Kicking off the Legislative Session, Severe Cold Weather Protocol, and more

February 6, 2026



 

View this email in your browser

Dear Neighbor,

This Wednesday was opening day of the 2026 Legislative session. My colleagues and I are gearing up for a busy short session, working hard to pass critical legislation through May 6th. It is truly an honor and a privilege to serve Bridgeport in the Connecticut General Assembly.  

2026 looks to be a critical year for our state. I look forward to tackling issues that will benefit our community as well as the state as a whole. Thank you to everyone in the 124th District who has reached out to my office over the past few weeks.  If you have any questions or if my office can be of assistance to you, please reach out to 860-240-8585 or email me at andre.baker@cga.ct.gov. 
 

Extended Severe Cold Weather Protocol

The governor has extended the state's Severe Cold Weather Protocol a second time, through Tuesday, February 10th at noon, marking the longest activation of this protocol in more than a decade.
 
Forecasts now show that bitterly cold weather will persist even longer than expected, with well below normal temperatures continuing into the middle of next week. Overnight lows over the next 10 days are projected to fall into the single digits, with several nights dipping below zero.
 
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.
 
Click HERE to learn more.  
Click here for a list of warming centers around Bridgeport
 

How to Stay Engaged with the Legislative Session
 

It's easier than ever to follow along and get involved this session. 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 their staff. Part of their duties includes writing bill analyses, which are summaries of bills in plain language. Click here to check out their website. 
  • You can view the Connecticut General Assembly's upcoming events by checking out its schedule on the CGA's official website. 
  • Follow CT-N for live coverage of committee meetings, as well as House and Senate floor debates. 
  • You can register to monitor any bill's journey 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 in the bill's progress. 
  • Click here for information on how to testify on a bill at a public hearing.
 

Black History Month

Each February, we celebrate Black History Month and honor the stories and lives that shape our world today.

Simply put, Black history is American history.
 

Access Health CT Special Enrollment Period

Access Health CT will offer a Special Enrollment Period for eligible customers to enroll in health coverage with the new state subsidy, starting Feb. 1st. The Special Enrollment Period end date will be determined.

The Special Enrollment Period is separate from the Open Enrollment Period.

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.
 
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 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. 
 

As always, please feel free to contact me at 800-842-8267 or by email at Andre.Baker@cga.ct.gov. And for news and legislative updates, please visit my official Facebook page.

Sincerely,

Andre Baker

Facebook
Facebook

Website
Website

Email
Email

Forward to a friend | Unsubscribe from this list | Update subscription preferences