Jason Buchsbaum

Rep. Buchsbaum Highlights New School Bus Safety Law

Students in Bridgewater, New Milford and Roxbury are starting a new school year this week, while Southbury students will be back in class on September 1st! That means buses will be back on the roads and children waiting at the end of their driveways or on the side of a road for the bus. I co-sponsored a bill this session , which was signed into law, requiring a mandatory six-month suspension of a license of any driver who, a third or subsequent time, is caught violating the state law on stopping for school buses. Under existing law, drivers must stop their vehicles generally at least ten feet from the front or rear of a school bus that is displaying its flashing red signal lights and remain there until the bus no longer displays lights. Any person who violates this law faces a $450 fine for the first offense and a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to 30 days in prison, or both for a subsequent offense. I wanted to remind everyone to be careful on our public roadways when school is in session, especially near bus stops, schools, playgrounds, and athletic fields. Safety tips for drivers: State law prohibits passing a school bus with its lights flashing. Some school buses are equipped with cameras to record passing drivers. Observe the no-passing law and expect the unexpected when traveling near school buses in school driveways. Watch for children, especially when driving in neighborhoods with school zones. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood. Safety tips for parents and children: Be waiting at your bus stop 5 minutes ahead of the scheduled pick up. Wait 10 feet back from the road and wear visible clothing. Always wait for the bus driver's head nod before boarding the bus or crossing the street. They're watching out for you! Avoid distracting the bus driver for anything other than an emergency.

CT DEEP to Hold Information Session on Flood Repairs to Larkin Trail

Connecticut DEEP Public Information Session Larkin Bridle Trail Stream Crossing Repairs Four Flood-Damaged Stream Crossings Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (90 Minutes) Location: Southbury Town Hall – 501 Main Street South Southbury, CT Virtual Attendance: Microsoft Teams (Hybrid Option) https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/218183922462256?p=xQPNOfVEDB0CzFW2lY Meeting Agenda 6:00 – 6:05 PM | Welcome & Introductions Presenter: Connecticut DEEP • Welcome and opening remarks • Purpose and objectives of the information session • Introduction of the project team, including SLR Consulting 6:05 – 6:10 PM | Project Background & Context Presenter: SLR Consulting • Overview of the August 2024 flood damage • Existing conditions at the stream crossings • Project need and long-term objectives • Rebuilding, stabilization, and protection of state property 6:10 – 6:40 PM | Site-by-Site Project Overview Presenter: SLR Consulting Review of each of the four proposed stream crossing repair locations: • Site 1: Jeremy Swamp Road – Southbury • Site 2: Curt Smith Road – Southbury • Site 3: Pope Road – Oxford • Site 4: Christian Street – Oxford For each location, the presentation will cover: • Existing site conditions • Proposed design and stabilization approach • Design objectives • Long-term resiliency and future protection • Potential recreational use • Engineering and environmental considerations 6:40 – 6:45 PM | Next Steps Presenter: SLR Consulting • Project schedule and anticipated timeline • Permitting process • Construction and implementation considerations • Upcoming project milestones 6:45 – 7:30 PM | Public Questions & Discussion Facilitated by Connecticut DEEP and SLR Consulting Discussion topics may include: • Questions regarding the proposed designs • Site-specific concerns • Permitting and environmental considerations • Construction impacts • Project implementation

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.