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.

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…

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…

Photo (from left to right): Jim Schneider (Kimberly-Clark Energy Procurement), Jean Cronin (President Hughes & Cronin Public Affairs), Susan Bruce (Energy Counsel, McNees Wallace) Nate Kenney (Kimberly-Clark Plant Manager), Rep. Martin Foncello, Rep. Pat Callahan, Rep. Cindy Harrison, Rep. John Piscopo, Rep. Joe Gresko, Sen. Stephen Harding, Rep. Bill Buckbee, Branch Sinkule (Kimberly-Clark Government Relations) are pictured at the Kimberly-Clark Kleenex plant in New Milford.

NEW MILFORD – State…

HARTFORD – The Connecticut Business & Industry Association has released its 2023 legislative records. CBIA has ranked each individual legislator’s support, or opposition, to legislation that seeks to support Connecticut businesses, increase economic opportunities, and create greater affordability.

According to CBIA, State Rep. John Piscopo received a 100% voting record for the 2023 session. To review the state house voting records, you can click here.

“Proud to have earned a 100% voting record from…

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…

HARWINTON – State lawmakers congratulated Koewing Manor Farm on receiving Farmland Restoration Flood Response Grant Program funding from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture to help recover from excessive rainfall in July.

The awards provide matching funds to farmers, nonprofits, and municipalities who were impacted by the flooding and will support bringing these lands back into agricultural production.

“Necessary repairs and replacements will be made by Koewing Manor Farm with the allocation…