Legislative Update 2.9

February 9, 2026

Greetings Community,

We're back in session. And the good news is, during Week 1, the House and Senate voted to extend funding, using a $500 million emergency fund created in November, to offset the ridiculous funding cuts to critical programs for seniors, children, and families by our own federal government.

You will be able to track this work and everything we do, and even participate in the 2026 legislative session yourself, through a public hearing. I've included a section below that provides all the details. I've also kept the Major Issues section in, as a refresher on what we may address this session.

Access Health CT kicked off a Special Enrollment Period on Feb.1. More details are below.

I am also providing some great news from the state's Student Loan Reimbursement Program, as well as some scholarship opportunities for high school seniors.

Please feel free to contact me at the Capitol at 1-800-842-8267 or by email at Trenee.McGee@cga.ct.gov if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Trenee McGee

Thank You for Attending our Town Hall

Thank you for attending our town hall! These opportunities allow us to hear from you and provide a space to share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas for us to become more effective in representing you.

Tracking Bills on CGA Website

It's easier than ever to follow along and get involved. There are several resources you can utilize that will help you stay updated on the legislative process as it unfolds in Hartford.

Here's how you can stay connected and actively participate:

The Office of Legislative Research (OLR) provides nonpartisan and unbiased research to members of the General Assembly and its staff. Part of OLR's duties include writing bill analyses, which are summaries of bills in plain language.
You can view the Connecticut General Assembly's upcoming events by checking out its schedule on the CGA official website.
Follow CT-N for live coverage of committee meetings, press conferences, as well as House and Senate floor debates.
Click here to register to monitor any bill's journey as it goes through the legislative process. By signing up, you can enter the bill number and receive real-time updates. Stay informed with email notifications whenever there's a change.
Click here for information on how to testify on a bill at a public hearing.

Together, we can ensure all voices are heard.

Issues We May Tackle During 2026 Session

I've included the Office of Legislative Research's Major Issues Report again this week. It includes a look at some of the issues we may face during the 2026 legislative session, which began last Wednesday.

New AHCT Special Enrollment Period Has Begun

Access Health CT has opened a Special Enrollment Period for eligible customers to enroll in health coverage with the new state subsidy.The Special Enrollment Period end date will be determined.

Customers who qualify for this Special Enrollment Period include:

Households with an annual income between 100% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), who are not already enrolled in the Covered CT Program. These customers will receive a state subsidy to replace 100% of the expired federal enhanced premium tax credit amounts.
Households with an annual income over 400% and up to 500% FPL. These customers will receive a state subsidy to replace 50% of the expired federal enhanced premium tax credit amounts.

Eligible customers who have already enrolled or plan to enroll in a 2026 health plan will see a credit applied to their carrier bill.

It’s important to note that while customers will not see the state subsidy amount in AHCT’s online system until all updates have been made in the coming weeks, all eligible customers will soon receive a notice in the mail from AHCT with the amount of their state subsidy.

Insurance companies will send consumers updated premium bills with the credit for the state subsidy amount. This manual process will begin soon, in advance of the system updates to be implemented in the coming weeks.

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

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 working with a Certified Broker in their area.

AHCT has expanded its Navigator program to include six locations around the state and introduced a new Mobile Enrollment Team that supports community events and assists with in-person enrollment, available in English and Spanish.

To get help over the phone, customers can call 1-855-805-4325 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Help is available in over 100 languages.

Customers who are deaf or hearing-impaired may use a TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator.

For free help online, customers can visit AccessHealthCT.com. They can also chat live with a customer service representative by clicking the “Live Chat” icon on the website. Live chat is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Student Loan Reimbursement Program Good News

The Connecticut Student Loan Reimbursement Program has opened a new grant round and is now accepting applications for student loan payments that were made during the 2025 calendar year.

Since launching its first grant round in January 2025, the program has awarded more than $2.2 million in reimbursements to borrowers statewide.

Eligible applicants can apply for reimbursement grants of up to $5,000 per year, with a maximum reimbursement of $20,000 over four years. Under the program, a new grant round launches each year, providing reimbursements for payments made during the preceding calendar year.

Eligible applicants may qualify if they:

Are Connecticut residents and meet program residency requirements
Made qualifying student loan payments during the 2025 calendar year
Earned a degree from a Connecticut institution of higher education or completed a state-approved program required for professional licensure or certification
Meet income limits of $125,000 for single filers or $175,000 for married filers
Completed required community service or qualified for a hardship waiver in certain circumstances

Applications must be submitted online through the CT Scholars portal, where applicants need to complete an application and upload required documentation. Applications will be reviewed on a first come first serve basis through December 2026 or until funds are exhausted.

Click here for application instructions. Questions regarding the program and the application process can be directed to OHE.SLRP@ct.gov.

Chime Scholarships Available

Here's some exciting news!

Chime, a leading consumer financial technology company, has announced that the Chime Scholars Foundation has opened applications for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Aspiring scholars can now apply for scholarships of up to $20,000 to support their education, paving the way for greater career opportunities and higher earnings.

The scholarship program is open to students of all backgrounds and stages of life, and it supports a wide range of educational pathways, including traditional college degrees, apprenticeships, trade schools, and technical certifications.

Since 2022, CSF has provided $7 million in scholarship funding to over 1,000 students.

Last year alone, CSF welcomed its largest cohort of scholars to date, awarding more than $3 million in scholarships to 800 students for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Reminder: West Haven Public Library Scholarship

Applications are being accepted through March 31! Graduating seniors who live in West Haven are eligible to apply. Please see the flyer below for more details.

WBDC Grant Opportunities

The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) announced the next round of Ignite and Child Care Business Grant Programs.

The Ignite Grant Program is designed to help women-owned businesses grow. The program offers grants of up to $10,000 to women-owned businesses in the state of Connecticut who have been in business for 2 or more years and have revenues between $25K and $2 million.

The application period for Ignite grants runs through March 18th. You can find additional information on Ignite here. 

The Child Care Business Opportunity Fund, offered in partnership with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC), provides grants of up to $25,000 to qualified licensed and aspiring child care businesses.

The program offers grants targeting different stages of business, from start-ups to those ready to expand.

The application period for Child Care Business grants runs from February 1st through February 28th. You can find more information on the Child Care Business Opportunity Fund grants here.

Information sessions for both grant programs are scheduled throughout the application periods.

These sessions will help applicants understand the grant requirements and provide an opportunity for those interested to ask questions about the grants. Interested applicants can register for a live information session here.

February: A Month of Awareness...

Heart disease is often preventable, but remains the top killer in the U.S. Here are some simple ways to promote heart health today:

• Get CPR Certified
• Exercise Regularly & Manage your Stress
• Keep Track of your cholesterol
• Know your numbers! Learn how to self-measure your own blood pressure

...And Celebration

Simply put, Black history is American history!

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.