ALICE Advocate - June 3, 2025 Edition | United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut

UPDATES FROM HARTFORD

With the 2025 session ending tomorrow evening, updates will continue to roll in throughout the day. Over the past few days, legislators voted on Child Tax Credit, Early Childhood Education investments and nonprofit funding.

Child Tax Credit

Despite strong advocacy, the CT Child Tax Credit did not pass in the 2025 session. Instead, lawmakers approved a $200 increase to the state Earned Income Tax Credit – a compromise to align with the Governor’s budget proposal. While not the outcome we fought for, most EITC-eligible families have children, offering some targeted relief. This also gives us a critical foothold for advancing a more robust Child Tax Credit next year.

Read: 📰 CT Mirror’s “CT lawmakers scrap child tax credit for middle class — again” and WSHU’s "CT's 2-year budget deal scraps child tax credit for the middle class"

Advocating for Connecticut’s Youngest Learners at the Capitol

United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut staff spent last Wednesday at the State Capitol in Hartford meeting with legislators to advocate for the Child Tax Credit and increased access to Early Childhood Education. Together, we’re working to ensure every child and family in our community has the support they need to thrive.

Early Childhood Education

SB 1 and HB 5003 passed and are expected to be signed into law. Thank you for supporting these transformative investments in our youngest learners! These bills include the following provisions:

Early Childhood Education Endowment: Initial $300M to create 16,000 free or reduced cost preschool and toddler care spots/5 years
Affordable Tuition: No cost child care for families with annual gross income under $100,000 and a 7% cap on child care costs for families earning more than $100,000
Health insurance subsidy program for employees
Better aligns salaries with public school teacher salaries
$10M grant to create better special education programming in some districts so that students don’t have to travel out of district, complements HB 5001
Creation of the Early Care and Education Fund to support a new child care portal, improve Care 4 Kids and fund capital projects, among other provisions.

Read: 📰 CT Mirror’s “Transformative CT early childhood education bill gets full passage" and “CT Senate passes early childhood, special education bill”

Nonprofit Funding

SB 1358 passed the State Senate with bipartisan support. Beginning in this July, this bill will require the state to index nonprofit funding in the budget to inflation annually. This is an important step toward financial stability for the sector.

After flat-funding nonprofit community providers in the first year, the budget proposal boosts funding in the second year, adding $76 million for all providers and $30 million specifically for non-developmental disability providers in 2026–27.

Final House and Senate Sessions

All hearings can be viewed on CT-N or each Committee’s YouTube channel. Full CT CGA calendar is available online here.

Please tune into the House and Senate Sessions today and tomorrow.

Tune in for Tuesday and Wednesday: House Session, Time TBA, House Chamber: CT-N Live Stream and Recording

Tune in for Tuesday and Wednesday Senate Session, 11 am, Senate Chamber: CT-N Live Stream and Recording

UPCOMING EVENTS

CT Early Childhood Alliance Legislative Session Debrief

June 5th, 10:00-11:30 am (In person at Rocky Hill or virtual)
Final meeting before summer break! Join for a wrap-up of the 2025 Legislative Session and where we go from here. A link to join virtually will be sent to everyone who RSVPs, regardless of your chosen meeting format. Spanish interpretation will be available via Zoom only.
📝 RSVP today!

CT Council for Philanthropy

June 10th, 10 - 11:15 am - Virtual
2025 State Budget & Legislative Session: Critical Takeaways for Connecticut Funder
Join the Council for an exclusive briefing on Connecticut's pivotal 2025 legislative session. This year's budget negotiations are especially consequential as state leaders craft a two-year spending plan amid significant fiscal challenges, including the sunset of American Rescue Plan Act funding and proposed federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, block grants, and more.
📝 Register HERE.

CT Baby Bonds - Affecting Change Through Collaboration

June 16th, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
University of New Haven, Beckerman Recreation Center, 300 Boston Post Rd, West Haven
An afternoon filled with updates, panels, and solutions-focused discussion – all aimed at the success of the CT Baby Bonds program and building a more equitable future for Connecticut families. 📝 Register by June 9th.

End Child Poverty Now Legislative Forum

Wednesday, June 18th, 10:00am-12:00pm
Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford Hear from legislators and advocates about the accomplishments and challenges of the 2025 legislative session. And learn more about how we can address the root causes of child poverty, including income inequality, access to healthcare, safe and affordable homes, quality education and child care, and a healthy environment. Speakers include Senators Osten and Marx, Representatives Carney, Nolan and Gauthier, CT Voices for Children and CTECA. Moderated by UWCT.
📝 Register by June 13th.

Save the Date: UWCT Legislative Session Debrief

Scheduled for June 20th at 12:00 pm

RESOURCES

ALICE Advocate - June 3, 2025 Edition