Session, Renters Rebate, and more

April 10, 2026



 

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Dear Neighbor,

You may have heard in the news recently that there was an antisemitic incident committed by Fairfield Prep students against their hockey rivals, the New Canaan Rams. This type of rhetoric has absolutely no place in our community. I, along with fellow Fairfield representatives Cristin McCarthy Vahey and Sarah Keitt, released the following statement on the incident:

Over the weekend, we learned that students from Fairfield Preparatory School had created several antisemitic social media posts about their rivals in the championship hockey game, the New Canaan Rams. 

A Fairfield Prep spokesperson said that, “Antisemitism is repugnant and antithetical to the Jesuit tradition,” and we agree. Antisemitism and all forms of hate and bigotry destroy the civic and community spirit that creates the welcoming and vibrant Fairfield community we aspire to be. These actions hurt not only those involved, but the entire community, especially our Jewish neighbors, fellow students, and all who suffer as a result of such harmful and thoughtless behaviors. 

As parents, community members, and legislators, we strongly condemn this destructive, hateful, and unacceptable behavior and stand in solidarity with all who are hurting as a result of these actions. 

There has been a 344% increase in antisemitic incidents in the last 5 years in the United States. And despite Connecticut's small population, our state had the eighth-highest rate of antisemitic incidents in K-12 schools. According to news reports, communication to school parents discussed having students reflect on personal accountability. Personal reflection must take place alongside structural accountability. 

In our roles as your representatives, we continue to take steps to address this crisis directly. In February, we passed a bill to establish a working group to address antisemitism in public schools because sadly, this incident and others like it have become too common. The bill includes antisemitism-related training, creating and providing curriculum materials and resources about antisemitism, Jewish heritage, and more. 

As March Madness concludes, we all know how fierce rivalries can be. No matter how strong the feelings are, behavior of this sort cannot be tolerated. Students, by definition, are learning. Jesuit educators around the world teach their students to be, “Men and Women for others.” This is an opportunity to live those values by repairing the harms caused and find healing through action in our community and beyond. 
 

In the rest of this week's eblast, you can read about a renter's rebate program, Drug Takeback Day, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
 

What I've Been Up To this Week 

It was great to be back in the House chamber this week with my colleagues. In the coming weeks, the State House and Senate will be meeting much more frequently to give final passage to bills that advanced through committees. Bills that passed through the House and Senate will then be sent to the governor's desk to be signed into law. I will keep you updated on all of the important bills the legislature passes!
 

On top of session, it was a very busy week.

I had the pleasure of spending my day on Monday touring Lincoln Elementary School and Slade Middle School in New Britain to learn about their literacy intervention efforts in the district. We had a bill this session, SB-220, that targets students in grades 4-6 who are not proficient readers. This bill takes a systems-level approach to make grants available to districts to implement Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for their students who need additional literacy scaffolding and support. New Britain has made a concerted effort to implement these systems and teacher training in their schools and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to see it in practice. 

Later in the week, I was able to participate in a literacy panel on the documentary, "Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars", which follows educators and students in Waterbury, CT as they work to implement structured literacy and close their students' achievement gap. We had a robust discussion with the Commissioner of the CT State Dept. of Education, Charlene Russell-Tucker, as well as educators from across the state, including one featured in this documentary, and the filmmaker.

Yesterday, I had the honor of sitting on a panel hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate historically African American fraternity. Alpha has over 290,000 members and 730 chapters and is a prominent service organization with a long legacy of fostering leadership, academic excellence, and social justice. As the Co-Chair of the legislature's Education Committee, I discussed the role of the state, in partnership with communities, to close our opportunity gap, which is the largest in the country. All children have a right to a high-quality education and there is more we need to be doing as a state to live up to that promise. 

The Fairfield Arts Commission hosted its Second Annual Artistic Visions Challenge Art Show at the Main Branch library. It was a wonderful evening of community engagement, celebrating artists of all ages, and highlighting our nations history in recognition of America 250. Thank you to the Fairfield Arts Commission and our local Community and Economic Development team for organizing this beautiful event.
 

Renters' Rebate Program is Open Now 

Connecticut’s Renters’ Rebate Program is now open to eligible renters who are elderly or living with a disability and meet certain income requirements.

Qualified applicants may receive rebates of up to $900 for married couples and $700 for single individuals. The rebate amount is determined using a graduated income scale, as well as the total rent and utility payments (excluding telephone) made during the previous calendar year.

Applications must be submitted through your local municipality’s assessor’s office or a designated social service agency. The application period is now open and will run through September 30. Please note that no extensions are permitted, and all applications must be received by the municipality no later than September 30.

Click here for more information about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
 
 

AHCT: Update Income Info 

Access Health CT is reminding customers who receive help paying for their health insurance premiums to report any changes in household income to AHCT when they happen.

This can help prevent unexpected costs at tax time.

Federal financial help available through AHCT can significantly lower monthly insurance premiums.

The amount of help customers receive is based on household size and estimated annual income. If that income changes, it must be reported to AHCT.

If changes are not reported when they occur, individuals may receive more assistance than they qualify for and may have to repay the difference to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
 
Eligible customers can choose to receive their financial help in two ways:

  • A one-time tax credit when filing their federal income tax return for the year.
  • Monthly payments are sent directly from the federal government to their insurance company to lower premium costs throughout the year. Individuals who choose this option must reconcile the amount they received when filing their tax return for that year.

Free help is available online, in person, and over the phone.
 
Customers can visit AccessHealthCT.com and click the “Get Help” button for a full list of resources. Customers can chat live with an Enrollment Specialist by clicking the “Live Chat” icon on the website.
 
A list of Certified Brokers is also available. These brokers can help customers understand their options and answer any questions. Working with a broker is free.
 
To get help over the phone, customers can call 1-855-805-4325, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Help is available in over 100 languages. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator. 
 

Drug Takeback Day 

As you begin spring cleaning, clearing out old medications is an essential step toward a refreshed and safe home. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, administered by the DEA, will take place Saturday, April 25. This event provides residents with a free, convenient way to safely dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medications at local collection sites. The DEA partners with local law enforcement agencies across the United States to host this event in local communities like ours. 

You can click here to use a locator tool to find your nearest disposal site.
 

Host sites will collect pills and capsules, as well as prescription and over-the-counter medicines. The DEA cannot accept liquid, sharps, or needles. Trained volunteers will be present to handle collected materials and ensure safe disposal. Any medication you wish to dispose of should be presented in a clear, sealed bag. Loose pills or capsules will not be accepted. 

If you are unable to attend the event, MyOldMeds.com offers a Locator Tool to help you find the nearest disposal site year-round. There are more than 29,000 verified locations in all 50 states that have secure unwanted or expired medicine disposal kiosks, and/or provide free in-home disposal kits upon request. Additionally, the Locator Tool provides disposal site hours of operation, hours of collection, what is collected, and other helpful information.
 
 

Upcoming Local Events 
Rethinking Tech in Students' Lives
Tuesday, April 28, 7pm
Fairfield Ludlowe High School (785 Unquowa Rd., Fairfield)
Read more here
For Which It Stands...
On view through Saturday, July 25
Fairfield University, Bellarmine Hall Galleries and Walsh Gallery (1073 N. Benson Rd., Fairfield)
Read more here
 

I'm committed to ensuring your voice is heard. Please don't hesitate to call my office at (860) 240-8585 or email me if there's anything I can do for you. Be sure to follow @LeeperForFairfield on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on everything I'm doing at the Capitol.


Sincerely,

Jennifer Leeper
State Representative

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