Anne Dauphinais

Dauphinais Calls for Responsible Tax, Energy and Property Tax Relief

Dauphinais Calls for Responsible Tax, Energy and Property Tax Relief HARTFORD – State Representative Anne Dauphinais (R) is calling for responsible tax and spending policies that provide relief to Connecticut families while protecting taxpayers and maintaining fiscal discipline. Connecticut residents continue to face high costs for housing, energy, groceries, transportation and property taxes. Dauphinais said state government should look for ways to find waste, fraud and duplication of all services while making sure taxpayer dollars are spent carefully and responsibly. “Connecticut families work hard for every dollar they earn, and they deserve a state government that respects that,” said Rep. Dauphinais. “We should be looking for ways to lower taxes and reduce unnecessary costs, while also making sure we are living within our means. Government should not automatically look for more money from taxpayers whenever there is a budget challenge.” Among the proposals being discussed by Rep. Dauphinais and House Republicans are changes to the state property tax credit, additional municipal support aimed at easing local property tax pressures, income tax relief and measures intended to reduce energy costs. Dauphinais said property taxes deserve particular attention because local tax increases can make it harder for families, seniors and small businesses to remain in their communities. “Property taxes are one of the biggest expenses many Connecticut families face,” Dauphinais said. “We need to take a serious look at how the state can help communities control costs without simply shifting the burden from one taxpayer to another. Long-term property tax relief requires responsible state spending and a commitment to making government more efficient.” Dauphinais also supports greater transparency and accountability when it comes to electric bills. House Republicans have proposed by minimizing subsidies and removing the Public Benefits Charge from electric bills and instead addressing those expenses through the regular state budget process, where lawmakers can debate and account for them openly. “People deserve to understand what they are paying for when they receive their electric bill,” Dauphinais said. “If the state is going to fund a program, taxpayers should be able to see it, understand it and have their elected representatives held accountable for that decision. Bonding these public benefits charges like the will only cost taxpayers more because we’re paying interest on bonding debt.” Dauphinais said she will continue supporting efforts to reduce the tax burden, wasteful out of control government spending and make Connecticut more affordable for working families, seniors and small businesses. “We don't need government to do more just for the sake of doing more,” said Dauphinais. “We need government to do its job well, spend taxpayer dollars carefully and give families more room in their own budgets. That's the kind of fiscal responsibility Connecticut should be working toward.”

State Representatives Anne Dauphinais & Doug Dubitsky Along with State Senator Heather Somers to Host Post-Session Legislative Update in Plainfield on June 18th

I’m looking forward to discussing the 2026 legislative session and answering your questions at our upcoming update with State Representative Doug Dubitsky and State Senator Heather Somers. Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026 Time: 6:00–7:00 PM Location: Plainfield VFW Post 5446 7 Winsor Ave., Plainfield Questions you’d like addressed ahead of time? Email: Anne.Dauphinais@housegop.ct.gov

Post-Session Legislative Update Schedule

I’m hosting Post-Session Legislative Updates in our area and hope you can join me in the coming days. Wednesday, May 27, 2026 6:00–7:30 PM Killingly Public Library – Community Room 25 Westcott Rd., Killingly Tuesday, June 2, 2026 6:00 - 7:30PM Sterling Town Hall 1183 Plainfield Pike, Sterling *With State Senator Heather Somers If you have questions you’d like to submit ahead of time, you can email them to: Anne.Dauphinais@housegop.ct.gov We will discuss what has been happening at the state level and be there to answer your questions.

State Representative Anne Dauphinais: 2026 Budget Adjustment Notes

2026 Budget Adjustment I wanted to provide you with a few notes that ultimately pointed me in the direction of a NO vote on this bill. With all that is laid out below- there was no way I could support this adjustment to the State Budget. S.B. 1 An Act Concerning Affordability Lamont declares an “Emergency” to bypass “Spending Cap” & support blowing through the Volatility Cap (which is the threshold for deciding what level of revenue is deemed “volatile”). Reasons used: Medicaid deficiency due to the negligent lack of full funding for the last 3 years by the majority (Not New). Threat to access of care due to lack of Federal Funds (Not New). Governor already given $500M to address this— through emergency certification in late 2025 which $160 million has already been spent. This gives Lamont $50 million more obtained from Volatility Revenue (aka gains from stock market), a bad practice using Unpredictable Funds. The municipality needs support (Not New). Not an emergency! The municipalities always need support and should have priority over earmarks. Relief should be permanent, not one time election year handouts. Despite Lamont claiming great fiscal responsibility, this emergency is proof of anything but good fiscal health. This budget: Tens of millions of dollars to various earmarks. $10 million tax credit to prop up the operator for the PeoplesBank Arena (XL Center). Provides one time money to our towns/schools while making no major change to ECS formula, choosing one time funding from the volatility funds. Provides no sustainable tax relief while we face future deficits and an affordability crisis. Provides family caregiver tax credit but limits funding to our most vulnerable. (nonprofits) Removes hospital tax outside of the budget without strong provisions to ensure transparency. Blows through both the spending and volatility caps to support irresponsible spending resulting in greatly diminished payback to our pensions, hurting our future fiscal health. Provides “free” breakfast & healthcare to “illegals” while our senior centers are struggling to buy food, medication and pay their electric bills. This budget delays transparency on rising electric costs and continues a pattern of overspending without structural reform. Paying for 4.5% annual pay increases for state employees. Increasing total spending by about 8%, $2 billion! All while Connecticut residents struggle to make ends meet. Republicans tried passing real relief! Amendments offered were both to eliminate income tax on Social Security for all seniors and ease financial burden to our property taxes by sending permanent funding back to municipalities. They were voted down by every single Democrat!

H.B. 5004- An Act Concerning Child Welfare Accountability and Transparency

On Thursday, the House Chamber advanced some truly meaningful work from the Children’s Committee, which was a welcome and encouraging change. H.B. 5004, An Act Concerning Child Welfare Accountability and Transparency, passed unanimously and adds important safeguards in response to recent tragic events involving children in our state. The bill makes substantial reforms within the Department of Children and Families to strengthen protections for children and enhance transparency and accountability across the system. Key provisions include: • Requiring the emergency placement of a child with a relative or fictive kin caregiver who has not yet been issued a license or approval, if that placement is in the best interest of the child. • Requiring the commissioner, upon denial of an emergency placement or removal of a child from a relative or fictive kin caregiver, to document in writing the reason for the denial or removal. • Requiring DCF, when a child is placed with someone other than a relative or fictive kin caregiver, to file written confirmation with the clerk of the court that the selected placement serves the best interest of the child. • Establishing a grant program for relative and fictive kin caregivers accepting emergency placement of a child, to help cover clothing, food, safety-related purchases, and other necessities. • Creating a public dashboard with real-time information on the department’s administration and performance of statewide programs and services. Additionally, I introduced an amendment that was added to the bill to further strengthen protections for children living in homes with individuals convicted of certain serious offenses. Under this amendment, within one week of a qualifying offender’s release to parole or placement on probation, the Department of Correction (DOC) must notify the Department of Children and Families (DCF) if that person is living at an address where someone under 18 resides. Within one week of that notification, DOC or DCF will conduct a home visit to assess the safety of any child in the residence. After that initial assessment, DOC or DCF will continue to visit the home at least once every three months until the person’s parole or probation ends, or until no minor resides at the address. As ranking member of the Children's Committee I want to thank Democratic Co-Chair State Representative Corey Paris, my fellow members of the Children’s Committee, and my House colleagues for working together on this important legislation. I am grateful we were able to come together to make some much-needed changes for children and families in our state.