Rebecca Martinez

Monday is Memorial Day, a time for reflection, remembrance, and gratitude.

Let's take time to honor the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation and the values we hold dear. We also recognize the families who carry the weight of that sacrifice every day.

As a community, let us come together to remember their service, support one another, and recommit ourselves to the ideals of courage, service, and patriotism that define our country.

Session wrapped up last week on May 6th, and I’m proud to share that Public Act 26-12 has officially been signed into law, advancing workforce development and improving working conditions across our state.

I truly enjoyed working on this 75-section public act alongside my colleagues because it supports the people who keep our communities running every day — including first responders, veterans, nurses, teachers, and workers across many trades and professions — through meaningful investments in worker protections, public safety, and workforce development.

One important provision expands support for families of fallen volunteer firefighters. After the tragic loss of Plainville Firefighter Ray Moreau, it became clear there was a gap in the law. This legislation helps correct that by expanding the Fallen Hero Fund, allowing surviving spouses of fallen volunteer firefighters and state marshals to access the state employee health plan for up to five years. I was especially proud to have Chris Moreau join me for the bill signing as we signed legislation that will help support volunteer firefighter families in the future.

This week, the House concluded its legislative session, wrapping up months of hard work to deliver for the people of Connecticut.

In Southington, Farmington, and Plainville, I helped secure over $3.8 million in additional funding including education aid and town aid, along with a 10% increase in reimbursement for the Plainville Middle School renovation project, saving taxpayers over $6.1 million.

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!

This week, the Blue-Collar Caucus - which I chair along with Rep. Kara Rochelle - joined to unveil their 2026 legislative priorities.

Over the past several months, we’ve been meeting weekly with a wide range of stakeholders—workers, unions, advocates, and community leaders—to hear directly what blue-collar families are facing. And what we’ve heard is clear: rising costs, workforce shortages, and job conditions are putting real pressure on the people who keep our state running.

These bills support our educators, protect our healthcare workers and first responders, reforms worker rights in our trades, and addresses affordability for our blue-collar families.

This week I joined my colleagues to support a new plan that strengthens the Education Cost Sharing program, the state's leading grant to local school districts. The plan redirects between $100-$170 million from our state's surpluses to flow back to cities and towns for education funding.

This proposal would prevent cities and towns from having to increase property taxes to cover the rising cost of education. It is our responsibility to make sure all children in Connecticut receive a proper education and learning environment, and this proposal goes a long way toward achieving that goal.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a time to recognize the strengths, talents, and contributions of individuals with developmental disabilities while also raising awareness about the challenges they may face.

There are many ways to show support during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. You can:

Engage in meaningful conversations
Share stories and experiences
Amplify the voices of people with lived experience
Help break down stereotypes and misconceptions

March is Women’s History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the remarkable contributions women have made to our communities, our state, and our nation. Here in Connecticut, countless women have shaped our history through leadership, innovation, advocacy, and perseverance.

While this month offers a special opportunity to reflect, their stories deserve to be honored all year long. From historic homes and museums to landmarks connected to groundbreaking achievements and social movements, our state is rich with places that preserve and share the legacy of women who helped shape Connecticut’s past and future.