I am deeply honored to have been named the Connecticut Library Association's 2026 Legislator of the Year. As a lover of books and libraries, this award is an especially meaningful one for me.
I received the award for my leadership, along with Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw, in authoring and leading passage of groundbreaking legislation to protect public libraries from being targeted with exploitative costs and terms of e-books and digital audiobook licenses. Sen. Tony Hwang was one of the initial proponents of the legislation.
| Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff and Senator Ceci Maher also received the award for their Right-to-Read legislation. That law safeguards public and school libraries from censorship, establishes transparent book challenge processes, and protects librarians from harassment. It ensures our libraries remain places of learning, exploration, and intellectual freedom. Because the Association had not presented these awards in significantly more than five years, we all received the 2026 award — making this moment even more meaningful. |
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| It was special to receive the award from Stamford's own Ferguson Library CEO Alice Knapp, whose leadership has exemplified the transformative power of libraries and reading, and helped make the Ferguson Library system such a gem. I am honored to stand with her and library leaders across Connecticut in defending and strengthening these vital institutions for generations to come. |
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| Libraries are community anchors that foster literacy, innovation, civic engagement, and opportunity for all. We must continue to support them — and never take them for granted. |
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