St. Patrick's Day Parade, Supporting the Trust Act, and More!

March 26, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

Hope you had a safe and fun St. Patrick's Day! I marched in the Greater New Haven St. Patrick's Day Parade alongside a few of my colleagues, as well as Lt. Governor Bysiewicz and Congresswoman DeLauro.

Later that week, I attended a statewide Fair Rent Commissions Network meeting in Hamden.

And last Thursday, I had the honor of issuing Ned Burt a citation on the behalf of the Hamden and Bethany delegations to commemorate his retirement as a probate judge.

At the State Capitol, I have been working tirelessly to help craft and tinker with bills as they progress through the legislative process. Last Wednesday, I attended a public hearing in the Judiciary committee and offered my support for an expansion of the Trust Act, which would limit when and how long law enforcement cooperates with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The law has not been updated since 2019 and must be strengthened to reflect our current political climate.

House Bill 7212 would further restrict the type of information local law enforcement can share with ICE. The legislation would extend these limitations beyond law enforcement to all public agencies in Connecticut, ensuring that schools, hospitals, and other state institutions are not supporting immigration enforcement.

Connecticut has a moral and legal responsibility to support its immigrant workers and families, regardless of their immigration status. Our communities thrive when everyone is protected - children can attend school without fear, parents can go to work without the risk of being torn from their families, and individuals trust they can contact the police without facing deportation.

Click here to see my testimony supporting the Trust Act

My colleagues and I also welcomed Girl Scouts from around the state to the Capitol.

Finally, I am co-hosting a forum titled Housing as a Human Right. Two experts will join Councilwoman Gallagher and I for a conversation about Just Cause Evictions and decriminalizing homelessness. This event will be held on Monday, April 14 at Thornton Wilder Hall. Click here or the image below to register. Hope to see you there!

Please read below for more updates!

Attention Hamden High school students - the Tau Xi Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority encourages you to apply for three scholarships for those interested in higher education. Click here to see the eligibility requirements for each scholarship.

March 25th was Equal Pay Day. March 25th was chosen because it marks how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year. Equal Pay Day is a reminder of the ongoing fight for gender equality in the workplace. ️

In Connecticut, we’re making strides with legislation like the Pay Equity and Opportunity Act, which strengthens pay transparency, prohibits salary history inquiries, and ensures fair pay for all workers, regardless of gender. Together, we’re working toward a future where EQUAL WORK means EQUAL PAY for everyone.

Every month is Women's History Month on the Connecticut Women’s Heritage Trail. 14 historic sites, each with their own stories of women who defied expectations, broke barriers, and shaped our state.

Click here to learn more.

Tax season is upon us. There are several free resources available this year for anyone who needs to file state and federal taxes.

You can use the IRS Direct File Tool, which is a new option for anyone who lived and earned all their income in Connecticut last year.

Click here for more information on IRS Direct File Tool.

The federal government is also offering the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides free tax preparation services to eligible taxpayers. Here is some of the eligibility date for VITA: