Fighting For All Who Served
Alison Weir testifying during a Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs meeting.
In 2025, Connecticut entered into its biennial long session that brought a host of issues to the forefront. Connecticut Veterans Legal Center was there, providing testimony in committee to ensure low-income Veterans are not forgotten. Although some of these issues may seem disconnected from the day-to-day work of our attorneys, each success moves our state forward and makes it easier for all who served to live and thrive.
Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption
Executive Director and U.S. Air Force Veteran Alison Weir worked closely with the Veteran and Military Affairs Committee as they worked to adjust the language of the bill passed last session to exempt certain Disabled Veterans from property tax. Our goal: ensure this benefit reaches all who it was designed to help, including those with TDIU and surviving families. Ultimately, the State has left the decision to the municipalities, for now—a partial success.
Protecting Right to Counsel
Right to Counsel is a landmark legislation that levels the playing field for low-income tenants, including hundreds of Veterans, in eviction proceedings. Originally funded through COVID-era federal funds, we joined our partners and the Connecticut Bar Foundation in advocating for state funding to continue this effective and life-saving program.
Fighting Claim Sharks
We were proud to support legislation that added state-level protection against unaffiliated companies and individuals who charge exorbitant fees for filing disability claims. This legislation is necessary to protect vulnerable and frustrated Veterans, who often unknowingly sign away huge percentages of their own disability benefits—money that is intended to honor the Veteran’s service and keep them on their feet. The legislature has called for further study of the issue, which we will continue to follow.
Expanding Access to Criminal Defense for Veterans
Starting this year, Veterans’ VA disability compensation is no longer included when determining income eligibility for public defenders. Veterans living with PTSD and other service-connected mental health issues are more likely to be involved with the criminal justice system. Although they may be over-income on paper, they often do not have the capacity to hire a private attorney. This new legislation, which we supported, corrects this imbalance.
Making it Easier for Veterans to Get Help
Certain Wartime Veterans who are unable to work because of disability or age are eligible to receive a non-service connected pension, a VA benefit that helps bridge the gap for Veterans who are low-income and need extra help. We successfully worked with the legislature this year to make this income excluded from determinations for DSS programs including HUSKY and energy assistance programs.
This work is only possible thanks to the unrestricted support of people in our community who agree with the value of speaking up on these important issues impacting Connecticut’s Veterans statewide. If you would like to help, gifts of any amount are welcomed at ctveteranslegal.org/donate.
To learn more about how work is funded, you can view our 990s (tax returns) at ctveteranslegal.org/ourimpact.