State News Archives - Page 55 of 113

State News

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG RELEASES GUIDANCE ON GAS TAX HOLIDAY COMPLAINTS

Apr 1, 2022 Stephen Krauchick

Attorney General William Tong today released consumer guidance on reporting suspected violations of the state gas tax holiday.Starting today, April 1, and ending on June 30, 2022, the 25 cent state tax on gasoline is suspended under Special Act 22-2. The law requires that retailers reduce their price per-gallon by the amount of the excise tax, $0.25. Any gas station suspected of charging that tax, or a portion of that tax, during this gas tax holiday will be subject to investigation by the Office of the Attorney General pursuant to the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act. Acting in coordination with the Department of Consumer Protection, the Office of the Attorney General may file suit against retailers found to be in…

State News

NEW LICENSE PLATE OPTIONS HONORING VETERANS WHO SERVED DURING SPECIFIC PERIODS OF WAR

Mar 24, 2022 Stephen Krauchick

Governor Ned Lamont announced that the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles is now offering 10 new license plate options for veterans that commemorate specific wartime periods, including the Afghanistan War, Grenada, the Iraq War, the Korean War, Lebanon, Operation Ernest Will, Panama, the Persian Gulf War, the Vietnam War, and World War II. These plates are offered in addition to the standard Connecticut license plate for veterans and are available exclusively for veterans who served during these specific periods of war and those who received campaign medals.“Expanding the license plate options offered to veterans is a wonderful opportunity to honor their service,” Governor Lamont said. “Not only will it enable our state to recognize those who served during specific periods…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT APPOINTS CLAIRE COLEMAN AS CONSUMER COUNSEL

Nov 15, 2021 Stephen Krauchick

Governor Ned Lamont announced that he is nominating Claire Coleman of Woodbridge to serve as consumer counsel for the State of Connecticut. In the position, which is a five-year term, Coleman will lead the Office of Consumer Counsel in its mission of advocating on behalf of Connecticut consumers on issues relating to electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, and water. The office is an independent state agency authorized to participate on behalf of consumer interests in all administrative and judicial forums and in any matters in which the interests of consumers with respect to public utility matters may be involved. “Claire’s expertise in energy law, investigations, and regulatory reform makes her a great fit to effectively advocate for the interests of all…

State News

DMV’s Web Portal Can Be Accessed at ct.gov/DMV

Mar 3, 2021 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT– Governor Ned Lamont announced that the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has launched a revitalized web portal for the agency that also increases the number of transactions customers are able to complete online. New online services added during this launch include the ability to request a duplicate driver’s license, a duplicate non-driver ID, and driving history. The DMV’s web portal can be accessed by visiting ct.gov/dmv. These new online services are in addition to the announcement made last month that Connecticut residents now have the ability to renew their driver’s licenses and non-driver IDs online. Renewing credentials online can take as little as seven minutes.The addition of more online services is part of the Lamont administration’s ongoing…

State News

CONNECTICUT BECOMES FIRST STATE IN NATION TO REQUIRE HIGH SCHOOLS PROVIDE COURSES ON BLACK AND LATINO STUDIES

Dec 10, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Connecticut has become the first state in the nation to require all high schools in the state offer courses on African-American, Black, Puerto Rican, and Latino studies. The requirement is the result of a law Governor Lamont signed last year – Public Act 19-12 – that directs all regional and local boards of education to include an elective course of studies at the high school level that provides students with a better understanding of the African-American, Black, Puerto Rican, and Latino contributions to United States history, society, economy, and culture. Last week, the Connecticut State Board of Education unanimously approved the curriculum for the course, which was a final step needed to implement…

State News

CONNECTICUT NATIONAL GUARD’S COVID-19 SUPPORT THROUGH MARCH

Dec 7, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT)– Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has received notification from the White House that his request to extend the federal authorization of the Connecticut National Guard’s support to the State of Connecticut for its ongoing response to the COVID-19 public health emergency has been approved through March 31, 2021. The federal government will provide the state with a 75 percent cost-share for this period. Previously, the state was authorized to use the National Guard with a 100 percent federal cost share from April 2 through September 30. That authorization was renewed on October 1 at a reduced cost share of 75 percent and had been set to expire on December 31. “From constructing mobile field hospitals, delivering…

State News

141,000 LAPTOPS TO PK-12 STUDENTS

Dec 4, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Connecticut is the first state in the nation to provide a learning device to every PK-12 student in need, achieving a major milestone in the fight to close the K-12 digital divide in Connecticut, particularly as many schools move toward remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor committed to closing the state’s PK-12 digital divide by purchasing every student who indicated a need with a learning device and a reliable, at-home internet connection. Since the outset of the pandemic earlier this year, every local school district has been sharing data with the State Department of Education on the number of students who indicated that they were without a learning device…

State News

Student Testing Concerns

Dec 4, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) led a group of six senators in pressing three of the largest virtual testing companies used by schools and testing administrators amid the COVID-19 pandemic– ExamSoft, Proctorio, and ProctorU—to address alarming equity, accessibility, and privacy issues faced by students using the platforms. Recent reports indicate students, particularly students of color and those with disabilities, have had severe issues using the software, been locked out of tests, or wrongly accused of cheating. For example, students of color and students wearing religious clothing like headscarves reported the software failed to recognize their facial features and they were temporarily barred from access. “Students have run head on into the shortcomings of these technologies—shortcomings that fall heavily on…

State News

Save Our Seas

Dec 3, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) applauded passage of Save Our Seas 2.0, legislation to combat marine debris. Murphy and Murkowski are both cosponsors of the bill, which was introduced and led by U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) and U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey). The legislation includes a Murphy-Murkowski drafted provision that allows for the establishment of a new Genius Prize to fund the development of materials to replace single use plastic and innovations that remove and prevent plastic waste. “The amount of plastic flowing into our oceans poses a huge problem. That’s why I was proud to work with Senators Sullivan, Whitehouse and Menendez on the bipartisan Save our Seas 2.0…

State News

Officials Urge Residents to Learn Signs of Scam Artists Conducting Testing Activities

Nov 30, 2020 Stephen Krauchick

#HARTFORD, CT – Governor Ned Lamont is advising Connecticut residents that as demand for COVID-19 testing increases across the country, they should be on the lookout for scam artists seeking to take advantage of people most in need, including when searching for places to get tested. People in Connecticut are encouraged to use the state’s official coronavirus website – ct.gov/coronavirus – or the website of a provider like their local health clinic, hospital, or pharmacy to find a testing site. The governor said that these are reliable sources that can ensure people’s personal and health information will be protected. “Our testing program is one of the most robust in the country,” Governor Lamont said. “It’s troubling that scam artists would try to capitalize…

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG RELEASES GUIDANCE ON GAS TAX HOLIDAY COMPLAINTS

NEW LICENSE PLATE OPTIONS HONORING VETERANS WHO SERVED DURING SPECIFIC PERIODS OF WAR

GOVERNOR LAMONT APPOINTS CLAIRE COLEMAN AS CONSUMER COUNSEL

DMV’s Web Portal Can Be Accessed at ct.gov/DMV

CONNECTICUT BECOMES FIRST STATE IN NATION TO REQUIRE HIGH SCHOOLS PROVIDE COURSES ON BLACK AND LATINO STUDIES

CONNECTICUT NATIONAL GUARD’S COVID-19 SUPPORT THROUGH MARCH

141,000 LAPTOPS TO PK-12 STUDENTS

Student Testing Concerns

Save Our Seas

Officials Urge Residents to Learn Signs of Scam Artists Conducting Testing Activities

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