Special Education Reform for Connecticut

May 30, 2025


 
 

It is crunch time at the Capitol as we enter the final week of passing legislation before our deadline. The House passed a priority bill that will reform special education across the state. Please keep scrolling for a deep dive into how this legislation will address shortfalls in the special education system for students and teachers in Bridgeport.

We also approved a bill with the hopes of deterring street takeovers and illegal ATV use. I'll break down how the new legislation will crack down on those activities.

Here are the sections in this week's email:

  • Special Education Reform
  • Tackling Street Takeovers
  • Overhauling the State's Towing Law
  • Support for Survivors of Sexual Assault
 

Special Education Reform

For too long, Connecticut's special education model has faced fundamental flaws that prevented all students from receiving the proper education they deserve. With our recent passage of HB 5001: An Act Concerning the Quality and Delivery of Special Education Services in Connecticut, we are taking important steps to reform this system.

This bill, which passed 148-0 in the House on a bipartisan basis, makes historic investments for students in special education, delivers better access to services, and provides cost controls and greater transparency. 

Key provisions of the bill include:

  • Historic investment in our students, including $30 million for the Special Education Expansion and Development (SEED) grant program, which will help build capacity to serve students closer to home.
  • Prioritizing better access to services through enhanced development screenings, behavioral assessment and intervention plans, access to remedial classes in higher education, and involvement of parents and local school districts before a student is moved from their school.
  • Reining in costs by regulating third party rate processes and developing new billing and licensing standards.
  • Increasing oversight through on-site compliance visits and detailed system-wide reporting to reduce unpredictability and improve accountability.

Children are our future, and it is our responsibility to provide them a proper education. In a state that has one of the best K-12 public school systems in the country. This legislation makes sure our special education program maintains that same level of quality.

The bill must now pass the Senate before the governor can sign it into law. 
 

Tackling Street Takeovers
We’re cracking down on street takeovers and the illegal use of All Terrain Vehicles (ATV). This activity is not only disruptive, but dangerous.

House Democrats voted on Wednesday to authorize steep fines, vehicle seizures, and automatic license suspensions.

This legislation targets both participants and organizers, aiming to curb dangerous road behavior with tougher enforcement and penalties.
 

Overhauling the State’s Towing Law

We approved a bill to overhaul the state’s towing law, making it harder to tow vehicles from private property and easier for drivers to retrieve their vehicles after a tow. 

House Bill 7162 overhauls the state’s 100-year-old towing statutes creating massive reforms to towing procedures from private property and rate increases for highway tows that typically follow car accidents.

Tow companies are now required to accept credit cards and they are not allowed to tow vehicles quickly just because of an expired parking permit or registration. Vehicles can’t be towed from private property without notice unless they’re blocking traffic, fire hydrants, or parked in an accessible space.

The bill takes several steps to make it easier for people to get their towed vehicles back and requires towing companies to take more time and increase documentation during the sale process.
 

Support for Survivors of Sexual Assault
We approved a reform to stop the weaponization of our legal system by using defamation lawsuits to silence victims. Communications that detail sexual discrimination, harassment or assault will now be kept confidential in civil court. This bill will serve as a a great tool of defense for victims.

House Bill 7134 now heads to the State Senate, which has until June 4 at midnight to advance the measure.