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Dear Friend,
This is my State Capitol update for the week of June 27.
Click the image below to view my video on this week’s events. |
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Here’s a list of today’s topics:
- New Laws Effective July 1. Click here.
- ICYMI - Road Closures for LiUNA 150. Click here.
- Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program from FEMA Office. Click here.
- LIDR Information from Eversource. Click here.
- CTDOT Plans to Replace Bridge on Route 44. Click here.
- ICYMI - DOT Public Information Meeting in Goshen. Click here.
- Trees for Communities Grant Program. Click here.
- Northwest Corner Events. Click here.
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Several new laws that were passed during the 2025 legislative session take effect on Tuesday, July 1. Please see below to read about a few of them.
Our two-year, $55.8 billion budget takes effect July 1. This bill reflects our shared values, marked by historic investments in children through expanded funding for special education and childcare. It strengthens support for working families, supports Medicaid, and ensures that the essential work of nonprofits is both valued and financially supported.
We approved billions of dollars to be used for school construction, transportation infrastructure, housing assistance, open space, and many more local initiatives through our annual bond funding package.
Our students will soon learn about three essential topics in the classroom: civics, media literacy, and Asian American and Pacific Islander history. Under two bills passed in 2022 and 2023, students will gain an understanding of what it means to be an active and engaged citizen and how to analyze the modern media landscape at a crucial time in our nation’s history.
Our elections will soon be more secure and transparent as video recording technology will be added to every absentee ballot drop box in our state. This new law will record the drop boxes from the first day that ballots are issued up through when the town clerk retrieves the final ballots, and all of these recordings will be made available to the public.
A novel, landmark bill supporting public libraries struggling to afford the skyrocketing costs of e-books and digital audiobooks could go into effect as soon as July 1. The bill bars libraries from entering into or renewing expensive contracts and licensing agreements with publishers, as a means to protect them (at their request) from coercive contracts that have unduly restricted their use of digital content. The measure positions Connecticut as a national leader in this arena and marks a significant step toward transparency, equity, and sustainability in how libraries acquire and provide digital resources to the public. It will not actually become effective until other states (with collective population of 7 million) adopt similar legislation, ensuring that libraries have the market power to push back.
Many more bills are going into effect July 1, including one that reforms Connecticut's towing system, one that requires financial literacy instruction in school, and more.
You can click link here for the full list of laws going into effect, and please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. |
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This weekend, Lime Rock Park will be hosting the LiUNA 150, a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race that is expected to draw thousands to the park.
Lime Rock Park has released a detailed traffic and parking plan in coordination with local authorities. Whether you’re attending the race or just going about your day in Lakeville or Sharon, please note that the following roads will be impacted, some becoming one-way roads between 10am and 1pm (westbound only) and again from 4pm-7pm (eastbound only):
- Route 7/112 Westbound: two westbound lanes past the Outfield Entrance to White Hollow Road
- White Hollow Road from Route 112: two southbound lanes up to Lights Field
- White Hollow Road from Caulkinstown Rd (Sharon): open to two-way traffic, but marked with “No Thru Traffic” signs
- Drivers from Route 112 Eastbound (Hotchkiss Corners) should detour using Route 41 North to Route 44 East to Route 126 East to Route 7.
Please see the detailed maps for complete information on closures, detours, and event parking.
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The DHS Appropriations Act of 2024 appropriated $324 million to carry out the activities of the SAFER Program, making competitive grants to fire departments and national, state, local, federally recognized tribal, and non-profit interest organizations representing the interests of volunteer firefighters. No less than 10% of the funding must be awarded to projects under the Recruitment and Retention (R&R) Activity, and 10% of the funding is set aside for awards to volunteer or mostly volunteer fire departments under the Hiring of Firefighters (Hiring) Activity.
Eligible applicants for the FY 2024 SAFER Program include fire departments and national, regional, state, local, federally recognized tribal, and non-profit interest organizations representing the interests of volunteer firefighters operating in any of the 50 states, or any federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization.
For more information and application materials, click here.
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On Monday, June 23, the electric discount rates available to low-income households expanded to include five discount tiers (from two tiers previously) following a decision from the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.
Under the new structure, customers may be eligible for a 5%, 15%, 20%, 40% or 50% discount off their monthly electric bills if they meet household income requirements or receive a public assistance benefit for at least one household member and have a financial hardship status on their electric account.
Eversource encourages any customer struggling to pay their energy bill to connect with them to get assistance. To find the right options, visit eversource.com/bill help or call 800-286-2828. Available plans include::
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State and Other Assistance Programs
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Protection from Service Shut-Off
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Financial Assistance Programs and Payment Plans
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Energy Efficiency
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The Department of Transportation plans to replace the bridge over Wachocostinook Brook on Route 44 in Salisbury, with construction anticipated to begin in 2028.
The present schedule indicates that the design will be completed in October 2027, with construction anticipated to start in the spring of 2028. This project will be undertaken with eighty percent (80%) Federal and twenty percent (20%) State funds.
If anyone has any questions or comments on this project, contact Andrew Cardinali, Principal Engineer, at (860) 594-3315 or by e-mail at Andrew.Cardinali@ct.gov. Please refer to State Project No. 0121- 0137.
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CTDOT will conduct an in-person public informational meeting for the project will be held on Wednesday, July 30 at the Goshen Center School Gymnasium at 42 North Street in Goshen. An open forum for individual discussions with project staff will begin at 6:30 p.m., with a formal presentation following at 7:00 p.m. The proposed improvements will require two sliver property acquisitions that will be used for the construction of the new roadway geometry and sidewalk. Minor rights and easements may also be required and will be added as the design develops.
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The Trees for Communities Grant Program at the CT Department of Energy and Environment (DEEP) aims to address the uneven distribution of tree canopy across Connecticut by providing financial support for urban forestry projects in communities of need. Projects must increase tree cover or contribute to other urban forestry objectives, such as improvement of forest health or utilization of urban wood.
The maximum individual award is $200,000. The deadline to apply is August 31 at 5:00 PM.
Click here to learn more. |
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| Head Start will celebrate its 60th anniversary on Wednesday, July 2 at the new facility on Grove Street in Torrington. |
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Steep Rock Association Centennial Benefit Concert on July 13
On Sunday, July 13 at 6:00 pm Steep Rock will host their Centennial Benefit Concert at Spring Hill Vineyards in Washington. This nature-inspired concert is presented as a collaboration between four beloved Washington nonprofits —Washington Friends of Music, Pilobolus, Spring Hill Vineyards, and Steep Rock Association.
100% of proceeds supports Steep Rock's mission to protect the land you love.
Doors open at 5:30 pm.
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| The 30th Annual Litchfield Jazz Festival will be held on July 25-27 at the Thomas Perakos Performing Arts Center in Washington, Connecticut. Click here to purchase tickets. |
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It is my honor to represent our district. I look forward to hearing from you about the issues raised in this newsletter, or any other topics you think I should know about. You can email me at maria.horn@cga.ct.gov or call me at (860)-240-8585. Thanks for reading, and I wish you a safe weekend.
Click here to forward to forward this email to a friend. |
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Sincerely,
Maria Horn
State Representative |
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