State Representative Arnold Jensen

State Representative Arnold Jensen State Representative from 131st Assembly District (Oxford, Naugatuck and Southbury)

Today is a great day for the towns of Oxford and Southbury, who have just received funding from the State Bond Commissio...
05/29/2026

Today is a great day for the towns of Oxford and Southbury, who have just received funding from the State Bond Commission for storm and flood damage recovery projects, which will help restore areas damaged by the devastating 2024 floods.

These projects will restore areas of Kettletown State Park and Larkin State Park Trail, aid in improving public safety, and stabilize sections of the trails that were impacted by the floods. It will help to ensure that both parks remain open for future generations and continue to be a beloved place for residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoors.

Thank you to everyone at the local and state level who advocated for these important improvements!

I was honored to attend the Memorial Day parades for the towns of Naugatuck and Oxford, where communities came together ...
05/27/2026

I was honored to attend the Memorial Day parades for the towns of Naugatuck and Oxford, where communities came together to memorialize and remember the fallen soldiers who served our country and fought for our freedom.

Thank you to everyone who attended and to everyone who helped organize the events. Even through the rain, we came out to show our gratitude to the brave men and women who gave their lives. We will never forget their service, sacrifice, and bravery.

Today we honor the brave men and women who fought for our country and our freedom.
05/25/2026

Today we honor the brave men and women who fought for our country and our freedom.

Yesterday marked an important milestone for Oxford with the reopening of Loughlin Road, the final roadway project comple...
05/22/2026

Yesterday marked an important milestone for Oxford with the reopening of Loughlin Road, the final roadway project completed following the devastating floods of 2024. What once seemed like a recovery that could take years was accomplished in remarkably short order through hard work, dedication, and teamwork.

Thank you to our Oxford DPW crews, CT DOT, town staff, and everyone who played a role in rebuilding our community. Oxford faced tremendous challenges, but once again proved that when we work together, we come back stronger. 🚧🇺🇸

Congratulations to Great Oak Elementary School in Oxford for being recognized along with five other schools as a 2026 Co...
05/21/2026

Congratulations to Great Oak Elementary School in Oxford for being recognized along with five other schools as a 2026 Connecticut Blue Ribbon School. This honor highlights the high level of academic achievement, dedication, and hard work that students and staff achieve at Great Oak Elementary.

The Connecticut Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a state-operated initiative that showcases schools that go above and beyond in academic success. This program has two specific categories which are Exemplary High Performing and Exemplary Achievement Gap. Great Oak Elementary was awarded in both categories.

Great Oak Elementary has exceeded the performance index for every subject, has earned School of Distinction Status for the last four years, and students with high needs have earned their highest scores in ELA, math, and science. The staff is very supportive of their student's needs, and personalize instructions so students know how best to improve in their academic learning.

The Connecticut State Department of Education will be hosting an awards recognition for the six schools awarded this title, which will take place on June 9th, 2026, in West Hartford. Congratulations again to all the students and staff for their stellar performances and hard work!

The 2026 legislative session is coming to an end tonight at midnight, for those looking to hear the final remarks of the...
05/06/2026

The 2026 legislative session is coming to an end tonight at midnight, for those looking to hear the final remarks of the session, feel free to tune into CT-N on YouTube.

This session brought lots of discussion and progress, and I would like to thank my colleagues and constituents who have supported me. It is an honor to serve the residents of the 131st district.

Today I was honored to introduce the State Troubadour Charlie Widmer and his wife Shelby on the House Floor.  A State Tr...
05/05/2026

Today I was honored to introduce the State Troubadour Charlie Widmer and his wife Shelby on the House Floor.

A State Troubadour is an ambassador of music and song used to promote cultural literacy within Connecticut. Charlie is not only a singer, but a songwriter, storyteller, and educator. He serves as a cultural ambassador, reminding us of the viral role the arts play in enriching our daily lives.

Charlie was born in Zurich, Switzerland, moved to Connecticut at an early age and is now currently based in Oxford, CT. He received Bachelor of Music in Vocal performance from Western Connecticut State College in 2016. He has since been professionally singing and performing not only in Connecticut but throughout the world. This has included performances in Canada, France, and he has been invited to perform at the Germany Embassy. In Connecticut, he has performed with New Haven Symphony, in Broadway Musicals, OPERAs, solos and with his band “On the Trail.”

Charlie's mission is to expand protections for artists and create a strong sense of community through the arts. It was great to be able to show Charlie and Shelby around the Capitol and introduce them to some of our fellow legislators and Senator Eric Berthel. Thank you to Charlie and Shelby for taking the time to visit.

While I recognize the importance of expanding renewable energy, I cannot support policies that further increase the Publ...
05/05/2026

While I recognize the importance of expanding renewable energy, I cannot support policies that further increase the Public Benefits Charge—an expense that has consistently burdened Connecticut residents.

This bill reauthorizes and expands solar incentive programs, effectively extending a significant portion of the solar-related charges that were previously set to expire. In addition, it establishes a new procurement program that establishes a target of approximately $85 million annually for ten years, from 2027 through 2037—adding an estimated $850 million to the Public Benefits Charge.

Connecticut already has some of the highest electricity rates in the country. Adding long-term costs of this magnitude will only increase the financial strain on families and businesses.

Solar energy is no longer an emerging technology—it is mature, affordable, reliable, and widely adopted. Given this, continued large-scale subsidies are difficult to justify. Current estimates show unsubsidized solar at roughly $100 per megawatt, compared to approximately $300 per megawatt for utility-provided energy. The economics already support solar without the need for additional ratepayer-funded incentives.

I support renewable energy and believe it is a critical part of our future. However, I do not support expanding costly subsidy programs that further raise utility bills for Connecticut residents.

Tonight, we took up the state-employee SEBAC contract on the House floor. Connecticut is facing growing long-term fiscal...
04/30/2026

Tonight, we took up the state-employee SEBAC contract on the House floor. Connecticut is facing growing long-term fiscal pressure, yet the state is continuing to increase spending, while at the same time many families are being forced to tighten their belts. If families need to cut back, state government should be doing the same.

This contract covers more than 40,000 state employees across 35 bargaining units and will exceed $2 billion over the life of the contract. The contract increases wages by 2.5% and adds a 2% step increase each year going forward - roughly 4.5% annually - plus retroactive increases.

So far, state employees have received about 33% of combined raises since the Lamont administration took office. This agreement only adds to those increases going forward.

At the same time, many residents and private-sector workers have not seen comparable wage growth.

With revenues down, commitments of this scale raise concerns about long-term impacts on the state’s financial stability, because the pension debt that results from this is still a huge concern.

While I support fair compensation, there must also be balance and sustainability for this spending, which is why I was a “No” tonight. We need agreements that are responsible both today and for our future residents, because if we don’t get it under control now, we will all face the debt later.

We’ve had more than a few long days and nights in Hartford so far, but I have to say, today was a highlight among our wo...
04/27/2026

We’ve had more than a few long days and nights in Hartford so far, but I have to say, today was a highlight among our work this session.

We spent some time with these pups from the CT Humane Society during Puppy Day, and they brought a whole lot of energy and smiles into the building.

It’s a great organization doing important work for animals across Connecticut. If you’ve ever considered adopting, this is a good place to start!

Address

300 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when State Representative Arnold Jensen posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share