SENATOR ANWAR LEADS SENATE IN RESTRICTING PRIVATE EQUITY PRESENCE IN CONNECTICUT HEALTH CARE

Posted on April 22, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969

April 22, 2026

SENATOR ANWAR LEADS SENATE IN RESTRICTING PRIVATE EQUITY PRESENCE IN CONNECTICUT HEALTH CARE

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee, led the Senate’s advancement of legislation seeking to limit private equity’s presence in Connecticut health care.

“In recent years, private equity ownership in Connecticut healthcare harmed the care patients received and the services provided at several hospitals, an unacceptable lapse in the care many in their communities relied on,” said Sen. Anwar. “This legislation will take action to counter past mistakes by the state by limiting hospitals from entering sale-leaseback transactions and requiring hospitals to attest private equity presence in their ownership. These measures will help prevent the damage our state experienced in the past from bad-faith health care ownership.”

“Connecticut came dangerously close to watching a rogue private equity firm only interested in control of the board and stripping hospitals of their assets sacrifice the quality of care from hospitals that our communities depend on. Profits-over-people is not a health care policy — it is a predatory model, and it has no place in our state’s hospitals. This bill limits private equity ownership, restricts the financial arrangements that allow owners to drain resources from the very hospitals they are supposed to steward, and makes clear that Connecticut puts patients first. We will not allow Wall Street to treat our hospitals as profit centers at the expense of the people who need care,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk).

Senate Bill 196 takes two specific steps to limit private equity presence in Connecticut healthcare. First, it will prevent sale-leaseback transactions on or after July 1, 2027 among Connecticut hospitals on their main campuses, ending a practice that previously allowed private equity owners to make significant money while leaving hospitals in weaker financial position. Those transactions would see hospitals sell their properties to another party, then lease back that land over time.

As of February 2027, the bill would require hospitals to annually attest to the Department of Public Health that private equity does not have controlling interest in their main campus operations or is allowed to influence the hospital’s adoption of policies interfering with clinicians’ judgment or decisions.

Violations would lead to civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation. The bill does allow agreements with physician/physician group service agreements and hospital coordination with parent health care systems.

The bill was a priority for many lawmakers including Sen. Anwar because of recent history in the state’s health care field. Most prominently, the mismanagement of three Connecticut hospitals by for-profit Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. saw the quality of service decline at those institutions until Prospect’s 2025 bankruptcy. Manchester Memorial and Rockville Memorial Hospitals were purchased by Hartford Healthcare, while Waterbury Hospital was acquired by UConn Health, in recent months.

Among other actions, Prospect engaged in sale-leaseback agreements for its three hospitals, increasing its revenue while leaving the hospitals themselves to pay increased costs, directly targeted by the bill.

The Connecticut Hospital Association endorsed the legislation, noting “the damage that unregulated private equity investment has caused… when it controls a healthcare facility.” It noted the bill is “measured” in its approach and puts controls in place without jeopardizing healthcare investments.

The Private Equity Stakeholder Project testified that SB 196 can join a growing trend opposing private equity “by increasing its oversight authority over sale-leaseback transactions and strengthening its laws against corporate practice of medicine abuse.

The Senate advanced Senate Bill 196 by a 27-9 vote after it previously passed the Public Health Committee by a 29-2 tally in March. It next heads to the House floor for further consideration.

SENATOR MAHER LEADS SENATE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION INCREASING YOUTH CAMP SAFETY

Posted on April 22, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

SENATOR MAHER LEADS SENATE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION INCREASING YOUTH CAMP SAFETY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Today, State Senator Ceci Maher (D-Wilton), Senate Chair of the Committee on Children led the Senate in the passage of legislation enhancing the safety of municipal youth camps in Connecticut.

“We know youth camps serve an important role in enriching children’s lives, providing an opportunity for outdoor experiences, pro-social connections with peers, access to positive role models and mentoring from camp counselors, and positive summer memories. Municipal camps also support families and provide much needed childcare for parents at an affordable rate, said Sen. Maher. “This bill will provide us with more information about the number of municipal camps operating in Connecticut, the number of children served, the safety protocols in place, and additional information on camps that currently doesn’t exist, helping to create a snapshot of how many children are being served in municipal camps throughout the state.”

Under Senate Bill 157, the Office of Early Childhood would work alongside other associations to administer a survey to municipal youth camps in the state. That survey will ask them about their facilities and settings, the number and age range of children served by each camp, number of employees, operating schedule, employee safety training, administration of medication to children, acceptance of child care aid subsidies, maintenance of written policies and procedures regarding employee hiring and compliance with youth camp regulations.

The bill also would require paid youth camp directors, assistant directors and staff members of municipal camps, 21 or older, to serve as mandated reporters and take mandated reporter training to be educated on how to follow the law in reporting crimes in the case of suspected abuse or neglect.

The bill received support from organizations including the CT Council of Small Towns, Office of Early Childhood, CT Camping Association, Office of the Child Advocate, and the Connecticut Alliance of YMCAs. The bill will bring multiple camp focused and town focused entities together to develop a the municipal camp survey.

SENATOR NEEDLEMAN HIGHLIGHTS ELECTRIC RATE ADJUSTMENT REDUCING ELECTRIC BILLS BY UP TO $34/MONTH

Posted on April 22, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

SENATOR NEEDLEMAN HIGHLIGHTS ELECTRIC RATE ADJUSTMENT REDUCING ELECTRIC BILLS BY UP TO $34/MONTH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969
April 22, 2026

SENATOR NEEDLEMAN HIGHLIGHTS ELECTRIC RATE ADJUSTMENT REDUCING ELECTRIC BILLS BY UP TO $34/MONTH

Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) highlighted the confirmation of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s electric rate adjustment for state utility companies that will save customers an average of $30-34 per month for a customer using an average of 700 kilowatts per month.

Under the approved adjustment, starting May 1, the average Eversource customer will see rates reduced by 4.3 per kilowatt hour, saving $30 per month, while United Illuminating customers will see rates fall about 4.9 cents per kilowatt hour, an average monthly reduction of about $34.

“I’m heartened to see this rate adjustment approved, with rates expected to be even lower than initially expected in March,” said Sen. Needleman. “It’s remarkable to see the public benefits charge go negative and provide direct relief for ratepayers. This is further evidence the state’s continued efforts to reduce utility costs for ratepayers is bearing fruit. Legislators are focused on building on this momentum, delivering better rates to Connecticut households at a time when they need help.”

The public benefits charge on ratepayer bills is expected to go negative – meaning it will reduce, not increase, owed money on bills – through at least September.

The adjustment will remain in place for one year. The price reduction is largely attributed to reductions in the public benefits charge, with nuclear energy contracts in particular saving significant amounts for consumers. Other costs being shifted to bonding in legislation passed in recent years further support the price decrease.

Senator Honig Celebrates Senate Passage of Bill to Open Canton Land for River Access and Community Events

Posted on April 22, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Senator Honig Celebrates Senate Passage of Bill to Open Canton Land for River Access and Community Events

HARTFORD — Senator Paul Honig (D-Harwinton) voted Wednesday for passage of Senate Bill 520, legislation he co-sponsored to open a parcel of state land at 37 Bridge Street in Canton to public use, improving access to the river, expanding parking, and creating space for town-wide events and the Rails to Trails corridor.

“The town of Canton came to me with a smart plan for this property and asked for help making it a reality,” Senator Honig said. “This change will clear the way for better river access, more parking, a gathering space for community events, and a stronger connection to the Rails to Trails corridor. The Canton community will benefit from this project and I’m glad I could do my part to make it happen.”

Under a 2024 special act, the state was required to convey the property outright to Canton. The town still wants to use the land, but the conveyance as structured would have required bringing additional abutting properties into the process, creating complications for neighboring property owners. A lease arrangement negotiated with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection achieves the same goal without those complications.

Senator Honig and Representative Eleni Kavros DeGraw testified in support of the bill at a public hearing on April 1 before the Government Oversight Committee, which advanced it on a unanimous vote on April 6.

Wednesday’s unanimous vote by the state Senate sends the bill to the House of Representatives for consideration before the legislative session’s May 6 adjournment date.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hugh McQuaid | hugh.mcquaid@cga.ct.gov |

SENATOR SLAP LEADS SENATE PASSAGE OF BILL INSTITUTING PROBLEM GAMBLING PROGRAMS AT STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Posted on April 22, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

SENATOR SLAP LEADS SENATE PASSAGE OF BILL INSTITUTING PROBLEM GAMBLING PROGRAMS AT STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

April 22, 2026

Today, State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), Senate Chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, led the Senate’s passage of legislation requiring on-campus programs regarding problem gambling at public Connecticut colleges and universities.

“Problem gambling is a serious problem, especially for college students who are exposed to introductory offers and advertising telling them they can win big, which can set them up for significant losses,” said Sen. Slap. “This bill will ensure students struggling with problem gambling can receive the aid they need on their college campuses. Adding these resources will help protect students from dangerous gambling enticement.”

Since the legalization of gambling in many states, including in Connecticut in 2021, reports of problem gambling among the public have risen, with college students particularly vulnerable.

A UConn study from 2025 found 72% of Connecticut undergraduates reported gambling in the last year, and while 8.3% exhibited symptoms of problem gambling, less than 1% received help. About 17% of students reported moderate problem gambling.

Senate Bill 381 would require Connecticut’s public colleges and universities to provide a program on-campus about problem gambling at least once per academic year, which includes information about on-campus and community resources helping treat and rehabilitate those struggling.

That program will likely develop through contracting with nonprofits; institutions may give priority to nonprofit organizations receiving support from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services’ compulsive gambling treatment and rehabilitation program.

The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance and Mohegan Tribe were among the organizations to endorse the legislation. The Council noted student gambling has close ties to student well-being, with poorer academic outcomes and overall campus success struggling as a result.

The Alliance noted in testimony that 40% of problem gamblers calling the state’s gambling helpline are from someone in their 20s and added the growth of Polymarket and Kalshi, among other unregulated “prediction markets” allowing gambling on real-world outcomes of various events, is making the problem worse. The Mohegan Tribe noted gaming needs to be offered in a way prioritizing health and well-being, calling the legislation a “sensible measure.”

The bill passed with a 36-0 vote after passing the Higher Education Committee by a 17-1 vote. It now heads to the House for further consideration.

Senator Hartley Leads Senate Passage of Bill to Establish Statewide Tourism Marketing Working Group

Posted on April 22, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Senator Hartley Leads Senate Passage of Bill to Establish Statewide Tourism Marketing Working Group

State Senator Joan Hartley (D-Waterbury), Chair of the Commerce Committee, led senate passage of a bill that will establish a working group to study statewide marketing and tourism in the state.

Senate Bill 305, ‘An Act Establishing a Working Group to Study State-Wide Marketing and Tourism in the State,’ creates a working group charged with conducting a comprehensive review of investment and participation in statewide marketing and tourism efforts across Connecticut.

“Connecticut has so much to offer visitors from across the country and around the world and it’s critical that we take a hard look at how we’re promoting our state and where we’re investing our resources,” said Senator Hartley. “This working group will bring the right people forward to ensure Connecticut has a strong, coordinated strategy to grow our tourism economy and support the businesses and communities that depend on it.”

The working group will bring together key stakeholders from state government and the tourism industry, including representatives from the Commerce Committee, the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Office of Policy and Management, the Office of the Governor, and the Connecticut Tourism Council.

The working group will be administered by the Commerce Committee.

Senator Cohen Votes to Guard Against AI Harms, Prepare Connecticut Workers for a Changing Economy

Posted on April 22, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Senator Cohen Votes to Guard Against AI Harms, Prepare Connecticut Workers for a Changing Economy

HARTFORD – Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford) today voted in favor of Senate Bill 5, legislation that protects Connecticut residents from AI harms through safeguards around AI chatbots and employment discrimination, while investing in workforce programs to prepare residents for an AI-driven economy.

“I have heard from parents throughout our district who are genuinely worried about the AI tools their children are using every day, and this legislation takes real steps to ensure those tools are not pushing young people in crisis toward harm,” Senator Cohen said. “We also know that workers across our communities deserve to know when AI is influencing decisions impacting their livelihoods, and this bill ensures they are not left in the dark. This technology will reshape how we work and live, and we owe it to Connecticut to stay ahead of it.”

Protection for Residents
The bill requires AI chatbot operators to make reasonable efforts to detect suicidal ideation or self-harm expressed by users and to respond with appropriate resources. It also requires employers to notify workers when AI is being used to make hiring and employment decisions, and prohibits employers from using AI tools that result in discriminatory outcomes.

These protections are especially urgent given how rapidly AI chatbots are being deployed without adequate safeguards. More than 70% of teenagers use AI companions, with about 50% doing so regularly, and there have been documented cases of chatbots encouraging and assisting minor users in attempting or completing suicide rather than directing them to mental health resources. Adults have been harmed as well. In Greenwich, a man killed his elderly mother and himself after an AI chatbot repeatedly validated his delusions and never directed him to mental health resources.

Empowering Connecticut’s Workforce
The bill also includes training and resources for nonprofits and small businesses to increase AI literacy, helping them apply efficiencies and compete in a quickly changing economy. Partnerships with the Department of Housing, the Labor Department, and the Secretary of State will connect residents to an AI Academy, equipping them with essential skills for a modern workplace. The bill also establishes an AI sandbox program to foster responsible innovation under appropriate regulatory oversight.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration prior to the legislative session’s May 6 deadline.

Senator Maroney Leads Passage of Bill to Protect Residents from AI Harms, Boost Workforce Readiness

Posted on April 21, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Senator Maroney Leads Passage of Bill to Protect Residents from AI Harms, Boost Workforce Readiness

Today, state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford), Chair of the General Law Committee, led Senate passage of a bill that will advance critical protections for Connecticut residents in the digital age.

Senate Bill 5, “An Act Concerning Online Safety,” addresses emerging harms from artificial intelligence, establishes workforce development programs, and positions Connecticut as a national leader in responsible AI policy.

“Today in Connecticut we acted to make sure that our residents are protected from online harms,” said Sen. Maroney. “We can no longer wait for DC to act. We put in safeguards to keep children and seniors safe from potential harms from chatbots, to ensure that employment decisions made using AI are fair and accurate, and made important steps towards making Connecticut the most AI literate workforce in the country.”

Protection for Residents
Senate Bill 5 advances critical AI legislation to protect Connecticut residents from emerging digital harms. It will require AI chatbot operators to make reasonable efforts to detect suicidal ideations or indicators of self-harm expressed by users and have a protocol to respond with appropriate resources.

This component of the bill is especially urgent given AI chatbot use trends and ongoing harms faced by vulnerable populations. These chatbots are being deployed and popularized rapidly without critical safeguards in place.

Safeguarding the mental health and safety of our young are at the heart of these components of the bill. More than 70% of teenagers use AI companions, with about 50% using them on a regular basis. There have been numerous cases in the U.S. of teenagers who have disclosed suicidality to AI chatbots who not only did not offer mental health resources but even encouraged and assisted minor users in attempting or completing suicide.

Adults have also been harmed due to AI chatbots. In Greenwich, Connecticut, a man killed his elderly mother and then himself after an AI chatbot repeatedly validated his mental health delusions and isolation. The chatbot encouraged him to distrust others and affirmed that they were conspiring against him, and apparently never directed him to mental health resources.

Other crucial protections include employment disclosures and discrimination. Employees deserve to be notified if AI is being used to make hiring and employment decisions, as these decisions greatly impact their careers and lives. Also, employers should not be able to use the deployment of AI decision technology for discriminatory employment decisions. If employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees, they should not be utilizing tools that have the same ultimate impact.

Empower and Promote a Responsible AI Workforce and Economic Development
Various programs and partnerships in this bill will ensure that residents are educated on technical skills so that our state is home to a robust AI talent network and working people are not left behind as our world quickly modernizes.

Training and information provided to nonprofits and small businesses will increase their AI literacy so they can apply efficiencies to their operations and function well in this new technological landscape.

Partnerships with the Department of Housing, Labor Department, and the Secretary of State will help connect Connecticut residents to the AI Academy, which will equip them with essential AI knowledge and skills to prosper in a modern workplace.

This bill will also establish an AI sandbox program. The program will provide an environment where development and collaboration can thrive, leading to breakthroughs and advancements while ensuring appropriate regulatory oversight.

The responsible use of AI also offers potential to enhance the efficiency of government and serve constituents. Programs and partnerships included in this bill will work toward modernizing our state government. Equipping Connecticut’s workforce with the skills and knowledge to utilize AI effectively is essential for realizing the full potential of this technology and ensuring a smooth and equitable transition into an AI economy. This legislation will ensure that residents are shielded from harmful AI models and that our state will be a leader in safe and innovative uses of AI.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michelle Rappaport | Michelle.Rappaport@cga.ct.gov | 860-240-8671

Senator Rahman Supports New Protections Against AI Discrimination and Harm

Posted on April 21, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Senator Rahman Supports New Protections Against AI Discrimination and Harm

HARTFORD – Senator MD Rahman (D-Manchester), Senate Chair of the Planning and Development Committee, today voted in favor of Senate Bill 5, legislation that protects Connecticut residents from AI harms through safeguards around AI chatbots and employment discrimination, while investing in workforce programs to prepare residents for an AI-driven economy.

“AI is moving faster than the guardrails around it, and that gap can put real people in Manchester, Glastonbury, Andover, and Bolton at risk,” Senator Rahman said. “This bill is a practical step that protects residents from discrimination in the workplace and ensures that someone in crisis gets directed to help, not deeper into harm. It also gives our small businesses and nonprofits the tools to compete in a changing economy, and that is how we build a stronger future for everyone.”

Protection for Residents

The bill requires AI chatbot operators to make reasonable efforts to detect suicidal ideation or self-harm expressed by users and to respond with appropriate resources. It also requires employers to notify workers when AI is being used to make hiring and employment decisions, and prohibits employers from using AI tools that result in discriminatory outcomes.

Empowering Connecticut’s Workforce

The bill also includes training and resources for nonprofits and small businesses to increase AI literacy, helping them apply efficiencies and compete in a quickly changing economy. Partnerships with the Department of Housing, the Labor Department, and the Secretary of State will connect residents to an AI Academy, equipping them with essential skills for a modern workplace. The bill also establishes an AI sandbox program to foster responsible innovation under appropriate regulatory oversight.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration prior to the legislative session’s May 6 deadline.

Senator Hochadel Votes to Protect Connecticut Families from AI Harms, Invest in Workers’ Future

Posted on April 21, 2026 by sdozapier@senatedems.ct.gov

Senator Hochadel Votes to Protect Connecticut Families from AI Harms, Invest in Workers’ Future

HARTFORD – Senator Jan Hochadel (D-Meriden) today voted in favor of Senate Bill 5, legislation that protects Connecticut residents from AI harms through safeguards around AI chatbots and employment discrimination, while investing in workforce programs to prepare residents for an AI-driven economy.

“As an educator, I’ve seen firsthand how quickly new technologies can reshape the lives of students and working families, and how much damage is done when those changes occur without guardrails,” Senator Hochadel said. “AI chatbots are already in the hands of teenagers across Meriden and every community in this state. Without proper safeguards, they can push vulnerable young people toward crisis rather than away from it, and workers can lose jobs to discriminatory algorithms they never knew were being used against them. This bill begins to build those safeguards, so no one is left behind by a technology they never had a say in.”

Protection for Residents The bill requires AI chatbot operators to make reasonable efforts to detect suicidal ideation or self-harm expressed by users and to respond with appropriate resources. It also requires employers to notify workers when AI is being used to make hiring and employment decisions, and prohibits employers from using AI tools that result in discriminatory outcomes.

Empowering Connecticut’s Workforce The bill also includes training and resources for nonprofits and small businesses to increase AI literacy, helping them apply efficiencies and compete in a quickly changing economy. Partnerships with the Department of Housing, the Labor Department, and the Secretary of State will connect residents to an AI Academy, equipping them with essential skills for a modern workplace. The bill also establishes an AI sandbox program to foster responsible innovation under appropriate regulatory oversight.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration prior to the legislative session’s May 6 deadline.