Tom Delnicki

Delnicki Listens to IDD Families at Family Hearing Day

HARTFORD — State Representative Tom Delnicki (R–South Windsor) joined families, advocates, and providers at the annual Family Hearing Day hosted by The Arc of Connecticut to discuss legislative priorities supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). During the event, Rep. Delnicki heard firsthand about the urgent need to address gaps in Connecticut’s system of care. Advocates emphasized the importance of increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates, strengthening support for caregivers, and ensuring sustainable funding for essential services that allow individuals with IDD to live and work independently in their communities. I look forward to Family Hearing Day each year. This day is an important opportunity to listen directly to those impacted by state policy,” said Delnicki. “We need to make sure our most vulnerable residents have access to the services they deserve, while also supporting the workforce and providers who make that care possible.” The discussion also highlighted key initiatives including expanded funding for early intervention programs like Birth to 3, greater use of supported decision-making as an alternative to guardianship, and investments in workforce development to improve employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Advocates also underscored the need for more supportive housing and the preservation of community-based programs that allow residents to receive care at home rather than in institutional settings.

State Rep. Tom Delnicki Supports Permanent Property Tax Relief Proposal

This morning in Hartford, I stood with my House colleagues to highlight what we hear about most from the people we represent: affordability. Families in South Windsor are feeling the squeeze from every direction—higher property taxes, rising utility bills, grocery costs, and everyday expenses that seem to climb a little more each year. When you work hard, raise a family, and try to plan for the future, Connecticut should make it easier to get ahead, not harder. That’s why House Republicans are focusing on two practical steps that can bring real relief to taxpayers. First, we believe Connecticut must do a better job recovering the taxes that are already owed to our state but are currently being lost—particularly to neighboring states like New York. That’s revenue that should be supporting our communities, our schools, and our taxpayers right here at home. Second, we are proposing to expand eligibility for the state’s property tax credit. Property taxes are one of the biggest financial burdens facing homeowners in South Windsor and across Connecticut. Expanding this credit would allow more middle-class families, seniors, and working households to keep more of their own money. This is about fairness and common sense. Before asking taxpayers for more, we should make sure we are collecting what is already owed and using those resources to provide meaningful, sustainable relief. South Windsor families deserve a state government that understands the pressure they are under and works to make Connecticut more affordable to live, work, and raise a family. You can read more about the plan here: https://www.cthousegop.com/new-york-is-eating-our-lunch

Delnicki Pushes to Expand Home-Based Oral Health Care

HARTFORD — State Rep. Tom Delnicki voiced support for bipartisan House Bill 5303, which would let licensed dental hygienists provide preventive oral health care in patients’ homes. The measure, unanimously approved by the Aging Committee, would allow experienced hygienists to perform cleanings, exams, X‑rays and referrals in private residences under existing public‑health rules — on a voluntary basis for providers. Rep. Delnicki said the bill will help homebound seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and those facing transportation barriers get timely care and prevent more serious health problems. The bill now awaits action on the House floor.

Delnicki: Home Building Industry Day at the Capitol

State Representative Tom Delnicki (R-South Windsor), along State Representative Tim Ackert and State Representative Steve Weir met with members of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Connecticut at the State Capitol to discuss the policies important to their industry that would make it easier and more affordable to build housing in the state. Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Connecticut supports reducing regulatory barriers, addressing workforce shortages in the construction trades, and opposing policies that increase construction costs. Their goal is to expand housing supply while supporting Connecticut’s residential construction industry and related jobs.

Delnicki Fighting to Make Health Insurance More Affordable

HARTFORD – State Representative Tom Delnicki (R–South Windsor), a member of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, welcomed the committee’s passage of legislation that would allow small businesses to pool their risk and purchase health insurance through a trade association or local chamber of commerce—an approach aimed at making employer-provided healthcare more affordable for workers. House Bill 5378 gives small businesses greater bargaining power, more stable pricing, and access to a broader range of plan options that better fit the needs of their employees. “Small businesses are the backbone of communities like South Windsor, but many of them are struggling under the rising cost of health insurance,” said Delnicki. “This proposal gives them the ability to band together through their chambers of commerce or trade groups to get the kind of purchasing power larger companies already have. That means more affordable coverage for employees and a better chance for our local businesses to keep offering good benefits.” According to the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, Connecticut employers are increasingly being forced to choose between raising prices, cutting staff, reducing benefits, or dropping health coverage entirely because of rising insurance costs. During testimony before the committee, it was also revealed that employees increasingly view health coverage as a deciding factor in whether to stay with or leave a job. Supporters of the proposal say that by permitting these association health plans; small employers will have a better chance to compete with larger companies when hiring and retaining workers. “For a lot of small employers in South Windsor and across Connecticut, offering health insurance is one of the biggest challenges they face,” Delnicki added. “Giving them more flexibility and leverage in the marketplace will help keep small businesses strong and make sure their employees have access to quality, affordable coverage.” The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for debate and vote.