Emily Byrne

New report on data from Special Act 24-24 — the law meant to track how DCF-funded services are used in #CT.

We found that missing data limits system visibility and that apparent underutilization often signals structural strain rather than diminished demand.

Read more: heyor.ca/geuE0M

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Will CT pass AI legislation this year? CT lawmakers haven't settled on how to regulate artificial intelligence. Since they adjourned in 2025, the question has become more pressing.

Will #CT act on AI before children pay the price?

AI is already shaping kids’ lives. Without guardrails, predatory marketing, bias, and over-surveillance put children at risk.

Our report lays out solutions: heyor.ca/DND8pE
Read the article: heyor.ca/kPx5R9

Could Connecticut really repeal the income tax? Here's what experts say Republican gubernatorial candidate Betsy McCaughey is running on a plan to phase out the state income tax, but some experts doubt it is possible.

Repealing CT’s income tax isn’t feasible or fiscally responsible, and it won’t ease the financial strain families face.

But #CT has realistic, research-backed tax reform options that can make life more affordable and fully fund communities.

Read more: heyor.ca/HUynjB

Today marks the start of the 2026 #CT Legislative Session, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

See our 2026 Legislative Priorities: bit.ly/CTVoicesAgenda2026

Join our fight for #EconomicJustice.

YouTube video by CTVoices CT Voices 30th Anniversary

Things are hard right now, and we won’t minimize that. That’s why, in this moment, we’re looking back to remember what’s possible. Our 30th anniversary is a reminder that progress comes from choosing action, again and again, for #CT children and families.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUK0...

Stand With Minnesota Donation Directory Stand With Minnesota is a hub for supporting, learning, and taking action to support Minnesotans impacted by ICE and federal enforcement.

WAYS TO SUPPORT MINNEAPOLIS AND OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITIES:

Stand With Minnesota Mutual Aid: tinyurl.com/5b9tmy3k

ICE OUT OF MN: tinyurl.com/yep4s2tb

There is no neutrality in this moment.

Congress is considering more funding for detention & deportation while communities are being terrorized.

We are heartbroken & outraged but we are not without agency.

Read our letter + ways to act:
🔗 ctvoices.salsalabs.org/affordabilit...

⏰ Feb. 4 is the deadline. #CT created a $500M emergency fund to act quickly when federal changes—like OBBBA—put public benefits at risk. $330M remains unspent.

If you believe families should be protected, contact the Governor & tell him to act now: portal.ct.gov/governor/home/contact-the-governor

Dr. King warned us nearly 60 years ago about misplaced priorities.

As the federal government cuts #SNAP and #Medicaid, the White House is proposing to grow the defense budget from ~$1T to $1.5T.

#CT must be ready to step up and protect its residents. Dr. King’s legacy demands nothing less. #MLKDay

Hunger in the US is a policy choice. The federal push to shift SNAP costs & add administrative burdens to states as well as directly cut the #SNAP program is a choice that will have devastating consequences, including here in #CT.

#stopthatSNAPshift

Here's how Connecticut can offset nearly $1B in federal cuts, according to a new report Connecticut officials have repeatedly vowed to protect residents from the sweeping impacts of federal cuts, from health insurance to food assistance. But what would that actually take?

The $500M emergency fund was a critical short-term response to federal cuts. What comes next matters more.

W/ the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, more hardship is coming for families. #CT now needs long-term policy solutions & our research outlines how.

🔗 www.ctpost.com/news/educati...

Our new report lays out the affordability challenges that too many #CT residence face even before the passage of HR1. Now, families will have to contend w/ HR1. Cuts to health care benefits & food assistance ALONE in our state will be nearly $1B in FY27, increasing to over $2B in FY31.

Everyone talks about affordability. The harder part is making the policy choices to deliver it. As federal support fades, #CT’s fiscal controls will limit how the state responds, EVEN when resources exist.

RSVP to dig into real solutions: bit.ly/taxandbudget25

Student loan borrowers who are seriously behind on payments could start seeing their paychecks docked starting early this year. Here's what to know. 🔗: on.wsj.com/4plze3X

Kwanzaa is a living tradition—honoring African-American culture while inviting reflection on how we care for one another & future generations.

At Voices, we recognize the power of cultural traditions in shaping resilience & connection. Wishing you a joyful & meaningful #Kwanzaa.

Did you know fair scheduling laws have been shown to boost worker happiness and sleep quality, reduce financial hardship, and allow workers to access critical medical care?

Demand a #FairWorkweek with the #SchedulesThatWork Act and the #PartTimeWorker Bill of Rights: nwlc.org/stwa

Trump signs executive order to block state AI regulations President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to block states from regulating artificial intelligence.

Last night, President Trump signed an executive order limiting states’ ability to regulate artificial intelligence, weakening essential consumer protections and stripping communities of the power to set their own safeguards. apnews.com/article/trum...

Millions rely on ACA coverage made affordable by Enhanced Premium Tax Credits. These credits expire in 2025, meaning big premium hikes if Congress doesn’t act.

Unaffordable care hurts ALL of us. Tell Congress: extend e-PTCs.
senate.gov/senators | ziplook.house.gov

Thanks, New London! Our final #CTVoicesRoadshow stop underscored a clear theme: everyday residents are being squeezed as federal cuts collide with CT’s fiscal controls.

But the room showed real determination for a future where #CT chooses to fully invest in its people.

If you care about #CT (and we know you do 😉), you should care about how we raise and spend our money.

Join us Jan 8 for the 25th Tax & Budget Forum—a milestone conversation on building a fair, equitable fiscal future.
RSVP: bit.ly/taxandbudget25

#TaxAndBudget25

Being a working parent is tough. It's even harder when your boss gives you last-minute notice of your shifts. Working parents deserve a consistent schedule that lets them plan their lives. It's time we demand a #FairWorkweek and #SchedulesThatWork.

👉 nwlc.org/stwa

#CT is facing a preventable housing crisis. New HUD rules could cut 70% of permanent supportive housing funding, putting 6.5K people at risk of losing their homes overnight.

Tell Gov. Lamont + your legislators to support the $70M conditional bridge: www.cga.ct.gov/webapps/cgaf...

This season, we’re grateful for the policmakers, advocates, providers, parents, and young people who fight for that vision every day. A #CT where every family has enough isn’t just an aspiration. It’s a choice we can make together.

#HappyThanksgivin

#JustReleased: “The 2025 State of Early Childhood.” A decade of data shows #CT's ECE system has not meeting demand. New 2025 investments offer hope. Learn what's next to build a stronger and more equitable system.

Read the report: ctvoices.org/publication/...

CT House adopts relief fund to bolster federal programs Creating the emergency fund could push CT over its budgetary spending cap, so the measure had to pass with at least a 60% majority. It did.

1 bill this special session deserves attention: the creation of a $500m Emergency Relief Fund to protect #CT families.

W/ federal changes to #SNAP, #Medicaid (HUSKY), & ACA tax credits, CT must stay vigilant & use these $ to keep families fed & healthy.

ctmirror.org/2025/11/12/c...

The manufactured #SNAP crisis is getting worse.

Courts ordered contingency funds released—but partial payments mean longer delays. Families can’t wait for DC politics.

Other states are stepping up. #CT must do the same. NOW.

Take action: bit.ly/CTSNAPtoolkit

This is an emergency. Folks who benefit from #SNAP will not see money on their EBT cards starting today, Nov 1st.

CT has billions in surplus—we can keep families fed.

📞 Contact the Gov: 860-566-4840 / governor.lamont@ct.gov
📣 Raise your voice: bit.ly/CTSNAPtoolkit

CT lawmakers: Lamont must do more to replace vanishing food aid A bipartisan consensus is nudging Gov. Ned Lamont toward tapping Connecticut's rainy day fund to replace SNAP benefits.

This crisis may have started in Washington, DC but #CT fully owns it if we don't do more. Call the Governor's office (860-566-4840; governor.lamont@ct.gov) & tell him we want #SNAP fully funded for the rest of 2025 & we need a plan for work requirements.

ctmirror.org/2025/10/31/c...

The USDA sent a memo to states on Oct 10 ordering them to withhold Nov #SNAP benefits to families & vendors amidst the shutdown. This is on top of HR 1.

Contact your State legislators & tell them: When Washington turns its back, #CT must have families’ backs.

#PoliciesForThePeople #EconomicJustice