a press conference to announce the completion of 12 raised crosswalks along the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail in New Haven and Hamden, improving safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists at key trail crossings.
The $2.16 million project constructed raised crosswalks at five locations in Hamden, creating safer crossings where the trail intersects with local streets.
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There will be a handful of public meetings in our community over the next few weeks:
The Town will hold a community visioning workshop next Wednesday, July 22 at Miller Memorial Library. The purpose of this meeting is to hear ideas on how to reimagine Hamden's Town Center.
Click here for more information about the project and to take a brief community survey.
The Hamden Newhall Neighborhood Association (H.N.N.A) will hold a community meeting concerning the Newhall neighborhood foundation repairs and the demolition of the former Hamden Middle School on Thursday, July 23 at Breakthrough Church.
This meeting is an opportunity to hear directly from those involved, understand what to expect, and make your voice heard.
If you plan on attending, please fill out this survey to help the organizers prepare for the meeting.
Last but not least, the Town will hold a public meeting to discuss the next phase of crossings for the Farmington Canal Trail on Tuesday, July 28 at 6 PM.
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Governor Ned Lamont has signed Public Act 26-127, expanding access to affordable solar energy and battery storage for Connecticut homeowners, renters, and businesses while prioritizing relief for customers facing high energy costs. The law extends the state's residential, commercial, and community solar programs through 2027, ensuring continued support for clean energy as electricity demand grows. It also encourages responsible solar development by prioritizing projects on rooftops, brownfields, municipal and state buildings, and other developed commercial properties.
The law also extends and modifies the state's solar energy programs to cost-effectively deploy solar systems that pair solar and battery storage, allow for plug-in solar systems, and reduce red tape and costs related to solar permitting. The law aims to ensure that solar energy benefits both the person who installs it on their roof and all ratepayers by providing more clean energy and reducing the costs associated with the transmission and distribution of electricity.
The law also includes permitting reform and authorizes plug-in solar systems, which are smaller systems that can be bought off the shelf and installed relatively easily without permission from the electric utility. These systems are popular with renters and homeowners in Europe because they cost less and can be placed on a balcony or in a backyard. By creating a legal framework for plug-in solar, the law aims to extend the benefits of clean energy to more residents who have not benefited from it historically.
Additionally, the legislation directs more benefits to customers and communities with higher energy burdens, supports battery storage to improve grid reliability, streamlines residential solar permitting, and requires the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to limit public benefits charges and ensure the law reduces costs for ratepayers overall.
I am proud to have supported this legislation that will continue to move the State of Connecticut forward on affordable, accessible renewable energy.
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Sweeping changes to the student loan system by the federal government will affect half a million Connecticut residents who carry student debt by narrowing their choices, raising monthly payments for many, and closing off affordable pathways to higher education.
Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE Plan are receiving notices to choose a new repayment plan within 90 days.
Anyone who does not choose will be automatically moved into the standard repayment plan, which could mean a sharply higher monthly bill. Two long-standing affordable options, Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE), will be phased out entirely by July 1, 2028.
And, the Grad PLUS program, which lets students borrow up to the full cost of attendance, is being eliminated. Graduate borrowing for unsubsidized loans is now capped at $20,500 per year and $100,000 over a lifetime. Students in certain professional fields have a higher cap.
Still, the practical effect for many will be a turn toward riskier private loans that carry fewer protections and are not available to everyone.
No borrower should navigate these changes alone. Connecticut is one of a limited number of states with a dedicated Student Loan Ombudsperson, Michelle Jarvis-Lettman, housed at the state Department of Banking and backed by independent statutory authority under state law.
The Ombudsperson’s office can receive and work to resolve complaints against student loan servicers, whether the loan is federal or private. It can help borrowers understand and choose among repayment options and answer questions about switching plans or consolidating.
The Office can also step in to address problems such as misapplied payments, incorrect interest calculations, servicer changes, and errors in payment history or credit reporting, and it can connect borrowers to educational resources and help them navigate the transition off SAVE and into a new plan.
Borrowers can call the Office at 860-240-8170 or 800-831-7225, and press option 2 or:
• Email: banking.complaints@ct.gov
• File a complaint online: portal.ct.gov/DOB/Consumer/Consumer-Complaints/Student-Loan-Servicer
Borrowers can also file complaints with the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or by phone at 855-411-2372.
Connecticut also puts real dollars back in borrowers’ pockets through the Student Loan Reimbursement Program (SLRP), administered by the state Office of Higher Education. Residents can apply for or learn more about the Student Loan Reimbursement Program via:
• Website: portal.ct.gov/ohe (apply through the CT Scholars portal)
• Email: OHE.SLRP@ct.gov
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July is Disability Pride Month. Accessibility is not a favor; it is a fundamental human right. Creating a more inclusive world benefits everyone. I will continue to push down barriers and demand equity every single day.
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Upcoming Events
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ICYMI
Connecticut’s Renters’ Rebate Program is now open to eligible renters who are elderly or living with a disability and meet certain income requirements.
Qualified applicants may receive rebates of up to $900 for married couples and $700 for single individuals. The rebate amount is determined using a graduated income scale, as well as the total rent and utility payments (excluding telephone) made during the previous calendar year.
Applications must be submitted through your local municipality’s assessor’s office or a designated social service agency. The application period is now open and will run through September 30. Please note that no extensions are permitted, and all applications must be received by the municipality no later than September 30.
Click here for more information about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
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Sincerely,
Laurie Sweet
State Representative
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