Perfect Voting Record During the 2026 Legislative Session
August 7, 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 had a perfect voting record for the second year in a row!
As your state legislator, it is my job to consider bills and either offer support or dissent. I will continue to serve Hamden and advocate for you at the State Capitol.
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Last week, I joined Lt. Governor Bysiewicz, State Senator Anwar, Mayor Sendroff and other officials for Vet for Pet's grand opening. After the ribbon cutting presentation, where I presented the owner with a citation, we received a tour of the brand new facilities.
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A new one-time grocery benefit of $300 each is being distributed to low-income Connecticut residents who have been pushed out of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to federal changes.
The grocery benefits, through a partnership the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) arranged with Connecticut’s network of community action agencies, with support provided by the Connecticut Association for Community Action (CAFCA), will be distributed as prepaid virtual grocery cards—not loaded onto existing EBT cards.
Eligible residents are expected to be able to access the benefits starting Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. For more details, please visit the Department of Social Services website here.
We understand this one-time benefit will hardly blunt the impact of the federal changes, but it will provide immediate relief for those who are really in need.
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As a reminder, Connecticut's primary will be held on Tuesday, August 11.
If you’re unaffiliated voter, you still have time to join a party and vote. Connecticut has semi-closed primaries, which means you must be registered as a Democrat or Republican to vote in their respective primary. You can join a party and vote in that party’s primary right away, as long as you’ve been unaffiliated for at least three months.
It is unfortunately too late for registered Democrats or Republicans to switch parties and vote in their new party’s primary - the deadline to switch was May 11, and state law requires a 3-month waiting period.
Click here to update your party affiliation.
Hamden's early voting location will be the Thornton Wilder Auditorium in Miller Library. Click here for more information.
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The 2026 Connecticut Sales Tax Free Week is Sunday, August 16, through Saturday, August 22. This week provides a chance for families to save money, whether it is taking children back-to-school shopping or treating yourself or your loved ones.
During this week, sales or purchases of certain items of clothing or footwear costing less than $300 per item are exempt from sales tax. This exemption applies to purchases made from retailers located in Connecticut as well as from online retailers. There are, however, certain items that are excluded from the scope of the Sales Tax Free Week exemption. The following items are excluded from the scope of the Sales Tax Free Week exemption:
- Any special clothing or footwear primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use that is not normally worn except when used for the athletic activity or protective use for which it was designed; and
- Jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches, and similar items carried on or about the human body but not worn on the body in the manner characteristic of clothing.
- Click here for a list of items that ARE EXEMPT from sales tax and a list of items STILL TAXABLE.
Effective as of July 1, the state’s 6.35% sales tax no longer applies to non-electronic school supplies, including binders, composition books, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, highlighters, lunch boxes, markers, notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, rulers, scissors, and more.
This change does not impact supplies purchased by or for businesses, meaning companies that purchase these items must pay in one of two ways - at the time of purchase or as part of a future tax return.
Click here for more information on Connecticut's Sales Tax Free Week and frequently asked questions.
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The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg), with funding from the USDA, is administering the Connecticut Farm Recovery & Support Block Grant Program to assist agricultural producers affected by eligible weather events in 2023 and 2024.
The program provides financial assistance to help Connecticut farms recover from documented losses and restore operations. Click here to learn more.
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The American Red Cross needs our help - there is an emergency blood shortage, which means the blood supply is critically low and could cause hospitals to triage blood products, prioritizing the most critical cases, delaying non-emergency procedures, and causing risks for patients who require timely transfusions, including trauma patients, women giving birth, and patients with chronic blood disorders.
Blood and platelet donors are urgently needed to help ensure lifesaving medical care isn't delayed for patients.
Basic eligibility for whole blood donation:
- Donation frequency: Every 56 days, up to 6 times a year
- You must be in good health and feeling well
- You must be at least 16 years old in most states
- You must weigh at least 110 lbs.
Basic eligibility for platelet donation:
- Donation frequency: Every 7 days, up to 24 times/year
- You must be in good health and feeling well
- You must be at least 17 years old in most states
- You must weigh at least 110 lbs.
Click here for more information.
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If you were unable to attend the community visioning workshop on the Hamden Town Center project earlier this month, there is still a way to make sure your voice is heard. Click here to complete the community survey.
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The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) announced the next round of Ignite and Child Care Business Grant Programs.
The Ignite Grant Program is designed to help women-owned businesses in Connecticut grow, offering grants of up to $10,000 for a clearly-defined project that will have a measurable impact on the business, its growth, and profitability. The application period for Ignite grants runs through Sept. 13, 2026. You can find additional information on Ignite here.
The Child Care Business Opportunity Fund, offered in partnership with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC), provides grants of up to $25,000 to qualified licensed and aspiring child care businesses. The program offers grants that cover critical start-up costs, expand operations, and increase capacity to serve more families. The application period for Child Care Business grants runs through Aug. 31. You can find more information on the Child Care Business Opportunity Fund grants here.
Information sessions for both grant programs are scheduled throughout the application periods. These sessions will help applicants understand the grant requirements and provide an opportunity for those interested to ask questions about the grants. Interested applicants can register for a live information session here.
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You will soon be able to shop, compare plans, and enroll in health and dental coverage through the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Access Health CT’s open enrollment period runs from October 23 through December 23, giving residents an early start this year to explore their options and choose the coverage that best fits their needs.
Think of the enrollment period as having two important deadlines - see the flyer below for more information.
Financial help remains available. Access Health CT is the only place where Connecticut residents can receive assistance to lower the cost of health insurance. Depending on income and eligibility, some residents may also qualify for the Covered CT Program, providing comprehensive health coverage at no cost.
To get started, visit AccessHealthCT.com and click the “Get Help” button on the homepage. From there, you can schedule an appointment, locate a nearby Navigator enrollment site, or connect with a Certified Broker who can help you choose the right plan.
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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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