Investing in Child Care & Lowering Electric Rates

June 6, 2025


 
 

The legislative session has wrapped up, and it's been a meaningful and productive time at the Capitol. As always, I am honored to serve as your state representative and voice in Hartford. Every vote I cast is with Bridgeport in mind.

It's a privilege to collaborate with my colleagues, engage in thoughtful debate, and push for progress together. I'm proud of the work we accomplished including investing in special education, cutting your electric bill, lowering child care costs, strengthening services for our veterans, and much more. I'll dig deeper into how these bills will support our communities and state.

Here are the sections in this week's email:

  • Our Budge Puts People First
  • Addressing the Child Care Crisis
  • Lowering Electric Rates
  • More Support For Our Veterans
 

Our Budget Puts People First

The House adopted a $55.8 billion two-year budget that invests in child care, K-12 education, and special education, while providing tax relief for working families and supporting nonprofit service providers.
Our budget reflects shared values, marked by historic investments in children through expanded funding for special education and childcare. It strengthens support for working families and ensures that the essential work of nonprofits is both valued and financially supported. These organizations are on the front lines every day, serving our most vulnerable neighbors. This budget affirms and reinforces their vital role in building a stronger, more inclusive community for all.

This budget stands up for:

HISTORIC NEW FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION

  • $40 million for Excess Cost Grant in each of next two years
  • $30 million for Special Education Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program
  • $20 million in bonding to expand and upgrade special education facilities
  • $10 million in bonding for capital development
  • $10 million for Governor's Incentive District Grant
  • Hold harmless funding for Education Cost Sharing, so no school district sees a cut

CHILDCARE

  • Investible trust to provide sustainable funding for new childcare programs
  • Funding for direct healthcare of our children through DSS Medicaid

NONPROFIT PROVIDERS

  • Access to better health care and nonprofit community providers
  • $150 million for groups homes and nursing homes
  • More than $60 million in Medicaid rate increases, which will benefit nonprofit providers 

TAX RELIEF FOR WORKING FAMILIES

  • Targeted, meaningful relief and long-term support for working families
  • Refundable tax credit of $250 through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) framework
  • $500 refundable tax credit for home daycare owners that recognizes and sustains the vital care workforce
  • Tax credit for employers who contribute to their employees' CHET accounts

This is a budget that works for the people — one that safeguards essential services, uplifts communities, and lays the foundation for a future where every resident is supported and protected. I'm proud to have cast a vote in support of this measure. 
 

Addressing the Child Care Crisis
Every Connecticut family deserves affordable, high-quality child care. With the passage of House Priority Bill 5003 and Senate Bill 1, transformative legislation is set to become reality by expanding access, supporting educators, and investing in a stronger future for our children and our economy. These smart, sustainable investments position Connecticut to lead the nation in delivering affordable, high quality child care and establishing universal Pre-K by 2032.

These bills represent a huge step in our commitment to our children.  

The bills:
 
Provide a Sustainable Investment 

  • Fund the Early Childhood Education Endowment to invest in child care now and in the future

Lower Costs and Increase Access

  • Child care and Pre-K will be free for families in state-funded programs earning up to $100,000 and families making over $100,000 will pay no more than 7% of income
  • Add 16,000 new child care and Pre-K slots across the state
  • Create an online portal to help families find and enroll in programs

Attract and Retain Early Childhood Educators

  • Pay qualified educators on par with public school teachers
  • Provide funding for health insurance coverage for educators   

This legislation delivers lasting solutions for families, educators, and the economy. Together, these measures provide relief for families, bolster recruitment and retention of child care educators, and invest in the construction and renovation of early learning facilities.
 

Lowering Electric Rates

The House and Senate took bold, bipartisan action to lower electric bills—passing a comprehensive energy reform bill with more than $780 million in savings for ratepayers.

By easing costs on consumers, modernizing the grid, and investing in clean energy, we are powering a more affordable, reliable, and accountable energy future for all.

This legislation also expands access to a broader range of renewable energy sources, ensuring the benefits of clean energy are more equitably distributed -- particularly in Environmental Justice communities, such as Bridgeport, that have faced the brunt of pollution and energy inequity. By prioritizing sustainable solutions and environmental equity, this bill moves Connecticut closer to a cleaner, fairer energy future for all.
 

More Support For Our Veterans
The House of Representatives passed the final portion of the CT Hero Act via House Bill 6438, a crucial step toward strengthening and expanding the services veterans rely on.
 
The bipartisan legislation represents our commitment to ensuring services for those who’ve served our country.

This measure reaffirms Connecticut’s commitment to honoring our veterans and standing with those who have served.

Key provisions of the bill include: 

  • Making it easier for disabled veterans to qualify for state benefits: exempting veteran disability pay as an income requirement for certain state benefits
  • Hiring more state employees to help connect veterans to their benefits: hiring veteran service officers to this Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans in qualifying for the VA disability claims.
  • Guaranteeing free college tuition for disabled veterans: preventing higher ed institutions from charging fees
  • Making it easier for veterans to qualify for free legal service: exempting veteran disability pay from an income requirement when determining access to public defenders.
  • Making it easier for veterans and veteran own businesses to qualify for loans through D.E.C.D.
  • Directing the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs to study: claim sharks and the municipal veterans representative program.

The measure moves to the governor's desk for his signature after passing both chambers.