Women's History Month, Read Across America, and More!

March 13, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

These past few weeks have been jam packed with long committee meetings, session days, and press conferences to promote strong pieces of legislation.

Yesterday, I attended the Transportation Committee Public Hearing to testify in support of HB 7162, which would protect car owners from predatory towing practices. This bill would:

Require photo evidence to show the reason for the tow
Institute a 24 hour hold for residential parking facilities prior to towing
Restrict towing to a 10 mile radius
Require tow companies to accept multiple forms of payment
Extend hours for individuals to claim their cars

...and more!

This legislation ensures that car owners are protected from tows, which can be an unexpected and great financial burden to individuals. Thank you to the Transportation committee for listening to my testimony, and to Mayor Lauren Garrett for taking time out of her busy schedule to testify remotely.

My remarks in favor of HB 7033

During last week's session, my predecessor Mike D'Agostino was confirmed as a judge of the Connecticut Superior Court. I had the honor of speaking in favor of his nomination on the House floor. He was confirmed with universal support, which speaks to the high esteem he is held in on both sides of the aisle. Congratulations Judge D'Agostino!

Last Thursday, the Housing Committee had a marathon meeting to decide which bills would be voted out of committee. I am happy to report that HB 6889 and HB 7033 have been voted out. Both of these issues, just cause evictions and decriminalizing homelessness, respectively, are greatly important to me, and I am glad these bills are progressing through the legislative process.

Click here to watch the committee meeting.

In addition to my work in Hartford, I have also attended events in our community, including two visits to Helen Street Elementary. Last Monday, I read to a first grade class to celebrate Read Across America. Then on Thursday, I returned to award a citation to Dominic in honor of his win as a cabinet member of the Connecticut Kid Governor.

Please read below for more updates!

March is Women's History Month. During this month, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women throughout history. Here's to the trailblazers, the change-makers, and the everyday women who inspire us all.

Since last year, the number of women in the Connecticut State Legislature dropped more than 3%.

If women make up about half of the population, doesn’t it makes sense that they should have an equal voice in decisions that affect their lives? We cannot continue in the wrong direction.

Women bring different perspectives, priorities, and experiences to governance. Diverse leadership and representation leads to more well-rounded policies, which reflect the needs of the entire community and strengthens democracy.

Affordable and accessible childcare is essential for Connecticut families and businesses to thrive. H.B. 5003, a top legislative priority for House Democrats this session, will expedite funding for families, attract and retain childcare educators, and enhance both new and existing childcare facilities.

This proposal builds upon Public Act 24-91, passed unanimously last year, and signed by the Governor, which established the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund. Investing in early childhood care and education produces better educational, health, social, and economic outcomes, driving increased revenue while reducing the need for costly spending.

Connecticut is home to approximately 181,000 children under the age of five, with 73% of these young children receiving care outside the home while their parents work.

By providing targeted funding and expanding access to childcare, H.B. 5003 will put more money back into our economy by opening new opportunities for stay-at-home parents to re-enter the workforce. This is not just an investment in childcare—it is an investment in the children of Connecticut and the prosperity of our state.

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 offers free tax preparation services to eligible taxpayers. Here is some of the eligibility date for VITA:

Household income less than $68,000
If self-employed, business expenses should be less than $35,000
No income from a rental property

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 must be a rising senior, will serve a one-year term, beginning July 1, 2025.

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.

Participants must complete their application, and it must be received by mail or email by Monday, March 17.

Click here or check out the graphic below for more information.

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.

Learn more here: housedems.ct.gov/HowToTestify.