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Ellington State Representative Round-up
Looking back to accomplishments, forward to future
8 North Central News February 2024
Over the past few months, I've been actively recruiting feedback from constituents through a variety of organizations in the 57th District. These Jaime Foster meetings shape agendas, those agendas become bill concepts, and those bill concepts become laws. Some of my greatest legislative accomplishments have come from these meetings and I view each meeting as a performance review with my bosses. Some accomplishments from groups I’ve met with already: • Decreased paperwork and the number of officers needed to make court appearances for police to issue an extreme risk protection order. This had previously been a significant staff drain. The request came from a listening session with public safety officials from all three towns and was made by leaders in Vernon and East Windsor. Police chiefs from Vernon and East Windsor met with me and the bipartisan leadership of the Public Safety Committee to make this happen. • Clarification on colors allowable for ambulances to allow for blue lights. Previously, EMS members were concerned that using the same lights as the Department of Transportation vehicles might decrease the public’s response to
their use of emergency lights. This request is from Ellington’s EMS leadership, particularly stewarded by Pete Hany. • Adjusting and updating the formula for state allocations to each Board of Education. This bill was supported by all three regional superintendents and BOEs. Under this bill (House Bill 5003), all three towns will see significant increases in school funding from the state. All three districts additionally advocated for universal free school meals, a special thanks to Windermere 6th graders for sending letters! We were able to fund this budget while respecting the fiscal guard rails universal free school breakfast. • Emergency assistance for farmers impacted by adverse weather events. This was championed by a variety of farmers in the district, many of whom have since applied for and received grants in this category. Thanks to every farmer who reached out and collaborated. My plans for the 2024 session include: • Continue to deliver record funding to our district to offset local costs • Prioritize a new radio tower for East Windsor that will improve service for the whole region, including deficit spots in Ellington • Pick up my solar bill where we left off, giving more local zoning control in areas over-saturated by solar • Protect public access television’s
State Rep. Jaime Foster meets with public safety officials from the 57th District. Photo courtesy Rep. Foster’s Office viability • Work on improving the health and nutrition of young children, particularly those who are economically vulnerable • Promote local options to use valuebased not low-bid-only engineering efforts I’ll continue to serve in leadership as the vice chair of the Energy and Technology Committee and as a deputy
majority leader. I’m proud to share that I’ve been selected by the Speaker of the House Matt Ritter to lead House Bill 5003. I thank Speaker Ritter for this opportunity.’ Do you have priorities you'd like me to work on? Let's set up a meeting and talk. I can be reached at jaime. foster@cga.ct.gov or 860-240-8585.
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