Roland Lemar

The House is BACK IN SESSION this Thursday, February 26th! After a busy start to the year, we are returning to the Capitol and gearing up for an active legislative stretch running through May 6th. During this time, we’ll be debating, refining, and voting on critical legislation that impacts communities across our state, from budget priorities and public policy to education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

This session is a key opportunity to move important bills forward, address pressing challenges, and shape the direction of our state for the months and years ahead. Committee meetings, public hearings, and floor debates will all play a vital role in the process.

Stay informed and engaged every step of the way by following the action live and on demand at CT-N. Tune in for gavel-to-gavel coverage, in-depth discussions, and the latest updates as decisions are made.

If you’re unable to attend the Virtual Town Hall, I’d be delighted to see you in person instead. I will be hosting an in-person Town Hall on Thursday, March 12, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at New Haven City Hall (165 Church Street).

Your voice and participation are incredibly important, and I truly hope you’ll be able to join me. I look forward to seeing you there!

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. 

Governor Ned Lamont announced $1.55 million in state funding to support the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchase and Assistance Grant program, ensuring continued access to Connecticut Grown products for food-insecure residents after recent federal funding cuts.

The program increases access to fresh, locally grown food while supporting Connecticut farmers and the state’s agricultural economy. Eligible entities, including food hubs, pantries, municipalities, community health centers, and nonprofits, may apply for grants ranging from $100,000 to $301,000.

Food insecurity remains a serious challenge in the state, affecting one in ten residents, including more than 100,000 children. Since 2022, the program has enabled eight statewide partners to purchase more than $5.6 million in products from 166 producers, distributing food through roughly 500 organizations across 121 cities and towns.

Click here to learn more and to apply for the grant program. Grant applications must be submitted to the Connecticut Department of Agriculture by March 11 at 4:00 p.m.

Beginning Sunday, March 1, important changes to Connecticut law will take effect regarding how the state will issue SNAP benefits. 

Under the new legislation, Connecticut will begin staggering the distribution of SNAP benefits throughout the first eight days of the month, rather than loading them primarily the first few days. This change is designed to:

• reduce congestion at grocery stores and retailers
• improve access to food
• create a smoother, more dignified experience for SNAP recipients

You’ll find additional details about how the new schedule works in the graphic below. For more information, please click here.