Legislative Update 01/23

January 23, 2026

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

A major snowstorm is expected this weekend, with forecasts calling for the most significant snowfall we’ve seen in recent years across Connecticut.

In response to the severe conditions, the state’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol will go into effect today, Friday, January 23, at 12:00 PM, and will remain in effect through Wednesday, January 28, at 12:00 PM. We are expecting an exceptionally frigid stretch with dangerously low temperatures especially overnight.

Stamford is a community built on kindness and resilience. We look out for one another, especially when conditions get tough. I ask you to take a few minutes to review, plan ahead, and consider checking in on family members and neighbors. Especially seniors, families with young children, and anyone who may be vulnerable to the cold.

A special thank you to our hardworking emergency service workers : our public works crews, first responders, dispatchers, and everyone preparing our city and state to respond quickly and safely.

Further down in this email, I’ve included practical winter storm preparation tips, information on Stamford’s warming centers, and key local resources I hope will be of use to you and your family over the next several days.

Stay warm. Stay alert. Stay safe.

In Service,

Hubert Delany

Winter Storm Preparation Tips

The Red Cross has compiled tips for winter storm preparation:

Have a Plan to Stay Warm

Stay warm indoors to prevent frostbite and hypothermia.
Consider using an indoor thermometer or thermostat to monitor the temperature inside.
Plan to check on loved ones and neighbors to make sure they are staying warm. This is especially important for older adults and babies.
Drink plenty of warm fluids but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Avoid travel if you can.
If you must go outside, plan to dress properly. Keep your nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes covered in warm, dry clothing. These areas are the first to be at risk for frostbite.
- Wear layers of loose clothing, a coat, hat, mittens, and water-resistant boots. Use a scarf to cover your face and mouth.
Know where you will go if your home becomes too cold. You could go to a friend’s house, a public library, or a warming center.

Plan to Stay Connected

Sign up for free emergency alerts from CT Alert.
Plan to monitor local weather and news.
Have a backup battery or a way to charge your cell phone.
Have a battery-powered radio to use during a power outage.
Understand the alerts you may receive:
- A WATCH means Be Prepared!
- A WARNING means Take Action!
Create a support team to help everyone stay safe in a disaster. Plan how you can help each other.

Gather Emergency Supplies

Gather food, water, and medicine before a winter storm. Stores might be closed, and it may be unsafe to travel.
Organize supplies into a Go-Kit and a Stay-at-Home Kit.
- Go-Kit: at least three days of supplies you can carry with you if you need to go somewhere else to stay warm. Include critical backup batteries and chargers for your devices
- Stay-at-Home Kit: at least two weeks of supplies.
Ensure you have enough warm clothing, such as hats, mittens, and blankets, for everyone in your household.
You may lose access to drinking water. Set aside at least one gallon of drinking water per person per day.
Consider having emergency supplies in your vehicle, such as a blanket, warm clothing, a first aid kit, and boots.
Have a snow shovel and ice-melting products to keep your walkways safe.
Stock up on winter storm preparedness kits, supplies, and other first aid supplies.

Stamford Warming Centers

Anyone in need of shelter or a warming center is urged to visit 211ct.org or call 2-1-1 to find available locations. Transportation can be provided if necessary.

Below is a list of warming centers and emergency shelters around Stamford:

Stamford Winter Storm Resources

The storm and low temperatures over the next few days will cause dangerous weather conditions. During any urgent situation and emergency, contact 9-1-1.

The Stamford Police Department has a non-emergency line residents can contact at 203-977-4444 . Contact the non-emergency line to report outages, for information on open warming centers, and other non-emergency services.

If you need to report a power outage in your neighborhood with Eversource, click here to submit a report.

Department of Social Services SNAP Update

Connecticut passed new legislation requiring the Department of Social Services to spread out 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. SNAP users can expect this change to begin on March 1st, 2026.

Access Health CT Open Enrollment Final Deadline

Access Health CT (AHCT), Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace, announced that the final deadline to enroll in a health or dental plan for coverage beginning on February 1st, 2026, has been extended to Saturday, January 31.

Access Health CT is working with state officials on a plan to implement the new state subsidy program that will lower costs for eligible Connecticut residents who purchase their health insurance through the exchange.

Some customers might 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).

To learn more about the enrollment process and to find the plan that is right for you, visit Access Health CT's website.

Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program

The Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program, administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), is designed to support diverse students who graduate from public high schools in priority school districts and enroll in teacher preparation programs.

The program offers up to $10,000 annually for tuition, with the application deadline set for February 6, 2026. This initiative is part of the state's broader efforts to diversify the educator workforce and address the teacher shortage.

The most current list of Alliance School Districts (2025-26) is HERE. Apply HERE.

Addressing Federal Student Loan Changes

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act dramatically restructures federal student lending by altering borrowing limits, eliminating key loan programs, and accelerating repayment timelines.

Key changes include:

Stricter limits on federal student borrowing
Elimination of the Graduate PLUS Student Loan Program
Phaseout of existing income-driven repayment plans

Beginning July 1, 2026, a substantially narrower set of repayment options for new federal loans comes into play.

Starting in July, students enrolled in programs designated as "professional degrees" will face an annual borrowing cap of $50,000 per year or $200,000 total.

Students in other graduate programs will be limited to $20,500 per year or $100,000 total. Notably, nursing degrees, along with degrees in physical therapy, public health, social work, and education, were excluded from the professional designation, despite requiring extensive training, licensure, and certification.

These changes raise serious concerns. It is not possible to strengthen our nursing workforce while simultaneously restricting access to the education required to enter the profession. Limiting federal loan availability threatens the pipeline of trained health care professionals and risks exacerbating existing workforce shortages and barriers to care.

In response, my colleagues and I are proposing the creation of a new state-level student loan program and expanded (change to expanding) access to the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA) during the upcoming legislative session.

CHESLA is a state-created, nonprofit agency providing affordable financing, loans, scholarships, and financial literacy resources to help Connecticut students and families pay for college and manage student debt.

By establishing a state-level graduate loan program, we can protect students, strengthen our workforce, and ensure that higher education remains a pathway to opportunity, not a barrier, for the professionals our communities urgently rely upon.

The Yellow Envelope Program

Connecticut’s Yellow Envelope Program is about ensuring that everyday interactions are safer and more respectful for people with physical or cognitive disabilities.

Starting this year, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles will begin providing Yellow Envelopes as part of a larger education and training effort for first responders across the state.

This program helps bridge gaps in high-stress moments, when some individuals may need additional tools for disabilities that are not immediately visible. In doing so, the program promotes understanding, patience, and safer outcomes for everyone involved.

The Yellow Envelope was modeled after the already-established blue envelope initiative, which started in 2020 and was aimed exclusively to support people with autism. Connecticut also has a green envelopes program, started in 2005, for drivers who are deaf or hard of hearing.

For more information, please click HERE.

Connecticut Ranked a Top 5 Healthiest State

Connecticut was recently ranked the 4th Healthiest State in the Nation by the United Health Foundation.

This score is determined by data collection in areas related to social and economic factors, physical environment, access to healthcare, health outcomes, and behavior.