Kai Belton

The 4th Annual Mental Health & Wellness Fair at the Capitol will be held on Friday, May 1st, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.

We will kick off the fair with a press conference at the North Lobby of the State Capitol at 9:30 AM, and the fair will begin shortly after at 10:00 AM.

There is no vendor fee. We will provide one 6-foot-long table with two chairs for staff members. We encourage your agency to bring a tablecloth, a backdrop if you have one, free handouts, business cards, pamphlets, merch, samples, interactive displays or games for attendees, along with any other resources your organization is willing to provide for attendees.

Please enter through the Capitol’s public visitor entrance on the west side of the state Capitol. Booth set-up begins at 9:00 AM. Free parking is available on Capitol Grounds on the north & south sides of the Capitol. Please park in any unmarked or untagged parking spot. Alternatively, we also have free parking located on the first floor of the LOB garage. 

More details coming soon.

The Judiciary Committee voted to advance legislation that would expand restrictions on where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents can operate in Connecticut.

The bills would prohibit ICE from entering places of worship and hospitals, ensuring that our residents are not afraid to seek medical care or practice their faith.

Connecticut is already one of the safest states for immigrants in the country, and we do not need the federal government's heavy-handed enforcement tactics to keep our communities safe.

Attorney General William Tong has voiced his support for these measures, noting that immigrants and their families have a right to be protected from violence and intimidation.

The Judiciary Committee also held a significant public hearing on SB 503, a bill that would expand early parole eligibility for individuals who committed crimes when they were under the age of 26.

Over 200 people, including incarcerated individuals and their families, submitted testimony in support of the proposal.

The bill is grounded in well-established neuroscience showing that the brain does not fully develop until around age 25, particularly in areas governing impulse control and long-term decision-making.

With the tax deadline approaching on April 15th, now is the time to take action if you haven’t filed yet. There are several free resources available this year for anyone who needs to file state and federal taxes.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help for low-to moderate-income (under $58,000) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Volunteers, sponsored by various organizations, receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. Visit Connecticut's 2-1-1 website and the Free Tax Help page for VITA assistance updates, or visit the IRS Site Locator. 

AARP's Tax-Aide Program, a partnership between the AARP Foundation and the Internal Revenue Service, provides free tax counseling and preparation services to middle-and low-income taxpayers, with special attention to people age 60 and older. Many sites will e-file your federal and Connecticut returns at no cost to you. Visit the AARP Tax-Aide Site Locator to find a location near you. 

The UConn Law School Tax Clinic is a pro bono (free) legal clinic that provides free legal help to low-income taxpayers with tax problems, either with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS). Lisa Perkins, Clinical Professor & Director, and law students will work on your case.

The Tax Clinic also works with attorneys in Connecticut who volunteer to help low-income taxpayers pro bono. The Tax Clinic is independent and separate from the IRS and DRS. It is important to note that the UCONN tax clinic is only able to assist individual taxpayers with Connecticut income tax problems. Contact Lisa Perkins at lisa.perkins@uconn.edu or 860-570-5165.