State Rep. Farley Santos: 'Connecticut And Danbury Moved Forward. But There's More To Do'

**Submitted by State Rep. Farley Santos (D-109)**

June 20, 2025

When I first ran for office, I made a commitment: to bring Danbury’s tax dollars back home, and to fight for the families who’ve too often been asked to do more with less. That commitment still guides every vote I take, every budget and bill I read, and every conversation I have at the Capitol.

This session, that commitment helped drive some of the most significant investments in Danbury in recent memory. In strong and strategic partnership with Mayor Roberto Alves and my Democratic colleagues in the Danbury delegation, we delivered an additional $54 million in new municipal aid including about $10 million increase in education dollars and $7 million for safety improvements at King Street Primary. Funding that will strengthen our schools, improve public safety, invest in our infrastructure, and support our local economy. These dollars are what it looks like to serve with purpose, to deliver with urgency, and get the results our city needs. These investments only matter if they’re felt on the ground, and I’m grateful to the educators, first responders, and service providers who turn funding into impact every day.

For far too long, our city was asked to wait. This year, with Mayor Alves, we made it clear: Danbury doesn’t wait anymore.

I’m proud to have supported a state budget that doesn’t raise taxes. Working families are already carrying enough. We created a $250 child tax credit, bringing targeted relief for the families who need it most. For many, it’s not about falling behind. It’s about staying just barely ahead.

As a member of the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, I was proud to deliver property tax relief for 100% disabled veterans, men and women who served our country and now deserve a state that’s willing to serve them in return. I was proud to vote to expand the Fallen Heroes Act to include surviving spouses of police officers and other public safety personnel, ensuring they don’t have to reapply each year to keep their benefits. It’s a small change that reflects a bigger truth: we owe them more than words. One of the issues I hear about most is the cost of energy. That’s why I co-sponsored SB 4, to start reining in a system that hasn’t worked for regular people in a long time. This bill includes reductions for ratepayers and supports smart metering technology that can lead to lowering bills through fairer pricing.

These reforms could save families roughly $200 a year. And I know that’s not enough. But it’s a start, and we’ll keep chipping away at it.

Connecticut’s market isn’t built for ratepayers. It’s built for Eversource. Until that changes, and families aren’t left guessing how high their bill will be next month, we haven’t finished the job.

I’ll keep fighting for structural reforms that put people at the center and build a system accountable to the households footing the bill.

I was proud to support the expansion of the Trust Act. Our state is strongest when those who call it home are not afraid of their government. If someone breaks the law, they should face due process and appropriate consequences. But no one should be afraid to take their child to school, call for help, or seek medical care. Public safety only works when people can trust the systems designed to protect them.

I’m proud to work alongside local leaders like Mayor Alves, Senator Julie Kushner, Councilmen Joe Britton and Frank Salvatore, and others who share the belief that no one in our community should be afraid to ask for help.

We also took steps to make homeownership more accessible through HB 5492. As Vice Chair of the Banking Committee, I championed legislation establishing Connecticut’s first-ever First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account program: A tax-advantaged way for residents and employers to contribute toward a first home. Connecticut would be the first state in the Northeast to offer this kind of savings incentive. It’s one way to help more families build a future here. The bill passed as part of a broader package, and while its future may be uncertain, I’ll be ready to bring it back.

We made smaller but important strides, too, like passing HB 5211, which bans hidden junk fees in ticketing and online sales. When people shop, they deserve transparency, not surprise charges at checkout.

But let me be honest: as proud as I am of what we accomplished, there’s still more we need to do. And in some cases, we haven’t been honest enough about how far we still have to go.

We can do more to make Connecticut more affordable for seniors. We can do more to ease the burden on our nonprofits and to fully fund the essential, often lifesaving programs that help families stay afloat. Medicaid reimbursements are too low. Frontline organizations are stretched thin. Energy costs are too high. Schools still need funding. Housing is becoming less affordable, and so is healthcare.

And underneath it all, the same truth keeps surfacing: the disparities are real. Fairness isn’t just a balanced budget. It’s what happens when we get it right.

When we invest in housing or healthcare or education, we don’t just help one family. We uplift a neighborhood. We free someone to take a job, or care for a parent, or send their kid to school fed and ready to learn. This work doesn’t just fill gaps. It changes lives. The consequences of inaction won’t be theoretical. They’ll be felt in hospitals, classrooms, and homes across Danbury and the state.

There’s likely a special session ahead. And when it comes, I’ll be there, doing what I’ve always done: standing up for the people who can’t afford another delay, whether they live in Danbury or anywhere in Connecticut, where help hasn’t come fast enough.

I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to stretch every dollar and still come up short. I know what it’s like to make impossible choices. Those experiences stay with me. They ground me. It’s why I ran, and why I keep going.

So yes, we made progress. But I’m not interested in headlines. I’m interested in results. And I won’t stop until families in Danbury see the difference, not just on paper but in their lives.

This post-session period, I’m focused on listening – not just in headings or headlines, but in the places that matter: at kitchen tables, on doorsteps, in diners, in community centers, in phone calls and inboxes. I want to hear what’s still not working. I want to understand what families in Danbury are facing right now.

To those who sent me to Hartford, and those still wondering if anyone’s listening: I hear you. You deserve a state that works for you. And that’s exactly what I’m still fighting for.Connecticut and Danbury Moved Forward. But There’s More To Do.