2026 Session: Big Wins on Protecting Democracy, Voting Rights, Affordability, and Education

August 4, 2026

You may have recently received a mailer highlighting some of our accomplishments from the 2026 legislative session. In case you missed it, I would like to share some of the important steps we took to strengthen our democracy, lower costs for families, and invest in Connecticut’s future. 

I was proud to co-author and help lead passage of landmark legislation expanding voting rights and protecting our elections from abuses by the Trump administration. This new law implements Absentee Voting for All with modernized processes like ballot tracking and ballot curing, while strengthening protections against voter intimidation and election interference.
It also bans ICE, military personnel, or other federal agents from operating within 250 feet of polling places and other sensitive election sites unless specifically authorized by election officials.

We also took meaningful action to make Connecticut more affordable by:

  • Providing $100 million in new municipal aid to prevent property tax increases
  • Expanding affordable child care opportunities for all
  • Creating a family caregiver tax credit for residents caring for a loved one
  • Giving the state more authority to review and negotiate lower prescription drug prices
  • Protecting nursing homes from private-equity owners that prioritize profits over patient care

Our bipartisan budget also makes significant investments in education by:

  • Providing $12 million for universal free school breakfast
  • Increasing funding for our public schools through Connecticut’s education funding formula
  • Investing millions in school construction projects to modernize learning environments

Additionally, we continued our commitment to responsible budgeting by prepaying another $1 billion in long-term debt, adding $50 million to our emergency federal response fund, and strengthening our Rainy Day Fund to better prepare for future challenges.

These accomplishments reflect our commitment to protecting fundamental rights, supporting working families, strengthening public education, and maintaining Connecticut's strong fiscal foundation.
Click here to read my complete 2026 legislative session newsletter