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In this week's eblast, you can read about Access Health CT enrollment dates, the August primary, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
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You will soon be able to shop, compare plans, and enroll in health and dental coverage through the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Access Health CT’s open enrollment period runs from October 23 through December 23, giving residents an early start this year to explore their options and choose the coverage that best fits their needs.
Think of the enrollment period as having two important deadlines: |
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Financial help remains available. Access Health CT is the only place where Connecticut residents can receive assistance to lower the cost of health insurance. Depending on income and eligibility, some residents may also qualify for the Covered CT Program, providing comprehensive health coverage at no cost.
To get started, visit AccessHealthCT.com and click the “Get Help” button on the homepage. From there, you can schedule an appointment, locate a nearby Navigator enrollment site, or connect with a Certified Broker who can help you choose the right plan. |
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Connecticut closed the 2025-26 fiscal year with a budget surplus for the eighth straight year. Thanks to fiscal guardrails created by the General Assembly in 2017, those surpluses are contributing to paying down the state’s unfunded pension obligations, so future debt payments are hundreds of millions of dollars smaller than they would have been.
The state’s 2026 surpluses include $411.7 million in the General Fund and $22.7 million in the Special Transportation Fund. The $411.7 million sum was transmitted to support the state’s Early Childhood Education Endowment in late June, with more than $1 billion contributed to pension debt following contributions to the state’s “rainy day fund”.
By making responsible financial decisions today, we're ensuring Connecticut remains well-positioned to invest in priorities like education, transportation, public safety, and other essential services while planning for the future. |
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Primary elections will take place on Tuesday, August 11, in municipalities where more than one candidate from the same political party has qualified for a particular office.
The primary will be preceded by seven days of early voting, August 3 through August 9. Early voting hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on August 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9, and 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on August 4 and 6.
In Connecticut, only registered members of a political party may vote in that party's primary. Voters who wish to participate in a different party's primary must first update their party affiliation. Under Connecticut law, voters who change their party affiliation must wait three months before they are eligible to vote in their new party's primary.
For additional election information and resources, click here to visit the Secretary of the State's election webpage.
If you plan to vote by absentee ballot, you no longer need to provide a specific reason to request one for any primary or election.
Click here to access the absentee ballot request portal. |
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Connecticut has a semi-closed primary system. Unaffiliated voters who wish to vote in a primary must enroll in a political party by 12:00 p.m. on the day before the primary (August 10), provided they have 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. |
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The American Red Cross needs our help - there is an emergency blood shortage, which means the blood supply is critically low - about a one to two day supply on hand - and could cause hospitals to triage blood products, prioritizing the most critical cases, delaying non-emergency procedures, and causing risks for patients who require timely transfusions, including trauma patients, women giving birth, and patients with chronic blood disorders.
Blood donors, especially those with types O+ & B- blood (the biggest shortages right now), and platelet donors are urgently needed to help ensure lifesaving medical care isn't delayed for patients.
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Basic eligibility for whole blood donation:
- Donation frequency: Every 56 days, up to 6 times a year
- You must be in good health and feeling well
- You must be at least 16 years old in most states
- You must weigh at least 110 lbs.
Basic eligibility for platelet donation:
- Donation frequency: Every 7 days, up to 24 times/year
- You must be in good health and feeling well
- You must be at least 17 years old in most states
- You must weigh at least 110 lbs.
There are also options to donate Power Red and plasma (eligibility can be found here - https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html
Find a blood drive near you: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive
The need for blood is constant. The supply isn't.
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I am proud to recognize Aug. 2 to 8 as Connecticut Farmers Market Week, in conjunction with National Farmers Market Week.
Farmers markets are more than places to shop — they strengthen our local economy, support family farms, improve access to fresh, healthy food, and create vibrant community gathering spaces. Every purchase made at a farmers market helps sustain Connecticut agriculture and keeps food dollars circulating in our local communities.
I also want to recognize the important work of the Connecticut Farmers Market Association, a relatively new nonprofit organization created by farmers market managers from across our state. Formed with the encouragement of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, the Association provides education, networking, and advocacy to help farmers markets thrive and address shared challenges. Their work strengthens markets across Connecticut and creates even greater opportunities for our farmers to reach consumers.
I encourage everyone to celebrate Connecticut Farmers Market Week by visiting a local farmers market, meeting the farmers who grow our food, and supporting the businesses that make our agricultural heritage so strong. Together, we can continue investing in local agriculture, healthy communities, and a resilient food system.
Click here for a list of farmers markets in the state!
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| July is Disability Pride Month. Accessibility is not a favor; it is a fundamental human right. Creating a more inclusive world benefits everyone. House Democrats will continue to push down barriers and demand equity every single day! |
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On Wednesday, August 5 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., join the panel discussion, The State of Our Vote: Policy, Progress, and Protections in America, to explore the many challenges facing voting rights in the modern era.
This hybrid event will be held online via WebEx and in person at the Legislative Office Building (Room 2C, 300 Capitol Ave, Hartford). In-person visitors are welcome to park in the Legislative Office Building visitors garage.
Click here for more information and to register. |
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Registration is now open for the Connecticut State Department of Education's newly launched Paraeducator Preparation Academy.
This free, six-week program is designed to help aspiring paraeducators prepare for the ParaPathways assessment, a requirement for employment as a paraeducator in Connecticut. Participants will receive instruction from certified bilingual educators, free study materials, coverage of the exam fee, and Spanish-language support.
The inaugural pilot session will run from August 17 through September 23 and will be held at the Leaders for Educational Advocacy and Diversity (LEAD) Center in East Hartford.
Registration is open now through the first day of class, August 17. Once the session reaches capacity, additional applicants will be placed on a waitlist and notified about future academy offerings. Additional sessions are planned to launch in communities across Connecticut later this fall.
Participants who successfully complete the academy and pass the ParaPathways assessment will be connected with school districts seeking to hire paraeducators. Once employed, graduates will also be paired with experienced mentor paraeducators to support them as they begin their careers.
Click here to learn more and register.
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If you have any issues, concerns, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me at 860-240-8585 if you ever need anything or by email at maryam.khan@cga.ct.gov.
Sincerely,
Maryam Khan |
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