Martin Foncello

Rep. Foncello Joins Rally Opposing Compressor Station Expansion

State Representative Martin Foncello (R-107) joined with advocates at a rally outside of Brookfield Town Hall on Saturday, May 30, 2026. They met to call on Gov. Lamont to have the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reject the permit application for the compressor station expansion by Whisconier Middle School. "This is not a partisan issue, it's a public safety issue," said Rep. Foncello. "Thank you to local resident Kerry Swift for inviting us, and the Sierra Club for having us speak out on this important subject. I submitted testimony to DEEP with my concerns about air pollution and other quality-of-life issues associated with an expansion that primarily benefits out-of-state energy distribution." You can read Rep. Foncello's DEEP testimony here .

Rep. Foncello Applauds Bond Funding Approval for Brookfield

State Representative Martin Foncello (R-107) announced that the state Bond Commission has met to approve funding for various projects, including in Brookfield. $1.75 million was approved as a grant-in-aid to Brookfield Housing Authority. The funding will be used for repairs to existing senior and disabled housing units. "I appreciate that this project was included in the Department of Housing authorization because it will enable more of our neighbors remain safely at home and age in place," said Rep. Foncello.

2026 Major Public Acts Report

The Office of Legislative Research (OLR) has compiled its 2026 Major Public Acts report. This report details the action of the legislature in 2026, with brief summaries of major policy changes. More detailed summaries can be found at: https://cga.ct.gov/olr/ . OLR also produces a number of “Acts Affecting” reports highlighting legislation in various policy areas. Some of the topics covered in this report include: Aging Criminal Justice and Public Safety Education Energy Environment Human Services Insurance Public Health Veterans’ and Military Affairs To review the 2026 Major Public Acts report in its entirety, click here .

Newtown Legislators Sponsor Retired Flag Collection

Newtown Legislators Sponsor Retired Flag Collection NEWTOWN- State Representatives Mitch Bolinsky and Martin Foncello, in cooperation with the Scouts of Newtown’s Troop 270, and VFW Post 308 are encouraging Newtown residents to retire their worn American flags as we approach Flag Day 2026. Flags will be respectfully folded and stored for their formal, dignified retirement, on or after Flag Day. The House Republicans have made the flag collection an annual tradition to commemorate Flag Day, which was officially proclaimed as June 14 th in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson, marking the anniversary of the Second Continental Congress passing a resolution stating that “the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white,” and that “the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation”. Oddly, it took Congress until 1949 to formally approve Flag Day as a day of national observance before it was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. The Newtown legislators have provided five locations that residents can drop off their worn American flags for proper ceremonial disposal according to the U.S. Flag Code, plus an additional day to drop flags off to the State Representatives. Drop-off locations will receive flags from May 1 st - June 13 th . The drop-off locations are: Edmond Town Hall, Lobby, 45 Main Street, Newtown CH Booth Library, Circulation desk, 25 Main Street, Newtown Newtown Community Center, Main lobby, 8 Simpson Street, Newtown Newtown Municipal Center, Selectman's entrance, 3 Primrose Street, Newtown Brookfield Library, Lobby, 182 Whisconier Road, Brookfield Additionally, the Newtown lawmakers will host a final drive-up flag donation event for your worn and tattered flags at the at C.H. Booth Library, Saturday, June 13th from 10:00am-12:00PM. The U.S. Flag Code specifies that old American flags no longer in service must be properly disposed. The collected flags will be given to the VFW Post 308 for proper retirement during a ceremony on or after June 14. For additional information please call (800) 842-1423.

Rep. Foncello, CT House Republicans Unveil "Pathway to Affordability" Budget Plan

Balanced proposal spends less than Democrats' budget, cuts household costs, and delivers new school funding relief to every Connecticut community HARTFORD— State Representative Martin Foncello (R-Brookfield) joined his colleagues in the House Republican Caucus on Tues­day and released a budget adjustment plan for the second year of the state budget through a series of policies aimed at making Connecticut more affordable, lowering household costs, easing property tax pressures, and addressing the school funding crisis facing communities across the state. The $27.9 billion plan, called “Pathway to Affordability,” is balanced, provides more than $400 million in tax relief, falls $167 million under the state spending cap, and spends less than the governor’s budget proposal and the product advanced by Appropriations Committee Democrats. "Connecticut families are paying more for everything —from groceries and gas to insurance and property taxes. Spending more and hoping for the best is not a plan, but what we unveiled is balanced and delivers more than $400 million in real, sustainable tax relief," said Rep. Foncello . "Some of that relief includes eliminating taxes on Social Security, the sales tax on children's clothing, and tax on tips and overtime. We also send $365 million directly to towns to help hold down your property taxes due to rising education costs." School Taxpayer Relief & Affordability Plan (STRAP) The centerpiece of the House Republican proposal is the School Taxpayer Relief and Affordability Plan, or STRAP—a $365 million investment distributed to every city and town in Connecticut to help offset surging education costs and reduce the burden on local property taxpayers. Under this proposal, Bethel would receive $1,493,212 in additional aid, Brookfield would get $204,964, and Newtown would receive $668,117. The “Pathway to Affordability” plan includes a broad range of tax-and-fee relief: · Increase the state’s maximum property tax credit to $650 and expand income eligibility, extending relief to 800,000 filers · Curb healthcare costs by reducing a state levy on insurance companies ($20 million) that has been passed on to consumers in their monthly premiums · Eliminate income tax on all Social Security benefits · Eliminate the sales tax on children’s clothing · Enact a “no tax on tips” exemption · Reduce the sales tax on vehicles priced between $50,000 and $75,000 from 7.75% to 6.35%--because the cost of vehicles has risen sharply in recent years, and what once seemed like a luxury price point now covers everyday family minivans and work trucks · Eliminate fees on certain occupational licenses · Remove the “Passport to Parks” fee from motor vehicle registrations · Ease local tax burden by providing $2.5 million to help municipalities cover early voting costs The plan is funded through new revenue and spending discipline, including: · Recover $340 million by challenging New York’s “convenience of employer” rule, which forces roughly 80,000 Connecticut residents who work remotely for New York employers and pay income taxes to New York at rates higher (10.9% top rate) than they would pay here at home (6.99% top rate). The plan includes $1 million to help these workers file legal challenges against New York’s policy. · Save $153 million by budgeting state employee positions based on realistic hiring trends rather than funding all vacancies at once · Save $61 million by eliminating state-funded health insurance for undocumented immigrants, who retain access to care through Federally Qualified Health Centers · Removes 25% of double-funding of ECS grants to municipalities, saving $29 million · Save $12 million by reducing legislative earmarks · Save $3.5 million by eliminating inmate text messaging Among our targeted investments in public safety and human services: · $3.2 million to expand the CRISIS program helping police respond to and de-escalate situations involving individuals experiencing mental health or substance abuse crises · $1.5 million for domestic violence shelters · Provides funding to hire investigators for Medicaid Fraud Control · $2.4 million to increase provider rates for Birth-to-Three child development services · Creates an income tax deduction (up to $2k) for volunteer firefighter and EMS personnel ###