Robin Comey

I hope this message finds you and your family well. The close of this legislative session marks meaningful progress for our community. In its final days, we passed a state budget that directs increased education funding and municipal aid to Branford helping to strengthen schools, support local services, and provide relief to taxpayers.

At the same time, we advanced forward-looking policies regarding online safety and consumer data privacy as well as to expand investments in renewable energy for a more sustainable future. These initiatives position our state to better meet today’s challenges while building a more secure and sustainable future for generations to come.

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

• Around Town
• End of Session Wrap-Up
• Community Events

As part of the state budget approved by both the House and Senate I am pleased to announce that $221,425 of additional funding has been secured for the Town of Branford.

Branford received $150,914 in supplemental education aid and $70,511 in town aid for a total of $221,425 increase in state funding for the fiscal year 2027 budget adjustment.

The funding reflects the House strong commitment to prioritizing education and delivering essential assistance to municipalities facing fiscal challenges.

Branford has also secured a commitment from the state for a substantial and meaningful school construction reimbursement rate. This was a heavy lift for the delegation and I am proud to be able to maximize available state resources to offset the upcoming costs associated with improvements for the two elementary schools as the long term vision of Branford Public Schools is realized.

I was honored to receive the Children’s Champion Award from the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance, recognizing my leadership and sustained commitment to advancing policies that support young children, strengthen families, and empower early childhood educators across our state. This recognition reflects not only my work, but a broader effort to expand access to affordable, high-quality early care and education, invest in the early childhood workforce, and ensure every child in Connecticut has a strong and equitable start.

On Wednesday, I cast the lone Democratic “NO” vote on a final budget amendment. I rose on the House floor to oppose the removal of language that would have ensured stakeholders outside of New Haven and East Haven maintained a voice on the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority in perpetuity. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.

Branford has not been part of the formal MOU process, so I had already been considering how we could secure a meaningful voice in this process moving forward. Let me explain.

The bill originally included a detailed agreement outlining the membership structure of the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority. I was grateful to learn that two positions would be allocated through SCRCOG to represent 12 surrounding towns. I had already spoken with First Selectman Josh Brooks, and we agreed to work together through SCRCOG to advocate for a Branford appointment.

Unfortunately, new language added through a late amendment stipulated that the two SCRCOG positions would terminate 30 days after local zoning approval. At that point, those seats would be reallocated for appointment by East Haven.
I raised this issue on the House floor, expressed my deep concerns, and ultimately became the lone Democratic “NO” vote on the bill. Despite my objections, the amendment passed without my support.

I will now have to rethink how Branford can secure a long-term voice on this Authority, and I plan to continue advocating to the Governor and others for continued regional representation. None of these changes will happen immediately, so there is still time for residents to make their voices heard.

I remain committed to ensuring that Branford’s voice, and the voices of our surrounding communities continues to be heard throughout this process.

After months of negotiation, House Democrats shepherded passage of a bipartisan budget demonstrating that compromise remains the most effective way to govern.

Together, we produced a 2027 budget that significantly boosts support for the state’s education system, increases crucial investments in housing and transportation, supports town and city budgets, and more, all while safeguarding the state's strong fiscal outlook, including $1 billion toward paying down long-term debt.

This budget includes:

• Over $300 million relief package for cities, towns, and schools
• $190 million in direct support for schools
• $100 million to address local tax increases
• $12 million to establish universal free school breakfast programs across the state
• Expanded grants for successful special education programs
• Numerous grants to towns to address the rising costs associated with construction and purchasing
• $4 million to help communities where three hospitals abruptly came off the tax rolls

A historic agreement with our hospitals:

• Providing them with much-needed tax relief
• Maximizing federal funding for health care
• Setting up a system to address rising costs

More investments in transportation options for our residents:

• Increased funding for Shoreline East rail
• Funded successful "micro-transit" public transportation programs
• Helped prevent hikes in bus fares

Making Connecticut more affordable for working families:

• Expanding sales tax-free week to include clothing, shoes, and backpacks under $300 (from $100)
• Making basic school supplies tax-free, including backpacks, lunchboxes, notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, rulers, and paper
• Creating a family caregiver tax credit for residents caring for a loved one

Investing in Connecticut businesses and job growth:

• Helping small businesses offer health care support by providing a tax credit when they contribute toward employees’ individual health insurance coverage.
• Supporting small businesses and biotech companies through a new research and development tax credit to help them grow and create jobs in our state

Taking Aim at Property Taxes:

• $162M new Education Equalization Grant to address underfunding in our current school funding formula
• Additional 2% for the towns that have seen recent population decreases
• $100M in new funding to cities and towns

Connecticut residents made a call for help in many areas. Connecticut lawmakers heard it and answered in a strong, bipartisan way.

The House passed Senate Bill 5: An Act Concerning Online Safety. The C.A.R.T. Act creates clear standards for powerful AI systems, while preparing Connecticut's residents, workers, students, small businesses, public agencies, and institutions for an AI-driven economy.
 
AI is already affecting our economy, workplaces, online platforms, and the information Connecticut residents encounter every day. Senate Bill 5 responds to the new reality of AI through targeted protections, transparency for consumers, and system accountability.

This legislation targets areas where AI is making a meaningful impact on residents' lives, including employment-related automated decision tools, consumer disclosures, synthetic media provenance, youth online safety, and workforce preparation.
 
Connecticut residents are already being impacted by AI systems. It is our state's responsibility to take action to set clear expectations to keep residents protected from harmful AI practices.

This bill makes it easier to exercise your right to delete your data from data brokers and people tracking websites and prevents predatory surveillance pricing. As technology evolves, our laws must evolve with it. Senate Bill 4 takes critical action to strengthen privacy protections, promote transparency, and ensure Connecticut consumers are treated fairly.

Senate Bill 4 will target the following specific threats to consumer privacy:

• Data brokers: Consumers may request, at no cost, the deletion of any personal data collected by a data broker.
• Dynamic pricing: Strict disclosure requirements apply when businesses use algorithmic pricing to increase prices.
• Geolocation data: Controllers and processors are banned from selling or sharing precise geolocation data.
• Genetic Testing: Consumers would have the right to their own genetic data when using direct to consumer genetic testing services and create more transparency in their policies.
• Volume of Ads: Streaming platforms cannot transmit the audio of any commercial advertisement at a volume that is louder than the volume established by the Federal Communications Commission for television commercials.

Senate Bills 4 and 5 now move to the Governor's desk to be signed into law.

Connecticut has strived to be a leader in renewable energy, and this approach ensures we keep moving forward while prioritizing affordability. House Bill 5340: An Act Concerning Renewable Power Generation, modernizes Connecticut’s renewable energy programs by introducing measures meant to make them more reliable, consistent and flexible to economic fluctuations.

This bill will:

• Create clear annual megawatt and budget targets so renewable energy programs remain financially sustainable, and ratepayer impacts stay predictable and focus on investments that result in savings for ratepayers holistically
• Give state regulators the flexibility to adjust programs year-to-year to remain within overall budget limits instead of being tied to rigid annual caps that may not reflect market conditions
• Create dedicated solar rates for low-income residents, residents in distressed municipalities, and affordable multifamily housing residents
• Encourage municipalities to adopt an existing streamlined solar permitting platform (Solar APP +) to help simplify and speed up the permitting process

As electricity demand grows, we must ensure that our energy programs are cost effective and efficient.