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Dear Neighbor,
The final days of the 2025 Session are among us. We have our share of work to do before the session ends on Wednesday, including the budget, which is looming large but I am proud to have supported meaningful pieces of legislation that will have a positive impact on all of our lives going forward.
In this week's update, I highlighted a couple of bills that deserved our attention, and we addressed them this week.
I am also including an item that confirms Connecticut residents and visitors have a lot of exciting choices when it comes to things to do and places to go during this time of year.
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Kerry Wood
State Representative |
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For too long, Connecticut's special education model has faced fundamental flaws that prevented all students from receiving the proper education they deserve. With our recent passage of HB 5001: An Act Concerning the Quality and Delivery of Special Education Services in Connecticut, we are taking important steps to reform this system.
This bill, which passed 148-0 in the House on a bipartisan basis, makes historic investments in students with special education needs, delivers improved access to services, and provides cost controls and greater transparency. |
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Key provisions of the bill include:
- Historic investment in our students, including $30 million for the Special Education Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program, which will help build capacity to serve students closer to home.
- Prioritizing better access to services through enhanced development screenings, behavioral assessment, and intervention plans, access to remedial classes in higher education, and involvement of parents and local school districts before a student is moved from their school.
- Reining in costs by regulating third-party rate processes and developing new billing and licensing standards.
- Increasing oversight through on-site compliance visits and detailed system-wide reporting to reduce unpredictability and improve accountability.
Children are our future, and it is our responsibility to provide them with a proper education. In a state with one of the best K-12 public school systems in the country, HB 5001 ensures that our special education program maintains the same level of quality.
The bill must now pass the Senate and be signed into law by the governor.
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We’re cracking down on street takeovers and illegal ATV use. House Democrats voted this week to authorize steep fines, vehicle seizures, and automatic license suspensions.
This legislation targets both participants and organizers, aiming to curb dangerous road behavior with tougher enforcement and penalties. |
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Hot days, cool drinks, baseball, and barbecues are popular staples during the summer but Connecticut, from one end of the state to the other, offers so much more.
Connecticut is home to 110 state parks, 32 state forests, 29 state campgrounds, 117 state boat launches, and 4 coastal state beaches that provide any number of recreational opportunities, along with many other attractions and nationally ranked restaurants.
Two new trails guide visitors on some of the more unique experiences the state has to offer, including the Connecticut Oyster Trail, and the Connecticut Christmas Movie Trail. Later this year the state will officially launch the Connecticut Pizza Trail to celebrate its designation as the Pizza Capital of the United States.
The best way to explore tourism destinations and find activities to do in the state is by visiting the official Connecticut Tourism website HERE. |
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There's more.
Litchfield County was ranked as one of the best places to go in 2025 and Mystic Seaport Museum was the “#2 Best Open-Air Museum” for the second consecutive year.
Hungry?
Several CT chefs and restaurants have gained national recognition, including chef David Standridge of The Shipwright’s Daughter in Mystic capturing the world-renowned James Beard Award for best chef in the northeast, and several others named semifinalists, including Renee Touponce of Oyster Club and The Port of Call in Mystic who was nominated in the outstanding chef category, and Coracora in West Hartford nominated for outstanding restaurant.
Seasons change quickly. With all that it has to offer, summertime in Connecticut is one you don't want to miss. |
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