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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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Looking back on July, one of the biggest constituent issues my office has been working on has been Apple Valley Village.
This story didn’t begin with the July 4 storm. Residents had already contacted my office with concerns about rent increases, additional fees, park conditions, infrastructure, communication, and other long-standing issues.
The storm brought those concerns into even sharper focus. Homes and vehicles were damaged, and cleanup within the park did not begin for five days.
In response to the concerns raised by residents, I formally requested that the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection open an investigation into conditions at Apple Valley Village. That investigation is currently underway, and I continue to work closely with the appropriate state agencies as it progresses.
Since then, my office has met with residents, visited the park multiple times, reviewed hundreds of pages of documents, and requested reviews of tree maintenance, electrical infrastructure, lease provisions, park policies, emergency procedures, and other concerns raised by residents.
Residents have also begun filing Fair Rent complaints with the Southington Fair Rent Commission. My office recently hosted an informational session featuring two attorneys from the Connecticut Fair Rent Project and an attorney from Connecticut Legal Services to answer residents’ questions and explain the Fair Rent process.
This work is far from over, and my office will continue advocating for the residents of Apple Valley Village every step of the way. |
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I’m honored to be serving on the DCF Dashboard Working Group established through this year’s legislation.
The purpose of the working group is to help identify the information that should be included in a new public dashboard on the Department of Children and Families. A strong public dashboard can do more than display data - it can improve transparency, strengthen accountability, and help ensure that policymakers and the public have meaningful information about how DCF is serving Connecticut’s children and families.
By making key performance measures easier to access and understand, the dashboard can help identify trends, measure progress over time, and highlight areas where additional attention or resources may be needed. Better information leads to better decision-making and, ultimately, better outcomes for the children and families who rely on DCF services.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of this working group and look forward to collaborating with my colleagues and stakeholders as we build a dashboard that promotes transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. |
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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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Please see below for the "Roadwork Corner" section of the eblasts, which will include information on current and upcoming roadwork to stay aware of. Please make sure to check in weekly for the latest updates!
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There will be lane shifts on Route 72 in Plainville/New Britain. The project 0171-0501 consists of rehabilitation measures for four (4) bridges that includes, but are not limited to deck rehabilitation, superstructure rehabilitation or replacement and substructure rehabilitation.
Other major project elements include paving, roadway drainage, guiderail replacement, highway design and construction, traffic engineering and work zone traffic control, illumination and Incident Management Systems (IMS) replacement or preservation, and utility coordination, as well as related design and construction requirements detailed throughout the Technical and General Provisions including Appendices and referenced authoritative sources.
Manafort Brothers Incorporated will implement traffic shifts on various Route 72 structures in Plainville/New Britain beginning on or around June 15 and continuing through early December 2026. Traffic will remain open during construction. Motorists should expect shifted travel lanes, reduced shoulder widths, temporary pavement markings, construction signage, and changing traffic patterns throughout the work zone.
Traffic control devices and signing will be installed to help guide drivers safely through the temporary roadway configuration. Motorists are advised to use caution, reduce speeds, and remain alert for construction vehicles, roadway workers, and temporary lane changes in the area.
Please note that the schedule may be modified or extended due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances. Additional traffic shifts will occur as needed in the project area into December 2026.
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that a Joint and Crack Sealing project will be performed on various state routes within the Greater Hartford region (CTDOT District 1). This project is scheduled to occur on Monday, June 1, 2026, and be completed on Friday, November 6, 2026. Project DOT01703229CN consists of pavement joint and crack sealing.
LANE CLOSURE/DETOUR INFO
There will be various lane closures on various state routes (see list below) from Monday, June 1, 2026, to Friday November 6, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Traffic control personnel and signing patterns will guide motorists through the work zone.
Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this area. The following routes are included in this project:
Andover:
Route 316 between Route 6 and Hebron town line
Berlin:
Route 71 between Route 372 (Farmington Avenue) and SR 571
Bristol:
Route 72 East of Blakeslee Street to Main Street No. 1
East Windsor:
SR 510 between Route 5 by Wagner Lane and Route 5 by King Street
Route 140 between Route191 to Route 286
Manchester:
Route 83 between US 6 & 44 (Center Street) to Route 30
Mansfield:
Route 32 between Route 275 and Route 44
Route 44 between the Coventry town line and Route 195
Route 320 between Route 195 and Route 320
Plainville:
SR 536 between Route 372 (East Main Street) to White Oak Avenue
Wolcott:
Route 322 between Woodtick Road and SR 844
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing that a tree removal operation will be performed on I-84 east and west bound from Exit 26 in Cheshire to Exit 34 in Plainville. This project is scheduled to occur on Monday, June 22 and be completed on Friday, August 14, 2026. No work will be carried out around any scheduled holidays.
To ensure the safety of the public, CTDOT is removing dead, diseased, and decaying trees. Additionally, trees and vegetation that have grown into the clear zone, which is the safety space along the side of the roadway, are also being removed. This work helps save lives in the event of a crash or vehicle leaving the roadway. This work is being performed by J&J Brothers LLC.
LANE CLOSURE INFO
There will be ramp and lane closures on I-84 east and west bound from Exit 26 in Cheshire to Exit 34 in Plainville starting Monday, June 22 to Friday, August 14, 2026, during the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., Monday – Thursday. Traffic will be detoured. Traffic control personnel signing patterns and trailer mounted attenuators will guide motorists through the work zone.
Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this area. No work will be performed around any scheduled holidays.
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You can use the following links for access to town meeting schedules for the three towns in our district:
Plainville Town Meeting Schedule
Farmington Town Meeting Schedule
Southington Town Meeting Schedule
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Sincerely,
Rebecca Martinez
State Representative |
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