Jason Buchsbaum

Sales Tax Free Week Changes

Connecticut's annual Sales Tax Free Week begins on the third Sunday of August and runs until the following Saturday. This year it’s August 16 through August 22, 2026. This is timed in the run up to the start of the new school year when families are shopping for back-to-school clothing. There are some changes to the program, starting this year. Under a bill I voted for, we've increased the price cap per item and added new items qualified as sales tax free. Now, backpacks and cleated shoes will be sales tax free during this upcoming event. This tax holiday applies to in-person purchases and purchases made online. The exemption applies to each eligible item costing under $300, up from $100, regardless of how many of those items are sold to a customer on the same invoice. Tax is calculated on the final sales price, after all reductions and coupons have been calculated, of each item. You can find answers to frequently asked questions about the program on the Department of Revenue Services website .

New Laws Effective July 1, 2026

Several new laws will take effect July 1st that could have an impact on you, your business, or our community. I have highlighted some of them below. We passed an omnibus bill to help veterans , with several of the provisions taking effect soon. One creates the Military Department emergency response account, administered by the adjutant general, to cover state costs during certain emergencies. It also establishes state income tax deductions for compensation for an honor guard detail at a veteran’s funeral. One important bill we passed this session would bring more oversight to the state Department of Children and Families . The legislation also included provisions to establish grant programs for foster parents to cover the cost of afterschool programs for children in their care and for certain fictive kin (unrelated, trusted adult) caregivers to cover the cost of clothing, food, safety-related purchases, and other necessities for children in their care after an emergency placement. Another bill taking effect next month is one to bring more transparency and accountability to government spending . Entities receiving legislatively directed funds (known as earmarks) must be named, along with an explanation given of what the money will be used for. Neither are currently required. Any group subgranting the money to another entity must also get approval from state officials before doing so. Connecticut’s 6.35% sales tax will no longer apply to “nonelectronic school supplies” under the budget adjustment bill we passed. This includes, but is not limited to, things like binders, composition books, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, highlighters, index cards, lunch boxes, markers, notebooks, pencils, rulers, and scissors. We also expanded the amount of money on clothing and footwear that's exempt during Sales Tax Free Week, which takes place each August. The current exemption which applies to items under $100 will increase to under $300, and will also now include backpacks and cleated shoes. Other major acts include: An Act Concerning Oversight of Efforts to Prevent Human Trafficking An Act Concerning Online Safety An Act Concerning State-Wide Fire Protection An expanded list of those that will take effect on July 1, along with summaries, can be accessed here .

Rep. Buchsbaum Touts State Bond Money for Park, Training School

State Representative Jason Buchsbaum announced that the State Bond Commission approved funding for multiple projects in Southbury. $400,000 was approved for roof repairs at Southbury Training School, along with $100,000 for sewer pipe repairs at the site. There was also funding approved for Kettletown State Park and Larkin Trail State Park repairs as part of a larger $10 million request for statewide improvements at various State Park, Forest, Boat Launch and Wildlife Management areas. The funding was approved for storm/flood damage recovery, as well as for Kettletown Priority Bath House/Toilet Building Renovations.

Rep. Buchsbaum, Local Officials Meet About Lovers Leap State Park

State Representative Jason Buchsbaum (R-Southbury) attended a meeting in New Milford with Mayor Pete Bass, Bridgewater Historian and Land Trust Executive Director Julie Stuart, representatives from DEEP, including Brian Wilson and Lori Paradis Brant, Chuck Kilson and Darlene Kascak of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation and Gabe Benjamin of the Institute for American Indian Studies. They met to discuss next steps regarding Lovers Leap State Park in New Milford, including the potential of reinstalling a monument to Chief Waramaug. There was also extensive discussion on spreading awareness and creating further education opportunities concerning the Schaghticoke Tribe. This is an effort with local community support. I look forward to further discussions on enhancing educational opportunities, raising awareness, and moving this project along.

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 .