Gregg Haddad

Connecticut's annual Sales Tax-Free Week begins on Sunday, August 18 and runs through Saturday, August 24. It provides a chance to save money, whether it is taking the kids back-to-school shopping or treating yourself or your loved ones.

Retailers throughout the state offer additional discounts on clothing and footwear during Sales Tax-Free Week, providing consumers with even more ways to stretch their spending power.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will host a virtual public informational meeting next Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at 7:00 PM. This meeting will discuss the replacement of Bridge No. 04730 on Gurleyville Road over the Fenton River in Mansfield.

I wanted to give you a heads up regarding the Route 32 Milling and Paving Project, as per the construction advisory from the CT Department of Transportation (CTDOT). Crews will start working on the paving phase this Thursday (June 27) and continue until next Wednesday (July 3). The milling work wrapped up last week.

During this project, lane closures will occur on Route 32 from Route 275 to the Windham/Willimantic line. Clear signage will guide you through the work zone.

I want to inform you about an upcoming milling and resurfacing project on Route 32 in Mansfield that may affect your travel plans. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will be performing this project from the Windham/Mansfield town line to Route 275 (South Eagle Road) starting next Thursday, May 30 to Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

Connecticut is launching a new program that will expand health care to underserved communities while forgiving the student loans of health care workers.

The Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program incentivizes eligible health care providers to practice full-time in underserved Connecticut communities for at least two years by offering up to $50,000 in student loan repayments. Part-time options are also available for $12,500 per year over two years, totaling $25,000.

Connecticut is committed to mitigating the climate crisis. The first step is acknowledging there is a crisis.

This week, I joined my Democratic colleagues and voted to pass one of our top legislative priorities this session, HB 5004, also referred to as the 2024 Connecticut Climate Protection Act. Protecting the environment and working to combat the effects of climate change should be a shared priority because the act of doing nothing is far-reaching and touches every aspect of life on Earth.

Veterans put their lives on the line for our country and, as a small way to say “thank you for your service,” the House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill that would support Veterans who have been disabled during service.

HB 5491 establishes a property tax exemption for Veterans who have a service-connected permanent and total disability rating as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption will be used for a home that is a primary residence, but if a qualified Veteran does not own a home, the exemption will apply to a single motor vehicle that they own.

As the elderly population steadily grows, there is an urgency to provide resources and assistance to this community. During Monday's session, we took a significant step to achieving that goal by passing HB 5001, a top priority for House Democrats this session.