State News Archives - Page 17 of 113

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES CONNECTICUT’S 2024 SALES TAX-FREE WEEK RUNS FROM AUGUST 18 TO 24

Aug 13, 2024 Alex

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Connecticut will hold its annual Sales Tax-Free Week from Sunday, August 18, to Saturday, August 24, 2024. During this weeklong sales tax holiday, retail purchases of most clothing and footwear items priced under $100 are exempt from the Connecticut sales and use tax. The exemption during Sales Tax-Free Week applies to each eligible item costing under $100, regardless of how many of those items are sold to a customer on the same invoice. “This year’s tax-free holiday lands a little earlier to give families a head start for the back-to-school season, which will be here before we know it,” Governor Lamont said. “As always, I encourage shoppers to take the time to…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT AND U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY YELLEN ANNOUNCE CONNECTICUT JOINING IRS DIRECT FILE

Aug 11, 2024 Alex

Connecticut Residents Will Be Eligible To Use This Free Tax Filing Option Beginning in Filing Year 2025 (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen today announced that, beginning in the 2025 filing season, Connecticut will join IRS Direct File – a newly launched option to file federal tax returns online that is provided to users at no cost, empowering residents to file with ease and without having to pay the fees associated with for-profit tax software companies. This free online tax filing option began as a pilot program in 12 states during the 2024 filing season, and during this time it enabled 140,000 taxpayers to claim more than $90 million in refunds,…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF NEW STATE GRANT PROGRAM ON HOME HEALTH CARE WORKER SAFETY

Aug 5, 2024 Alex

Home Health and Access Agencies Can Begin Applying for the Grants on August 7, 2024 (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced the impending launch of the In-Home Safety Grant Program, a new state grant program administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services aimed at enhancing the safety and security of home health care workers in Connecticut. Established by the enactment of Public Act 24-19 – which was approved by the Connecticut General Assembly during the 2024 regular legislative session and then signed into law by Governor Lamont – this program will provide grants to home health and access agencies to fund improved safety protocols and support services for their workers. This includes items such as emergency alert buttons, buddy…

State News

BLUMENTHAL, WARREN & WATERS INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM PAYMENT SCAMS

Aug 3, 2024 Alex

[Hartford, CT] - Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) joined Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, to announce introduction of the Protecting Consumers from Payment Scams Act, legislation to better protect consumers making online payments through digital payment platforms like Zelle. As payment fraud skyrockets, the legislation would update the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) to clarify ambiguities and strengthen the law to better protect consumers harmed when they make payments. Specifically, it would protect consumers when they are defrauded into initiating a payment sent to a bad actor, when they lose funds through fraudulent bank wire transfers, and when their accounts are inexplicably frozen…

State News

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG ANNOUNCES INVESTIGATION INTO ENERGYBILLCRUNCHER OVER FALSE CLAIM THAT ‘GOVERNMENT WILL COVER THE COST TO INSTALL SOLAR’

Aug 2, 2024 Alex

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today announced he has opened an investigation into EnergyBillCruncher.com regarding false claims on social media that “Government will cover the cost to install solar.” In addition to falsely claiming that the “Government” will cover the cost of solar installation, the company inappropriately uses the Connecticut state seal and creates a false sense of urgency, claiming that homeowners must “do this before Friday.” In an inquiry letter sent today, the Office of the Attorney General seeks information on the ownership of the EnergyBillCruncher website and social media accounts. The inquiry also seeks information regarding the number of inquiries received from Connecticut residents, information the company provided to Connecticut residents, and any Connecticut solar financing,…

State News

BLUMENTHAL & BARRAGÁN INTRODUCE BICAMERAL LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE END-OF-LIFE CARE

Aug 2, 2024 Alex

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Nanette Barragán (D-CA) today introduced the Compassionate Care Act,legislation to promote advance care planning and end-of-life care. Many Americans do not have plans in place in the event they experience severe illness. In order to help patients access the care they need and that is right for them, the Compassionate Care Act provides critical resources to educate patients and providers, develop core end-of-life quality measures, and expand access to advance care planning via telehealth. “Our measure will empower Americans who are without plans for end-of-life care to be prepared in the event they experience severe illness,” said Blumenthal. “By promoting end-of-life care through public awareness, expanding telehealth services, and working with physicians, we can…

State News Uncategorized

MURPHY INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING FOR ALL KIDS

Jul 27, 2024 Alex

45 Percent of Children Nationwide Lack Summer Learning Opportunities, Citing Cost As Biggest Barrier WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, on Friday introduced the Summer for All Act, legislation to provide high-quality summer enrichment opportunities to kids and families who otherwise would not have access to these programs. The bill would establish two new grant programs to provide long-term, direct funding that would help community-based organizations provide free summer camp and other activities to underserved kids and support states in the planning and implementation of initiatives to address summer programming gaps in sustainable ways. In 2021, Murphy secured a dedicated set-aside in the education funding in the American Rescue Plan for summer…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES CONNECTICUT’S PARTICIPATION IN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY’S BETTER CLIMATE CHALLENGE

Jul 25, 2024 Alex

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut has joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Climate Challenge, becoming one of more than 50 organizations across the United States that are stepping up to the challenge and driving real-world action toward a low-carbon future. In joining the challenge, the state is committing to reduce portfolio-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% within ten years and work with DOE to share successful solutions and decarbonization strategies. As Connecticut undertakes this challenge, DOE will support its efforts with technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and a platform for the organization to demonstrate its commitment to being part of the solution to climate change. To reach its emissions…

State News

THE SENATE PERMANENT SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATIONS RELEASES NEW STAFF REPORT ON ZELLE, BANK FAILURES TO PROTECT CONSUMERS

Jul 24, 2024 Alex

Ahead of hearing with Zelle owner and major banks, Majority staff report unveils stunning lack of consumer protections [WASHINGTON, DC] – Ahead of a hearing with Early Warning Services (EWS) CEO Cameron Fowler and major bank executives, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chair of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), released a majority staff report today detailing the Subcommittee’s findings thus far in its bipartisan inquiry into EWS and the three largest Zelle owner banks, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo (the “Three Banks”). “Zelle and the big banks who own it know that Zelle’s speed and convenience makes it a target,” said Blumenthal. “They are well aware that, every single day, some of their customers will…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES CONNECTICUT RECEIVES FEDERAL GRANT TO ACCELERATE ADOPTION OF AFFORDABLE ELECTRIC HEAT PUMPS

Jul 22, 2024 Alex

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Awards $450 Million to the Multi-State New England Heat Pump Accelerator Coalition (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and the members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding a coalition of states known as the New England Heat Pump Accelerator Coalition – which includes Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island – with a $450 million grant through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program to accelerate adoption of affordable electric heat pumps throughout the region. Cold-climate heat pumps are proven to substantially reduce emissions, provide significant health benefits, and deliver energy savings. The coalition’s application was led by the State of Connecticut through the Connecticut Department of Energy and…

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES CONNECTICUT’S 2024 SALES TAX-FREE WEEK RUNS FROM AUGUST 18 TO 24

GOVERNOR LAMONT AND U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY YELLEN ANNOUNCE CONNECTICUT JOINING IRS DIRECT FILE

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF NEW STATE GRANT PROGRAM ON HOME HEALTH CARE WORKER SAFETY

BLUMENTHAL, WARREN & WATERS INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM PAYMENT SCAMS

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG ANNOUNCES INVESTIGATION INTO ENERGYBILLCRUNCHER OVER FALSE CLAIM THAT ‘GOVERNMENT WILL COVER THE COST TO INSTALL SOLAR’

BLUMENTHAL & BARRAGÁN INTRODUCE BICAMERAL LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE END-OF-LIFE CARE

MURPHY INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING FOR ALL KIDS

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES CONNECTICUT’S PARTICIPATION IN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY’S BETTER CLIMATE CHALLENGE

THE SENATE PERMANENT SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATIONS RELEASES NEW STAFF REPORT ON ZELLE, BANK FAILURES TO PROTECT CONSUMERS

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES CONNECTICUT RECEIVES FEDERAL GRANT TO ACCELERATE ADOPTION OF AFFORDABLE ELECTRIC HEAT PUMPS

You missed

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES LANDMARK FEDERAL GRANT TO TRANSFORM RURAL HEALTH CARE IN CONNECTICUT

Hazardous Condition Closes Marshalls

8/25 Crash Shuts Highway

Fairfield Police Make Arrests in Two Gold Scam Investigations

DoingItLocal