Tony Scott

Rep. Scott Applauds Grant Awarded to Aspetuck Land Trust

I'm pleased to share the news that Aspetuck Land Trust was awarded $5,000 towards Orchard and Pollinator meadow expansion. The DoAg Agricultural Enhancement Grant Program (previously known as the Farm Viability Grant) provides matching funds for projects that directly impact or foster agricultural viability. I've partnered with ALT in the past and am a supporter of their work.

Rep. Scott on Need for Sustainable ECS Increase

For a decade, Connecticut Democrats haven't prioritized education funding to our municipalities, despite calls from Republican lawmakers to fully fund the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula. Democrats have been in charge of the House, Senate, and Governor's office for years, so why hold a press conference now on adjusting ECS? I'm betting because it's an election year and the swell of voices of taxpayers and municipal officials has finally grown too loud to ignore. I'm happy to have the conversation though because our municipalities are in the middle of crafting their local budgets. The path to fully funding ECS to take the pressure off property taxpayers is long overdue. Connecticut residents must prioritize what they're spending their household budget on, and the legislature should do the same. Taking care of our children should be front and center. Instead, Democrats have prioritized millions of dollars for healthcare for illegal immigrants, earmarks for politically connected nonprofit operators, and hundreds of thousands of dollars for the former CSCU Chancellor to be a special advisor amid a spending scandal. Connecticut needs to allocate more money for education, I don’t think there's disagreement there anymore, but the devil remains in the details. Using an off-the-books funding stream is not the way we should be doing this because it's not sustainable. The stock market is doing well now which means Connecticut has more money than expected, but that won't always be the case. Using this $500 million in volatility funding goes against the spirit of the fiscal guardrails, which were put in place in 2017 because of shady budgeting practices that got Connecticut into a fiscal mess in the first place. Bridgeport was singled out during the press conference by legislative Democrats as needing help, because of their financial mismanagement, but an ECS increase can't just be given to the cities with the towns getting the scraps. Legislative leaders like talking about Fair Share, and this ECS increase needs to be proportional so all municipalities can get their fair share. I am ready and willing to work across the aisle on solutions that will help municipal leaders deliver quality education while providing relief for property taxpayers. I've stood with my caucus for years in proposing sustainable education funding for our communities, but they have largely been ignored. There have been brief talks about wanting to increase funding, but then it never comes to fruition in the state budget. The Republican House Caucus has once again proposed a bill to reduce local property taxes by rebasing the ECS grant formula by increasing the foundation amount and adjusting for inflation. We need a long-term solution for covering the rising cost of educating our children, without overburdening property taxpayers. I've been focused on making Connecticut more affordable and part of that is adjusting the ECS formula. I want to thank the parents, school administrators and staff, and especially the kids in Monroe and across the state who used their voices and spoke up for increased funding.

Statement from Rep. Tony Scott on 'Just Cause' Proposal

Hartford, CT – Call it what it is, it's state sanctioned trespassing. The so-called Just Cause bill , would allow someone to overstay the length of the term of their lease, regardless of the wants of the property owner, indefinitely. A lease is a contract, and just like an Airbnb, a car or a hotel, there is a signed agreement between two parties for a period of time, for payment. People who own property and rent it out will have their rights taken away under this proposal. I believe this bill could hurt tenants. There will be a lot more attempted evictions and that court action will be on a tenant's record leading to a hard time getting a rental in the future. SB 257 is a slippery slope that could have unintended consequences and we as a legislature must consider all the ramifications of what we do.

Rep. Scott Applauds Farm Transition Grant Awards

Two farms in Easton have been awarded 2026 Farm Transition Grants from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. Gilbertie's Organics and Shaggy Coos Farm were selected as just two of 43 recipients, out of a record 123 applications for these grants. "As a Representative for a portion of Easton, I know the positive impact that small and mid-sized agricultural operations like these two have on our local economy. Investments in farms like these help ensure that our agricultural sector remains viable, competitive, and environmentally sound for future generations," said Rep. Tony Scott. Rep. Scott shared his support in a letter to the CT Department of Agriculture for this grant to be awarded to an Easton farm as part of the 2026 awards.

Rep. Tony Scott Announces 2026 Legislative Priorities

Hartford, CT – State Representative Tony Scott (R-Monroe) has announced a legislative package focused on affordability for families, accountability in government, and tax breaks for farmers. “As families and local businesses continue to face rising costs, state government must focus on common sense solutions that make life more affordable,” said Rep. Scott. To address rising housing and construction costs, Rep. Scott, the Housing Committee Ranking Member, has introduced legislation to reduce the applicable sales tax to 2% on any construction or building materials associated with the construction or rehabilitation of housing. "Lowering these costs will help incentivize housing development, reduce overall project expenses, and encourage developers to buy local. This could ultimately support more affordable homeownership and rental opportunities across the state," said Rep. Scott. Rep. Scott is also proposing a measure to allow farmers to donate food to charitable organizations in exchange for a $5,000 state tax credit, adjusted annually on the consumer price index. "This actually passed the General Assembly back in 2017 (PA 17-159) but was vetoed by then-Governor Dan Malloy. Since then, New York has passed similar legislation. This initiative would reduce food waste, support Connecticut’s agricultural community, and expand access to fresh, locally grown food for families in need," said Rep. Scott. Rep. Scott notes that municipal budgets are strained, so he introduced legislation allowing municipalities to satisfy public legal notice mandates through municipal internet websites and online local newspapers in lieu of publication in a newspaper. “By embracing technology and practical reforms, we can strengthen civic participation across our state,” Rep. Scott added. Rep. Scott has submitted several other bills, and the entire list can be viewed at RepScott.com and clicking on the ‘Legislation’ tab. The 2026 Connecticut Legislative Session adjourns at midnight on May 6th.