Posted on August 3, 2021
In mid-July I had joined my colleagues in urging the majority party to call us into special session so that the legislature could put forth a comprehensive framework providing clarity and solutions in addressing the rising level of juvenile crime. These crimes continue to have a detrimental impact on our community here and in towns across the state. The petition attempt, however, has fallen on deaf ears. Meetings were held, but at the end of the day it’s clear to me that there is no intention to…
Posted on July 2, 2021
HARTFORD – The nonpartisan Office of Legislative Research (OLR) has compiled its annual report of “Major Public Acts.” This report provides summaries of all the new laws that will result in significant policy changes. These changes could impact you, your family, business, or our community. I encourage you to review the document in its entirety.
Click here to view the report.
The report is broken down into several categories. Below are some excerpts from the report which outline some of the significant…
Posted on June 18, 2021
Hartford – The House convened for a special session on Wednesday, June 16, for lawmakers to act on the commercialization of adult-use marijuana. State Rep. Pat Callahan (R-New Fairfield) voted against the proposed program because it does not take into consideration several public health and safety risks, adds another layer of government without transparency, and does not distribute funds collected from marijuana sales to the state budget.
“The passage of a recreational marijuana program was inevitable.…
Posted on June 7, 2021
In response to many of your questions, I recently contacted the Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) regarding general boating rules. Candlewood Lake and many of the state’s inland bodies of water are attractive to both in-state, and out-of-state, boaters. I hope the frequently asked questions list compiled below will provide you with the information you are seeking.
Should you have boat launch questions, you can reach out to Peter Francis (peter.fancis@ct.gov), Mike Payton (mike.payton@ct.gov)…
Posted on June 5, 2021
The Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced that a milling and resurfacing project will be performed on Route 7 in the Town of New Milford.
The project consists of milling and resurfacing a 1.47-mile segment of RT 7. The milling of this project is scheduled to occur on Sunday June 6, 2021 and be completed on Tuesday June 8, 2021. The resurfacing of this project is scheduled to occur on Sunday June 13, 2021 and be completed on Friday June 18, 2021.
Lane Closure Information:
Motorists…
Posted on May 28, 2021
| Electric Rate Adjustments to Take Effect This Summer
It was announced that Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is advising Eversource and United Illuminating (UI) electric customers of revised delivery rates and standard service generation rates that become effective on June 1, 2021 and July 1, 2021, respectively. On average, electricity rates will decrease starting July 1; however, the Authority notes that a customer’s total bill may increase or decrease depending on individual… |
Posted on May 28, 2021
Hartford – The House of Representatives met on Thursday to take up a bill that effectively erases criminal history from individuals who have been previously convicted of certain crimes. The “Clean Slate” legislation was brought forth by advocates and Democratic legislators claiming that criminal records disallow those who were previously incarcerated from fully rehabilitating and reintegrating with society. According to State Rep. Callahan (R-New Fairfield), the bill fails to protect the victims…
Posted on May 21, 2021
Every week we are reading or hearing news headlines of another car theft incident involving juveniles. This is a serious problem that has engulfed Connecticut and our country. Earlier in the year, it appeared as though there was momentum on both sides of the political aisle to bring a much-needed solution to our community’s residents.
In recent weeks, the momentum to pass legislation combatting this issue has substantially slowed. We are only a few short days away from this year’s adjournment and…
Posted on May 13, 2021
Hartford – During Wednesday’s House Session, State Rep. Patrick Callahan (R-New Fairfield) spoke in support of a new law that will help victims of sex trafficking crimes and expand legal protections for minors. In addition to supporting the bill, Callahan offered an amendment to strengthen its intent, which was incorporated into the underlying language.
“The legislation favorably acted on today will broaden the scope of certain definitions of sex trafficking, allowing the courts greater flexibility…
Posted on May 12, 2021
Connecticut has one of the latest “Tax Freedom” days in the country. How late? 45 other states recognize their tax freedom before Connecticut does. What is tax freedom? It’s a benchmark to indicate when the collective residents of a state have paid off all their tax obligations and begin to profit for themselves.
This year, Connecticut recognized its tax freedom at the end of last month, on April 25. In comparison, Alaska recognized its tax freedom a full month prior, all the way back on March 25.…
