Session Recap, Summer Activities in CT and More!

May 31, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor,

I hope you are doing well. I will highlight a few pieces of legislation we recently passed below. They are driven by my commitment to working hard every day for our families, listening to you and reflecting your ideas in this legislation, and creating it in collaboration with others so we can better address our real-life needs and put our well-being at the center of what we do! 

Yesterday was Dress Down Day at the Capitol. Legislators and staff were able to dress down if they provided a donation to the ELF Fund, which provides gifts at the holidays to military children. I took the opportunity to rep the Connecticut Sun - they are off to a slow start, but I am confident that they can turn their season around! 

On Monday, the LGBTQ+ Caucus will join Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Attorney General William Tong, and Comptroller Sean Scanlon for a press conference to celebrate the start of Pride Month.

The purpose of the event is to highlight some of the relevant legislation we have passed, including HB 6913, which prohibits discrimination in long-term care facilities based on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, HIV status, disability, and other protected characteristics. We also wanted to share information about Pride events throughout the state - the graphic below highlights a few that will be held throughout June.

Please read below for information on summer tourism in Connecticut, a reminder about a town hall in Westport, and more! 

Legislative Recap 

We passed several pieces of great legislation this week, including a bill that will transform special education in Connecticut. 

For too long, our state's special education model has faced fundamental flaws that prevented all students from receiving the proper education they deserve. With our recent passage of HB 5001: An Act Concerning the Quality and Delivery of Special Education Services in Connecticut, we are taking important steps to reform this system.

This bill, which passed 148-0 in the House on a bipartisan basis, makes historic investments for students in special education, delivers better access to services, and provides cost controls and greater transparency.

Key provisions of the bill include:

  • Historic investment in our students, including $30 million for the Special Education Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program, which will help build capacity to serve students closer to home.
  • Prioritizing better access to services through enhanced development screenings, behavioral assessment and intervention plans, access to remedial classes in higher education, and involvement of parents and local school districts before a student is moved from their school.
  • Reining in costs by regulating third party rate processes and developing new billing and licensing standards.
  • Increasing oversight through on-site compliance visits and detailed system-wide reporting to reduce unpredictability and improve accountability.

Children are our future, and it is our responsibility to provide them a proper education. In a state that has one of the best K-12 public school systems in the country, HB 5001 makes sure our special education program maintains that same level of quality.

The bill must now pass the Senate and be signed into law by the governor.

Last week, the House passed legislation that will foster a more inclusive and responsive system that better meets the needs of individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities.

  • Tracks delays & gaps in critical services
  • Requires public reporting on abuse & neglect cases
  • Reviews DDS investigation policies every 5 years
  • Launches statewide autism needs assessment
  • Studies future of Southbury Training School
  • Proposes urgent help for complex autism cases

We’re cracking down on street takeovers and illegal ATV use. House Democrats voted in favor of SB 1284, which will authorize steep fines, vehicle seizures, and automatic license suspensions. This legislation targets both participants and organizers, aiming to curb dangerous road behavior with tougher enforcement and penalties.

Last week, the House overwhelmingly approved a bill to overhaul the state’s towing law, making it harder to tow vehicles from private property and easier for drivers to retrieve their vehicles after a tow.

HB 7162 overhauls the state’s 100-year-old towing statutes creating massive reforms to towing procedures from private property and rate increases for highway tows that typically follow car accidents.
Tow companies are now required to accept credit cards and they are not allowed to tow vehicles quickly just because of an expired parking permit or registration. Vehicles can’t be towed from private property without notice unless they’re blocking traffic, fire hydrants or parked in an accessible space.

The bill takes several steps to make it easier for people to get their towed vehicles back and requires towing companies to take more time and increase documentation during the sale process.

We also passed a reform on Wednesday to stop the weaponization of our legal system by using defamation lawsuits to silence victims. Communications that detail sexual discrimination, harassment or assault will now be kept confidential in civil court.

Click here to find the full list of bills passed.

Reminder - Westport Town Hall 

ICYMI - The Westport Delegation will hold an End of Session Town Hall on Monday, June 16 at the Westport Public Library. Rep. Steinberg, State Senator Maher and I will be available to answer your questions, as well as discuss and reflect on the 2025 legislative session. Hope to see you there! 

CT Tourism, Activity Season Begins

Hot days, cool drinks, baseball, and barbecues are popular staples during the summer but Connecticut, from one end of the state to the other, offers so much more.

Connecticut is home to 110 state parks, 32 state forests, 29 state campgrounds, 117 state boat launches, and 4 coastal state beaches that provide any number of recreational opportunities, along with many other attractions and nationally ranked restaurants.

Two new trails guide visitors on some of the more unique experiences the state has to offer, including the Connecticut Oyster Trail, and the Connecticut Christmas Movie Trail. Later this year the state will officially launch the Connecticut Pizza Trail to celebrate its designation as the Pizza Capital of the United States.

The best way to explore tourism destinations and find activities to do in the state is by visiting the official Connecticut Tourism website HERE.

There's more.

Litchfield County was ranked as one of the best places to go in 2025 and Mystic Seaport Museum was the “#2 Best Open-Air Museum” for the second consecutive year.

Hungry?

Several CT chefs and restaurants have gained national recognition, including chef David Standridge of The Shipwright’s Daughter in Mystic capturing the world-renowned James Beard Award for best chef in the northeast, and several others named semifinalists, including Renee Touponce of Oyster Club and The Port of Call in Mystic who was nominated in the outstanding chef category, and Coracora in West Hartford nominated for outstanding restaurant.

Seasons change quickly. With all that it has to offer, summertime in Connecticut is one you don't want to miss.

Zumba Gold Classes at Calf Pasture Beach

The City of Norwalk’s Recreation and Parks Department will hold Zumba Gold classes at Calf Pasture Beach!

Classes will meet on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM, beginning on July 8 and ending August 26.

To register for Zumba Gold classes, please create or sign up using an Active Net account. If you don't have an account, you can open one by visiting http://scb.ai/Nvtpyt

Upcoming Library Events 

The Norwalk Public Library will hold several events over the next few weeks. If you want more information, click on the corresponding flyer or visit the Norwalk Public Library website. 

Westport Public Library also has a robust lineup of programing. Please visit their website to learn more. 

ICYMI

Nature Walk at Cranbury Park

Explore the great outdoors with Norwalk Recreation and Parks! Discover native plants, spot birds, and learn about the forest ecosystem—guided by our staff and expert arborist, Sarah Cruz. 

This free event is perfect for all ages. Just dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and don’t forget water and snacks! Stay after your walk for more fun activities.

This event is free, but registration is required. Please click the flyer below for more information. 

Survey for Norwalk Residents

Attention Norwalk residents and business owners - the City of Norwalk and Redevelopment Agency (RDA) have created a survey to gauge interest in developing a Business Improvement District (BID). A business improvement district could potentially increase resources and investment in downtown Norwalk.

Click here to access the survey. It should take about 10 minutes to complete. 

Norwalk Resident Beach Parking Pass

Attention Norwalk residents -  beach season is right around the corner. You can now confirm that your license plate is on the Grand List for your 2025 Norwalk Resident parking pass. This pass provides parking access to:

  • Calf Pasture & Shady Beach
  • Veterans Park
  • Cranbury Park
  • Taylor Farm Dog Park

Your car registration must list Norwalk as your tax town to qualify for a resident pass.

Click here to verify your plate. If you are not on the list, send a photo of your car registration to the following email address -  residentpass@norwalkct.gov.
 

Please don't hesitate to reach out to me with any questions and concerns you may have - I can be reached at Dominique.Johnson@cga.ct.gov, or through my office phone - 860-240-8585.

Sincerely,

Dominique Johnson
State Representative

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