State Representative Kai Belton

06/05/2026

It was an honor to attend the Project REACH graduation at Middlesex Hospital celebrating this incredible group of graduates. The skills, knowledge, and determination they've gained through this program will open doors to amazing opportunities, and I have no doubt they will do great things in the future.

CONGRATULATIONS 🎊

06/04/2026

Last night, I had the honor of attending the Hope After Loss Gala, an evening that held both heartbreak and hope. Surrounded by families, advocates, healthcare professionals, and community leaders committed to supporting those who have experienced pregnancy loss, infant loss, and other unimaginable grief, I was reminded of the power of compassion and community.

It was especially meaningful to spend time with my colleague, State Representative Anne Hughes, and so many others who care deeply about this work. While the reason we gathered is rooted in profound loss, the evening itself was beautiful, filled with love, remembrance, resilience, and support. From scholarships and awards to shared stories and connection, it was a powerful reminder that no one should have to walk these journeys alone.

06/01/2026

📚✨ Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending time with the incredible girls in the NAACP Girls Reading Program. We shared great conversations about their favorite books and celebrated a program that is helping build confident, curious, and empowered young readers.

I’m proud to support this work and even prouder of these amazing young ladies. The future is bright! 💜

05/07/2026

Thank you, State Representative Tammy Exum!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

05/04/2026

Funding boosts headed to Middletown!

05/04/2026

We passed a state budget, and I want to share what that means for you.

Going into this session, my priority was simple: affordability. I’ve been hearing from so many of you about the rising cost of living, and I carried those conversations with me into every room where decisions were being made.

Here’s how that shows up in this budget:

💛 Lowering Everyday Costs
Reduced bus fares for students and veterans, expanded free school breakfast, and new investments in childcare, because families deserve breathing room.

🏥 Access to Care
More school-based health centers, free vaccines for uninsured residents, and increased Medicaid provider rates to help keep care accessible in our communities.

👵🏾 Supporting Seniors & Families
Investments in home-based care, senior services, and child welfare reforms to better support families at every stage.

💼 Pathways to Good Jobs
Funding for workforce training, youth employment, and manufacturing—creating real opportunities right here in our community.

🗳️ Protecting Your Voice
Expanded early voting and no-excuse absentee voting so more people can participate in our democracy.

📚 Investing in Our Kids
More support for our schools and a major investment in early childhood education to make childcare more affordable.

This budget isn’t perfect, but it’s a step toward easing the burden on working families and making sure our communities have what they need to thrive.

As always, I’m grateful for your voices, your advocacy, and the trust you place in me to represent you. I’ll keep fighting to make Connecticut more affordable for all of us.

05/02/2026

Our 4th annual Mental Health and Wellness Day event at the Capitol went very well today!

With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, to me, this event is about highlighting the rise in mental health issues and the need for accessible care.

About 40 organizations participated, including mental health providers and therapy dogs!

Among the key initiatives we discussed were strengthening the mental health workforce, increasing Medicaid reimbursement, investing in education, and transforming the children's behavioral health system.

A special thank you to the organizations that came, and those who wanted to but couldn't make it this time. Spoiler alert: We'll be back next year!

Many thanks to the House Public Health chair, Rep. Cristin McCarthy-Vahey (I am vice chair of the committee), House Human Services Committee Chair Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, and Black Maternal Health & Infant Care vice chair Rep. Trenee McGee, along with representatives from Mental Health Connecticut, for their input.

Rep. McCarthy-Vahey emphasized the rising mental health needs among young people and the efforts to strengthen the mental health workforce, increase Medicaid reimbursement, and invest in education and de-stigmatization.

Rep Gilchrest stressed continuing to push legislative advocacy to secure an additional $30 million in Medicaid reimbursement increases on top of last year’s commitment, to strengthen the social safety net and support mental health and social services for providers.

Rep. McGee, a theater teacher who had an art therapy bill recently pass in the House and Senate, is heading to the governor's desk for passage. Rep. McGee pointed out that her bill creates grant opportunities for local boards to hire art therapists, highlighting the benefits of art therapy for mental health, and encouraged the use of artistic methods of therapy in conjunction with traditional therapy.

Jazz Borst, of Mental Health Connecticut, discussed its Art of Well Being program, which combines creativity and healing. The program offers workshops and events that teach trauma-based programming and coping skills and emphasizes the importance of creative expression in mental health recovery and the need for more investment in arts-based approaches.

I'm already looking forward to the 5th annual event. I will keep you posted. To hear how we kicked off the event, please click on the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4ox_3mr5wk

05/01/2026

Therapy dogs are here!

The 4th annual Mental Health & Wellness Day at the Capitol is underway. There are 40 agencies/vendors here to welcome you. Come on down! We're here until 2 p.m.