Robin Comey

I hope this email finds you and your family well. A final reminder that January 31 is the last day to enroll in health and dental coverage through Access Health CT. Plus, Connecticut’s Severe Weather Protocol has been extended through next week due to continued extreme cold temperatures. 

The past few weeks have been busy as we prepare for the 2026 legislative session, with numerous committee meetings already underway. Keep scrolling to learn more about the major issues likely to come up, and how you can follow bills, floor debates, and meetings as the session unfolds.

There is plenty to get to in the email below, so make sure to keep scrolling for more on:

• Around Town
• Access Health CT Deadline
• February 4: The House is Back in Session
• 2026 OLR Major Issues Report
• Severe Cold Weather Protocol Extended
• SNAP Benefit Issuance Changes
• Community Events

I’m proud to be a co-introducer of a bill this session to bring a Child Tax Credit to Connecticut. The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity convened last week with community members, policy experts, and legislative leaders for an important forum to examine a key question:

How can a state Child Tax Credit advance family economic mobility in Connecticut?

What we know is clear:
✓ Targeted investments reduce poverty
✓ Evidence-based supports strengthen families
✓ Long-term outcomes improve for entire communities

The Child Tax Credit isn’t radical, 15 states already have one.
Of those, 11 offer refundable credits and four have nonrefundable credits.
This is proven policy.

Connecticut families deserve the same support that families in 15 other states already receive.

Let’s finally make it happen here.

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast brought the Branford community together at Branford High School for a morning of inspiration and reflection.

Keynote speaker Preston Tisdale, a renowned civil rights attorney, delivered a powerful address on the ongoing struggle for civil rights and the work that still lies ahead. Branford High School students played a special role in the event, the Culinary Arts program prepared a delicious full breakfast, while the Musical Makers offered uplifting performances.

A large and engaged crowd of community members attended, and everyone left feeling inspired and ready to carry forward Dr. King’s enduring legacy of service and justice.

Last weekend, I attended a wrestling match at the high school featuring teams from across the state. I want to recognize every athlete who stepped onto the mat, representing our school with determination, resilience, and outstanding sportsmanship in every match.

I stopped by Salon Exclusive to see Yaritza Cabrera and congratulate her on receiving a recent grant from the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC). Through its Ignite Grant Program, the WBDC has awarded 469 grants to women-owned businesses across Connecticut to support projects with a measurable impact on business growth and profitability.

Salon Exclusive, located at 71 West Main Street in Branford, is expanding its services to include Head Spa treatments. If you’ve never heard of this relaxing indulgence, I highly recommend doing a quick online search. it looks incredible! And if you’re in the market for a hairdresser, be sure to stop by and visit Yaritza.

At the Capitol on Wednesday, I joined teachers’ unions along with superintendent and board of education organizations for the 2026 Connecticut Education Issues Summit. I arrived in time to hear a session on improving educational outcomes, hosted by Fran Rabinowitz of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents.

I was also inspired by a powerful panel discussion featuring Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, author Dr. Joshua Cowen, and Randi Weingarten, President of the AFT. They explored an issue very close to my heart: how school voucher politics harm working families, undermine civil rights laws, and weaken our collective obligation to provide a strong public education for all children.

I’ll be sharing some of the discussion on my social media channels for anyone interested in learning more.

Last week brought me to the former G. Fox building in Hartford, now repurposed as the CT State Community College Hartford campus. The occasion was the 26th Annual Environmental Summit, hosted by the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, a day-long event focused on some of the most pressing environmental issues facing our state.

As a first-time attendee, I was pleased to see such strong engagement, with a large turnout of advocates and activists throughout the day. My understanding is that even more people participated online.

I also bumped into Shirley McCarthy from Branford’s environmental circle and couldn’t resist jumping into a photo with her.

Finally, I made time to visit the Bushnell Theater to see Suffs, the Tony Award–winning Broadway musical. The show offers a powerful and moving portrayal of the American women’s suffrage movement, highlighting the determination and tireless efforts of leaders like Alice Paul in the fight to secure voting rights for women. It’s an especially timely production, one that speaks directly to issues of equity and democracy, and I encourage anyone who can make the trip to Hartford this weekend to get tickets.

As a history enthusiast, the performance has also inspired me to revisit Iron Jawed Angels (2004), which explores the same pivotal chapter in American history.

Reminder: Access Health CT’s extended enrollment deadline runs through Saturday, January 31. Customers who register or renew by this date will have health and dental coverage beginning February 1.

Connecticut is stepping up by offering financial assistance despite recent federal cuts. Some customers may qualify for new state subsidies or other low- or no-cost coverage options, including the Covered CT Program or HUSKY Health, Connecticut’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Customers can visit AccessHealthCT.com and click the “Get Help” button on the homepage to find the option that works best for them, including scheduling an appointment, finding a nearby Navigator site or attending an enrollment fair. Help is available in over 100 languages.

Free help to sign up is available online, in person and over the phone.

Next week, the 2026 legislative session will officially get underway at the state Capitol. My legislative colleagues and I will begin several months of debate, deliberation, and decision-making on a wide range of key policy issues that will shape our state in the year ahead.

Watch the 2026 legislative session live on CT-N beginning Wednesday, February 4, at 10:00 a.m., with coverage of opening day. Live streams of subsequent session days and committee meetings are also available at any time.

The 2026 Office of Legislative Research Major Issues Report provides concise summaries of key topics anticipated to come before the General Assembly during the upcoming legislative session.

Click on the image below to access the report. 

The forecast indicates that bitterly cold weather will persist for an extended period, with temperatures remaining well below seasonal averages through the middle of next week. This prolonged cold spell is unlike anything Connecticut has experienced in many years, raising concerns about public safety and infrastructure impacts. In response to these conditions, Governor Ned Lamont has extended Connecticut’s Severe Weather Protocol through noon on Thursday, February 5.

The following locations are serving as warming centers in town. For the most accurate and up-to-date hours of operation, please contact each location directly. You can also call 211 or visit 211ct.org for more assistance.

• Joe Trapasso Community House (Recreation Center), 46 Church Street - (203) 488-8302
• James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main Street - (203) 488-1441
• Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Island Road - (203) 488-8702

Connecticut passed new legislation requiring the Department of Social Services (DSS) to spread out Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit issuance dates throughout the month rather than concentrating them in the first few days. This change will help reduce congestion at retailers and improve the overall client experience.