Fourth of July, and more

July 3, 2026

Dear Neighbor,

As we celebrate the Fourth of July and commemorate America's 250th Anniversary, we honor the courage, vision, and sacrifices of those who established our nation.

This historic milestone invites us to reflect on our shared heritage, celebrate the freedoms we enjoy, and reaffirm our commitment to the ideals of liberty, equality, and opportunity that continue to guide our country. On this Independence Day, let us come together in gratitude, patriotism, and a renewed commitment to the ideals that define our nation.

On Saturday, July 4, at 9:00 p.m., a Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration will take place at East Rock Park.

In this week's eblast, you can read about Connecticut's extreme heat advisory, special train fares for America's 250th, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.

Extreme Hot Weather Protocol Activated
Celebrating America's 250th with Special Transportation Rates
Increased Funding for the Early Childhood Education Endowment
Student Loan Changes Effective July 1
Unaffiliated Voters Can Join a Party
Health Insurance Subsidy for Early Childhood Educators

Extreme Hot Weather Protocol Activated

Due to a long-duration heat wave that is impacting Connecticut, Governor Lamont has ordered the state’s Extreme Hot Weather Protocol to be activated through at least 6 pm on Sunday, July 5.

An Extreme Heat Watch has been issued by the National Weather Service as Connecticut has the potential to reach the warning-level criteria.

Residents are encouraged to take precautions during the heat wave, including staying hydrated, limiting outdoor activity during peak heat hours, and checking on older adults, young children, and other vulnerable individuals who may be at greater risk of heat-related illness. Click here to read the governor's release with prevention tips to stay safe and hydrated.

Cooling centers will be available for anyone in need of a place to get out of the heat. Click here to find a list of active cooling centers or call 2-1-1.

Celebrating America's 250th with Special Transportation Rates

Getting around Connecticut this Independence Day weekend will be easier and more affordable thanks to special fare discounts. On Saturday, July 4, and Sunday, July 5, riders can travel free on all CTtransit bus routes statewide and enjoy a special $2.50 fare on the CTrail Hartford Line and Shore Line East, making it easier to attend Fourth of July celebrations, including Hartford Bonanza 2026.

The free CTtransit promotion includes CTfastrak and ADA paratransit services. Buses will operate on a Sunday schedule both days, with some expanded service available. No tickets or passes are required—simply hop on board and ride.

Adults traveling on the CTrail Hartford Line and Shore Line East can ride between any two stations on each rail line for just $2.50, while children's fares will be $1.00 on CTrail Hartford Line and free on Shore Line East. These special fares do not apply to Metro-North's New Haven Line.

To commemorate America's 250th anniversary, riders will also see buses featuring special CT250-themed designs and trains decorated with red, white, and blue striping, flags, and CT250 logos. Commemorative tickets will also be available throughout the holiday weekend.

Whether you're heading to a fireworks display, a parade, Hartford Bonanza 2026, or spending time with family and friends, take advantage of these special fares and enjoy a safe, convenient, and festive way to travel this holiday weekend.

Increased Funding for the Early Childhood Education Endowment

Governor Lamont announced that he is directing the Office of the Treasurer to deposit $411.7 million in state surplus funding into the Early Childhood Education Endowment, bringing the endowment’s total value to more than $700 million.

The endowment serves as a permanent funding source dedicated to strengthening Connecticut’s early childhood education system and will deliver the largest expansion of early childhood education services in state history. Combined with the $300 million deposited at the end of fiscal year 2025, this latest investment positions Connecticut as a national leader in creating a sustainable, long-term strategy to expand access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education.

The endowment’s fiscal year 2027 budget also includes a $10 million investment in a health insurance subsidy for the early childhood workforce. Together, these investments advance the state’s comprehensive strategy to strengthen early childhood education while supporting the educators and providers who serve children and families every day.

Connecticut Early Childhood Education Endowment by the numbers:

FY 2025 deposit: $300 million
FY 2026 deposit: $411.7 million
Total invested in the endowment: $711.7 million
Eligible families receiving free child care beginning fiscal year 2028: Household incomes up to $100,000
Maximum family contribution above that threshold: 7% of household income

Student Loan Changes Effective July 1

Sweeping changes to the student loan system by the federal government will affect half a million Connecticut residents who carry student debt by narrowing their choices, raising monthly payments for many, and closing off affordable pathways to higher education.

Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE Plan are receiving notices to choose a new repayment plan within 90 days.

Anyone who does not choose will be automatically moved into the standard repayment plan, which could mean a sharply higher monthly bill. Two long-standing affordable options, Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE), will be phased out entirely by July 1, 2028.

And, the Grad PLUS program, which lets students borrow up to the full cost of attendance, is being eliminated. Graduate borrowing for unsubsidized loans is now capped at $20,500 per year and $100,000 over a lifetime. Students in certain professional fields have a higher cap.

Still, the practical effect for many will be a turn toward riskier private loans that carry fewer protections and are not available to everyone.

No borrower should navigate these changes alone. Connecticut is one of a limited number of states with a dedicated Student Loan Ombudsperson, Michelle Jarvis-Lettman, housed at the state Department of Banking and backed by independent statutory authority under state law.

The Ombudsperson’s office can receive and work to resolve complaints against student loan servicers, whether the loan is federal or private. It can help borrowers understand and choose among repayment options and answer questions about switching plans or consolidating.

The Office can also step in to address problems such as misapplied payments, incorrect interest calculations, servicer changes, and errors in payment history or credit reporting, and it can connect borrowers to educational resources and help them navigate the transition off SAVE and into a new plan.

Borrowers can call the Office at 860-240-8170 or 800-831-7225, and press option 2 or:

• Email: banking.complaints@ct.gov
• File a complaint online: portal.ct.gov/DOB/Consumer/Consumer-Complaints/Student-Loan-Servicer
Borrowers can also file complaints with the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or by phone at 855-411-2372.

Connecticut also puts real dollars back in borrowers’ pockets through the Student Loan Reimbursement Program (SLRP), administered by the state Office of Higher Education. Residents can apply for or learn more about the Student Loan Reimbursement Program via:

• Website: portal.ct.gov/ohe (apply through the CT Scholars portal)
• Email: OHE.SLRP@ct.gov

Unaffiliated Voters Can Join a Party

It’s too late for registered Democrats or Republicans to switch parties and vote in their new party’s primary this August. The deadline was May 11, and state law requires a 3-month waiting period.

If you’re unaffiliated, however, you still have time. You can join a party and vote in that party’s primary right away, as long as you’ve been unaffiliated for at least three months.

Updating your party affiliation is one of the many changes voters can conveniently do online at https://ow.ly/Vmcn50Z38Qr.

Health Insurance Subsidy for Early Childhood Educators

The Early Childhood Education Endowment’s Advisory Board voted last week to approve the new early childhood educator health insurance subsidy program beginning in 2027 and available through Access Health CT’s Open Enrollment starting October 23.

Established into law in 2025, the state's historic Early Childhood Education Endowment has already created up to 1,000 new child care spaces, supported an 8% increase in Early Start CT reimbursement rates, expanded Smart Start preschool classrooms, and invested in operational grants for providers across the state. As specified in Public Act 25-93, $10 million of the FY27 Endowment is dedicated to a health insurance subsidy program for early childhood educators. Early childhood educators often struggle with access to affordable health insurance, and this subsidy program can help retain and recruit essential workers for our early childhood system to work for families, employers, and our economy.

The subsidy will allow educators to access qualified health plans through Access Health CT and receive a subsidy toward their cost for health insurance through either an individual plan through Access Health CT, an employer’s small employer group plan through Access Health CT or in conjunction with an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) offered by their employer. Eligible early childcare educators must not be eligible for Medicaid or the Covered Connecticut program.

The subsidy program is income-based and provide a flat subsidy for covered options regardless of which option through which an individual receives their health insurance. Early childhood educators earning between 175% and 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) will receive a subsidy of $1,200 per year; those earning between 250% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level will receive $1,100 subsidies; and those earning over 400% will receive $1,000.

Approximately 7,200 to 8,800 early child care workers will be eligible for the program. Access Health CT will also receive funding from the Endowment to promote and advertise the program to early childhood educators and providers.