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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.For America 250 events in the area, click here, and click here
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In this week's eblast, you can read about an update on the Aquarion rate increase, Connecticut's extreme heat advisory, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
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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.
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On Wednesday, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) announced that Aquarion has withdrawn its pending application for a rate increase following the completion of the sale of Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut to the newly created Aquarion Water Authority (AWA).
Because Aquarion is now owned by AWA, a quasi-public entity established by the Connecticut General Assembly, PURA no longer has jurisdiction over the company’s rates. As a result, PURA has closed the pending rate case, and the proposed rate increase will not move forward under this application.
I know many residents took the time to attend meetings, submit comments, and share their concerns with my office. Thank you to everyone who spoke up throughout this process. Your voices mattered, and I appreciate everyone who participated.
While the proposed rate increase has been withdrawn, residents should continue reporting water quality concerns. I remain committed to advocating on behalf of those experiencing ongoing issues.
Many residents have shared concerns about water discoloration, sediment, mineral buildup, unusual taste or odor, appliance damage, the cost of bottled water, and the need for filtration systems. Those issues are separate from the rate case and still deserve attention.
Attached and below is a Plainville Water Quality Complaint Resources guide with contact information for Aquarion and the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) so you can report water quality concerns directly to the appropriate agencies.
If you are experiencing water discoloration, sediment, mineral buildup, unusual taste or odor, appliance damage, billing concerns, or any other water-related issues, I encourage you to file a complaint. If you submit your complaint by email, please copy my office at mailto:Rebecca.Martinez@cga.ct.gov. This helps me track concerns across our community, identify patterns, and continue advocating on behalf of Plainville residents.
Although the rate case has been withdrawn, I will continue monitoring this transition closely and will keep residents informed of any future developments affecting water rates, service, or water quality.
As always, if my office can be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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. |
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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.
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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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