HARTFORD – House Republican Leader Vin Candelora (R-86) recently appointed Torrington’s Nicole Milo to serve on the state’s Council on Developmental Services. The council provides recommendations to the governor and General Assembly on the overall effectiveness of the programs and services administered through Department of Developmental Services (DDS). According to Candelora, Milo will be integral in helping the council form recommendations that seek to eliminate barriers preventing residents with…

Before we start our legislative business for the year, I’d like to hear from you. Understanding your opinion on many of the main subjects that will likely come up for consideration is critical to representing you in Hartford.

When you have a few minutes, please answer the survey below. Your individual answers will be confidential, but I will provide some aggregated data after our survey is complete. I have also provided a comment section if you’d like to add any detail to your responses.

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As we welcome the New Year, many new state laws will become effective on Monday, January 1^st. These include tax cuts, which were approved in the 2023 budget agreement, (1) to adjust the tax schedule impacting retirees living on fixed incomes, (2) create eligibility for an Earned Income Tax Credit, and (3) decrease certain income tax rates.

The changes enacted for 2024 will decrease the two lowest income tax rates:

• The 3% rate on the first $10,000 earned by single filers and the first $20,000 by…
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Connecticut’s Dept. of Emergency Services and Public Protection has launched the “Bring Me Back Home” program. This initiative encourages those to sign-up to a registry, which can be easily accessed by local law enforcement. The provided information and photo, accessible through the COLLECT criminal justice and safety system, helps first responders and families reunite with individuals living with cognitive challenges, such as Dementia or Autism.

To learn more about the program or to sign-up, click…

Photo: State Rep. Jay Case, State Sen. Lisa Seminara, State Rep. Bill Buckbee, and New Milford resident Monika Nugent are pictured at the Legislative Office Building following Wednesday’s waiver vote.

HARTFORD – On Wednesday, December 13, the Appropriations and Human Services Committee approved a new waiver requirement for services through the Department of Development Services (DDS). Within this waiver requirement update, a provision of Public Act 23-137 will be enacted to allow immediate family…

The Dept. of Agriculture is currently accepting applications for its Farm Transition Grant program, a competitive matching grant program for Connecticut farmers and agricultural cooperatives to support the diversification of existing farm operations, transitioning to value-added agricultural production and sales, and other venues in which most products sold are grown in the state.

You can view the program guidelines here.

Applications are due to the department by Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

Click…

The CT DOL is alerting residents of a new fraud scam targeting job seekers. Criminals are soliciting banking and other information by calling residents and claiming to be an employer registered with CTHires, the state’s job bank.  The attempts to steal personal data through this scam include callers asking for Social Security, bank account, and credit card numbers as well as telling residents they must pay a fee to have their application reviewed for employment. The agency recommends that all unemployment…

HARTFORD – On Tuesday, November 28, the governor announced that he would no longer be asking the legislature’s Regulation Review Committee to consider far-reaching changes, requiring that the state ban the sale of gas-powered trucks and vehicles.

“This is welcomed news to most Connecticut residents and businesses. We heard from an elite ruling class that these mandates, despite being shelved and not acted upon during yesterday’s committee meeting, will be brought out again. Those who have talked…

HARTFORD – The Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA), the state’s leading business advocacy group, has released its 2023 legislative voting record. The organization based its assessment of the legislature on a framework of bills that signal support to Connecticut-owned and operated businesses, greater economic opportunities, and overall affordability. According to CBIA, State Rep. Jay Case earned a 100% voting record in the 2023 session.

“The membership of CBIA has an important voice…

There will be Informational Public Hearing hosted by the Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, November 8^th, at the Legislative Office Building, Room 2C, from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. I encourage you to participate in the hearing if you have a comment or concern with state policies impacting Connecticut veterans.

All Connecticut veterans, military personnel, advocates, and their loved ones are invited to share issues or concerns related to veterans and military…