Mitch Bolinsky

Bolinsky: Call to Action Asking Governor to Veto Homeschooling Bill

I’m reaching out to ask for your help and continued advocacy. A bill that regulates homeschooling families has passed both the House and Senate of the Connecticut General Assembly, and I have serious concerns about the unnecessary burdens it places on families who are doing what’s best for their children. I strongly urge you to contact Ned Lamont and ask him to veto this legislation. Homeschooling has long been a successful and responsible choice for many Connecticut families. This bill risks overregulating that choice and undermining parental rights without clear benefit. Your voice matters. Please take a moment to call or email the Governor’s office and respectfully ask for a veto. Thank you for standing up for Connecticut families. Governor Ned Lamont Contact Information Phone Numbers: Main Office: 860-566-4840 and Toll-Free: 1-800-406-1527 Mailing Address: Office of Governor Ned Lamont State Capitol 210 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106 Online Contact Email Form: You can submit an email directly to the Governor's office via the Official Contact Form: https://portal.ct.gov/governor/contact/email-governor-lamont?language=en_US&fbclid=IwY2xjawRq7SZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFvTDlqcVZZbXlYN3JvT1dTc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHr8vSTelgqVsKcJD8mFPvSGsCtdN8pQkf4QimjzQ-DvpYmtv7UHg4mMs1xz__aem_mgNt7Mi4K4GukPNaJ5qIvQ

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.

Bolinsky Hails Aging Committee Work for Seniors

As the Ranking Member of the Aging committee, I enjoy working with the most non-partisan committee in the General Assembly. I am privileged to have wonderful working relationship with both my Democrat House and Senate chairs, Jane Garibay and Jan Hochadel. This session the House has passed three bills from the Aging Committee regarding 10 dental hygienists serving underserved homebound patients, 2) technology in residential care homes, and 3) trainings for homemaker companion agency employees. You can read about those four bills below: HB 5140 will allow dental hygienists to serve underserved homebound patients in private residences, such as seniors, veterans, and the disabled, who would likely go without dental care. Dental hygienists currently are allowed by law to work in facilities such as senior centers and preschools without the oversight of a dentist, and this legislation expands upon that. The dental hygienist will have worked under the supervision of a dentist for more than two years. HB 5142 extends protections for the use of technology to residents of residential care homes and sets a penalty for violation of the protections. It ensures residents in residential care homes can set up virtual monitoring systems so families have peace of mind, and they can keep an eye on their loved ones. In the case of roommates, permission must sign off on paperwork, which can change at any time. HB 5143 requires homemaker companion agency employees to complete eight hours of basic training each year, including training on topics such as: helping individuals with Alzheimer’s, identifying abuse, identifying when care is above capacity of a homemaker companion, and hygiene assistance. In the 2026 Connecticut budget I supported a provision that includes a new caregiver tax credit, allowing low-income residents to claim up to $2,000 for expenses related to caring for a family member at home. Taking effect in 2027 with credits received in 2028, it provides a 50% reimbursement on qualified costs like home modifications or health aides for caregivers with annual incomes under $50,000 (or $100,000 for couples).

Bolinsky Hails House Passage of Good Bill Expanding Home-Based Oral Health Care

Bolinsky Hails House Passage of Good Bill Expanding Home-Based Oral Health Care ( HOUSE VIDEO ) HARTFORD, CT — State Representative Mitch Bolinsky (R–Newtown), Ranking Member of the State’s Aging Committee, strongly supported a proposal to expand access to routine, preventative oral health care services to include homebound Connecticut residents in a unanimous 144-0 vote of the House of Representative on Tuesday April 28 th . The bill, An Act Allowing Dental Hygienists to Provide Dental Hygiene Services in Private Residences was initially introduced as House Bill 5303, but actually passed the House unanimously, as HB-5140 because of a technical change. The innovative bill takes advantage of current scope-of-practice oral health care outside of traditional dental-office settings, to include private residences of individuals that are homebound. Remote hygienic oral care is not new, requiring practicing hygienists have at least two years of experience delivering services—including cleanings, oral exams, X-rays, and referrals—in private residences under the same standards currently applied in nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and group homes. Research confirms that untreated oral health issues can contribute to serious medical conditions, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Allowing care in the home will improve early detection and reduce preventable health complications for countless residents, from our homebound seniors, veterans, individuals with disabilities, to residents facing transportation barriers. According to DataHaven, approximately 400,000 Connecticut adults experience transportation insecurity, and nearly half have not seen a dentist in the past year. Among Medicaid-enrolled adults, that number rises to 50 percent. “This innovative application of preventative care is a great example of how our Aging Committee works, said Rep. Bolinsky. We’re known for creative solutions to unmet needs. In HB-5140, we make it possible to reach a greater population of vulnerable Connecticut residents with preventative dental care before problems become chronic conditions. The bill is a common-sense, non-bipartisan approach to putting people before politics. I’m proud to help it pass the House, and grateful to be part of the General Assembly’s most collaborative committee. Our mission is simple – we stay focused on improving the well-being of our seniors and expanding access to ‘aging-in-place’ services, including making those services more portable for residents who might otherwise miss out on preventative care. We don’t believe in surprises and work closely with our stakeholders early in the process, recognizing we depend on them for successful implementation of many program elements. Ours’ is a simple formula that brings out the best in all partners: Unity of Purpose + Transparency + Respectful Idea Exchange = Unanimous or Near-unanimous support for our priority bills." In the last 24-hours, the Legislature’s Aging Committee passed three priority bills. In addition to Tuesday’s early passage of HB-5140, the committee passed two others on Monday afternoon. HB-5142, a Homemaker/Companion Training bill passed 150-0, and HB-5143, a Virtual Visitation bill passed 149-1. See additional releases for additional information. The Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services and the state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman supported these proposals. The bills now head to the State Senate for further debate and vote.

Rep. Bolinsky: The State of Antisemitism in America

Rep. Bolinsky: The State of Antisemitism in America HARTFORD- State Representative Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) co-hosted and delivered brief opening remarks, along with Representative Matt Blumenthal, and Senator Matthew Lesser, at the American Jewish Committee’s ”AJC Day at the Capitol”. After welcoming attendees, the hosts expressed gratitude to the AJC and area Jewish Federations of Connecticut for their advocacy, and for preparing their annual “State of Antisemitism in America” report for presentation to guests and legislators gathered at Connecticut’s Capitol for breakfast and the briefing. Rep. Bolinsky’s welcoming remarks began with a message of hope and understanding. “As a member of the Jewish community, I understand the fear and anxiety reflected in this report, but I also remain hopeful that calmer heads can prevail. Conversations and reasonable idea exchange like today’s are so important and should not be confined to legislative briefings. Parental guidance, education, awareness, and thoughtful leadership are all key to ensuring our communities remain safe, welcoming, and united against hate. The new study finds 91% of American Jews say they felt less safe than they did just a few years ago - that’s not just a statistic, it’s a warning. We all have a personal responsibility to stop hatred and bias in its tracks, regardless of whom it targets. In government, setting policy that facilitates accountability, upholds community standards in social media, and addresses bullying are all worthy pursuits. I also believe we must demand far greater civility from our elected leaders. Trash-talking politicians have no place in civil society and lack the credibility to confront antisemitism and other forms of bias head-on to ensure that hate has no foothold here in Connecticut.” At a time when antisemitic incidents are increasing nationally and impacting schools and communities, AJC’s findings from its landmark State of Antisemitism in America Report 2025 gives legislators a better understand the scope of the issue and opportunities for discussion. Based on the State of Antisemitism in America 2025 Report released by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in February 2026, antisemitism in the United States has continued to surge, with 2025 being described as one of the most violent years against American Jews in recent history. The report, based on surveys conducted in the fall of 2025, shows that antisemitism is now perceived as a normal, pervasive experience by a significant portion of the Jewish community. Bolinsky concluded, “This kind of ‘new normal’ should not be one any of us accept. In America’s 250 th year, we should aspire to our forefathers ’One Nation Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All’.“