Month: August 2026

SENATOR NEEDLEMAN NAMED ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION BY CT LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS WITH PERFECT 2026 RECORD

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SENATOR NEEDLEMAN NAMED ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION BY CT LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS WITH PERFECT 2026 RECORD


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969
August 6, 2026
 
State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) recently earned a perfect 100% score from the Connecticut League of Conversation Voters and was named an Environmental Champion by the state, receiving the distinctions for his votes during the 2026 legislative session.

Sen. Needleman received this recognition for his support of legislation supporting environmental rights and efforts in Connecticut ranging from fighting aquatic invasive species in state waterways to supporting the expansion of solar programs expanding access to renewable energy.

“We’re in a vital time where we need to make sure our state is working toward the best possible future, and we need to take action to protect our environment in the process,” said Sen. Needleman. “I’m proud to have supported initiatives improving energy efficiency, access to solar power and bolstering our state’s capacity for future breakthroughs, and it’s heartening to receive this recognition from the CTLCV in turn.”

Sen. Needleman was one of 16 Senators to receive a perfect score from the CTLCV, all Democrats. His votes in support of recycling, reporting use of pesticides and improving the state’s waste management systems all contributed to his high marks.
 


SENATOR LESSER RECEIVES PERFECT 100% SCORE FROM CT LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS FOR HIS 2026 ENVIRONMENT VOTES

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SENATOR LESSER RECEIVES PERFECT 100% SCORE FROM CT LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS FOR HIS 2026 ENVIRONMENT VOTES

MIDDLETOWN – State Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) has received a perfect 100% score from the Connecticut League of Conversation Voters for his votes on environmental issues during the recently concluded 2026 legislative session.

Sen. Lesser received the CTLCV recognition for his support of legislation ranging from fighting aquatic invasive species in our waterways to supporting the expansion of solar programs that expand access to renewable energy, supporting recycling, reporting the use of pesticides, and improving Connecticut’s waste management systems.

“For all of the focus on budgets and state aid to cities and towns and tax policy, sometimes we forget about the overwhelming reason why so many people choose to stay and live right here in Connecticut: it’s because of our tremendous quality of life,” said Sen. Lesser. “Environmental protection and environmental policy and protecting green spaces contributes a great deal that quality of life, and I’m proud to be recognized by the CTLCV for my commitment to Connecticut’s environment.”

Sen. Lesser was one of 16 Democratic state senators to receive a perfect 100% score from the CTLCV. The scorecard can be found at: https://www.ctlcv.org/scorecard.html

SEN. SLAP WELCOMES NEW FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR CT RESIDENTS PUSHED OUT OF SNAP BY TRUMP AND D.C. REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING HUNDREDS OF WEST HARTFORD FAMILIES

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SEN. SLAP WELCOMES NEW FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR CT RESIDENTS PUSHED OUT OF SNAP BY TRUMP AND D.C. REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING HUNDREDS OF WEST HARTFORD FAMILIES

For Immediate Release                                                                  Contact
August 6, 2026                                                        Joe O’Leary 508-479-4969

State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) welcomed an announcement by Governor Ned Lamont that beginning August 4, new one-time grocery benefits in the amount of $300 each are being distributed to low-income Connecticut residents who have been pushed out of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to new changes implemented by the Trump regime in the Republican federal budget.

There are nearly 6,000 constituents receiving state SNAP benefits in Sen. Slap’s 5th State Senate District towns, including 3,070 in West Hartford. Reports indicate at least 35,000 state residents have been disconnected from their benefits in the last year, nearly 10% of all state recipients. As a result, hundreds of West Hartford families have likely lost support they rely on.

“Since the Trump administration took power last year, it continues to make short-sighted moves that hurt real people across our state and country. With millions nationally and tens of thousands locally disconnected from the resources they rely on, someone needs to stand up,” said Sen. Slap. “I’m glad Connecticut is taking action to support those impacted by these policy changes, helping people who are struggling.”

The $300 grocery benefits are being distributed as prepaid virtual grocery cards—not loaded onto existing EBT cards—through a partnership the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) arranged with Connecticut’s network of community action agencies, with support provided by the Connecticut Association for Community Action (CAFCA). Eligible residents are expected to be able to begin accessing the benefits starting today.

The benefits are being financed by $8.5 million in state funding that Governor Lamont approved several weeks ago using Connecticut’s Federal Cuts Response Fund. This recently created state fund was established by Governor Lamont and Democratic state legislators to ensure that Connecticut remains prepared to quickly respond to significant federal policy and funding changes affecting Connecticut residents, businesses, and communities.

“Connecticut will not stand by as the Trump administration uses hunger as a weapon against working families, veterans, and our most vulnerable populations,” Governor Lamont said. “These federal changes represent a cruel decision to pull food away from people who need it most. I am particularly troubled by the decision to eliminate the exemption for veterans who risked their lives for our country and are now having the rug pulled out from under them. Connecticut is providing this food assistance as a bridge to prevent people from going hungry as we help them navigate these federal changes. I am urging Congress to reverse these inhumane cuts so we can get groceries back on the tables of those who need it.”

Any individual in a household who lost SNAP eligibility due to the new federal changes—commonly referred to as ABAWD, or Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents requirements—since December 1, 2025, and who is no longer receiving SNAP, qualifies for the benefit. The benefit is available per individual, not per household, and the amount is the same for every eligible recipient.

Connecticut residents who received a DSS notice stating they do not meet the ABAWD requirements and who are identified in that notice as having reached their three-month SNAP benefit limit should reach out to their local community action agency about how to request the benefit. Eligibility will be confirmed at the time of request.

The new grocery benefit functions like a prepaid Mastercard or Visa and can be used at any food retailer that accepts standard credit cards. It does not expire, and any unused balance remains on the card until spent. The benefit is intended for SNAP-eligible food purchases.

 

SENATOR ANWAR NAMED ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION BY CT LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS WITH PERFECT 2026 RECORD

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Senator Anwar

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

August 6, 2026

SENATOR ANWAR NAMED ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION BY CT LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS WITH PERFECT 2026 RECORD

State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) recently earned a perfect 100% score from the Connecticut League of Conversation Voters and was named an Environmental Champion by the state, receiving the distinctions for his votes during the 2026 legislative session.

Sen. Anwar received this recognition for his support of legislation supporting environmental rights and efforts in Connecticut ranging from fighting aquatic invasive species in state waterways to supporting the expansion of solar programs expanding access to renewable energy.

“Our environment is a vital resource that we can’t take for granted. Given its effects on the air we breathe, our agriculture, our communities and our world, I’m committed to supporting our state for our health,” said Sen. Anwar. “I’m heartened to receive this support from the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters and will continue taking action to support and bolster our environmental protections.”

Sen. Anwar was one of 16 Senators to receive a perfect score from the CTLCV, all Democrats. His votes in support of recycling, reporting use of pesticides and improving the state’s waste management systems all contributed to his high marks.

SENATOR MARX NAMED ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION BY CT LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS WITH PERFECT 2026 RECORD

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SENATOR MARX NAMED ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION BY CT LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS WITH PERFECT 2026 RECORD

August 6, 2026
SENATOR MARX NAMED ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION BY CT LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS WITH PERFECT 2026 RECORD

State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London) recently earned a perfect 100% score from the Connecticut League of Conversation Voters and was named an Environmental Champion by the state, receiving the distinctions for her votes during the 2026 legislative session.

Sen. Marx received this recognition for her support of legislation supporting environmental rights and efforts in Connecticut ranging from fighting aquatic invasive species in state waterways to supporting the expansion of solar programs expanding access to renewable energy.

“With the Long Island Sound and numerous state parks right in our backyard, our region relies on our environment to provide beauty, recreational opportunity and clean air and water for our daily lives,” said Sen. Marx. “I am committed to protecting Connecticut’s environment the best I can and am grateful to the CTLCV for recognizing my efforts.”

Sen. Marx was one of 16 Senators to receive a perfect score from the CTLCV, all Democrats. Her votes in support of recycling, reporting use of pesticides and improving the state’s waste management systems all contributed to her high marks.

SENATOR SLAP RECEIVES PERFECT SCORE FROM 2026 SESSION FROM CT LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS

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SENATOR SLAP RECEIVES PERFECT SCORE FROM 2026 SESSION FROM CT LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS

For Immediate Release                                                                  Contact
August 6, 2026                                                        Joe O’Leary 508-479-4969

SENATOR SLAP RECEIVES PERFECT SCORE FROM 2026 SESSION FROM CT LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS
State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) recently earned a perfect 100% score from the Connecticut League of Conversation Voters, receiving the distinction for his votes during the 2026 legislative session.

Sen. Slap received this recognition for his support of legislation supporting environmental rights and efforts in Connecticut ranging from fighting aquatic invasive species in state waterways to supporting the expansion of solar programs expanding access to renewable energy.

“Our environment is a vital piece of our communities and our lives, and we need to continually make sure we’re protecting our waterways, our air and the natural beauty Connecticut is known for,” said Sen. Slap. “I’m proud to support our state’s environment and I’m grateful for the CTLCV’s recognition and support.”

Sen. Slap was one of 16 Senators to receive a perfect score from the CTLCV, all Democrats. His votes in support of recycling, reporting use of pesticides and improving the state’s waste management systems all contributed to his high marks.
 
 

Sen. Gadkar-Wilcox Welcomes New State-Funded Food Assistance

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Senator Gadkar-Wilcox Welcomes New State-Funded Food Assistance

State Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox (D-Bridgeport) welcomed Governor Ned Lamont’s announcement that, starting today, Connecticut is distributing one-time $300 grocery benefits to low-income residents cut from SNAP under new changes in the Republican federal budget.

In Senator Gadkar-Wilcox’s district, there are around 14,635 constituents receiving state SNAP benefits. Although not every single SNAP recipient in the district will receive the new benefit card, many will.

“In my district alone, thousands of people rely on SNAP to put food on the table, and when the federal budget cut them off from the benefits they counted on, our state stepped up,” said Sen. Gadkar-Wilcox. I’m grateful to Governor Lamont and DSS for moving quickly in making sure these grocery cards reach the people who need them. This is a short-term bridge, not a permanent fix but it matters to the families who will use it this week to buy food.

The $300 grocery benefits are being distributed as prepaid virtual grocery cards—not loaded onto existing EBT cards—through a partnership the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) arranged with Connecticut’s network of community action agencies, with support provided by the Connecticut Association for Community Action (CAFCA). Eligible residents are expected to be able to begin accessing the benefits starting today.

Residents can find their local Community Action Agency, the organization responsible for distributing the benefit cards in their area, by visiting cafca.org/agencies.

Duff & Maroney Call for Pause on New Flock Cameras as Privacy Concerns Mount

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Duff & Maroney Call for Pause on New Flock Cameras as Privacy Concerns Mount

HARTFORD – Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and Senator James Maroney (D-Milford) today called for cities and towns to voluntarily pause the installation of all new automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and Flock cameras. The senators pledged to introduce legislation in 2027 to further strengthen privacy protections for residents and tighten how Connecticut regulates the technology.

Additionally, Senators Duff and Maroney will ask the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) to survey every city and town in Connecticut for the number and location of Flock cameras within its borders, giving the state and the public a clear picture of how far the technology has spread.

The call comes as communities across the state raise questions about the reach of these cameras and the surveillance they enable. Connecticut has led the nation in reining in this technology. Under Public Act 26-14, signed by Governor Lamont this year, the state set new rules on ALPRs as part of a broader law on government accountability and federal immigration enforcement. The framework set a default retention period of 21 days, down from 30, restricted real-time and bulk access to the data unless tied to a documented, case-specific request, and barred the use of the technology to enforce immigration laws or to monitor people based on protected characteristics. It also limited data sharing to neighboring states that agree not to use the information for immigration, reproductive care, or gender-affirming health care investigations.

“Communities across Connecticut are taking a hard look at these cameras and deciding they don’t want them, and they’re right to ask the question,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “Flock cameras track the movements of ordinary people going about their lives, and that kind of surveillance carries real dangers. Town after town is saying they don’t want a permanent record of every car that drives down their streets. We’re calling for a pause because residents deserve real answers about who is watching them and why before a single new camera goes up.”

“This is invasive technology, and people are right to be concerned about it,” said Senator James Maroney (D-Milford). “We’ve led the country in protecting people’s privacy, and we’re not going to stop now. When we see towns rejecting these cameras and questioning whether they need this kind of surveillance at all, that tells us the public is ahead of the law. We intend to keep it that way by strengthening these protections in 2027.”

The data collected from DESPP will directly inform that legislative work, giving Duff and Maroney a full picture of where these cameras are and how they’re being used as they write the next round of protections.

SENATOR MARX WELCOMES NEW STATE-FUNDED FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR CT RESIDENTS PUSHED OUT OF SNAP BY TRUMP, DC REPUBLICANS

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SENATOR MARX WELCOMES NEW STATE-FUNDED FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR CT RESIDENTS PUSHED OUT OF SNAP BY TRUMP, DC REPUBLICANS

August 5, 2026
State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London) welcomed an announcement by Governor Ned Lamont that beginning August 4, new one-time grocery benefits in the amount of $300 each are being distributed to low-income Connecticut residents who have been pushed out of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to new changes implemented by the Trump regime in the Republican federal budget.

There are more than 7,350 constituents receiving state SNAP benefits in Sen. Marx’s 20th State Senate District towns. Reports indicate at least 35,000 state residents have been disconnected from their benefits.

“SNAP benefits make a huge difference in families’ lives, and the rapid, confusing changes imposed last year are separating people from their benefits through no fault of their own,” Sen. Marx said. “Our state is investing and supporting them at a time when they need our support most, and we will continue reacting and protecting Connecticut against further federal cruelty.”

The $300 grocery benefits are being distributed as prepaid virtual grocery cards—not loaded onto existing EBT cards—through a partnership the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) arranged with Connecticut’s network of community action agencies, with support provided by the Connecticut Association for Community Action (CAFCA). Eligible residents are expected to be able to begin accessing the benefits starting this week.

The benefits are being financed by $8.5 million in state funding that Governor Lamont approved several weeks ago using Connecticut’s Federal Cuts Response Fund. This recently created state fund was established by Governor Lamont and Democratic state legislators to ensure that Connecticut remains prepared to quickly respond to significant federal policy and funding changes affecting Connecticut residents, businesses, and communities.

“Connecticut will not stand by as the Trump administration uses hunger as a weapon against working families, veterans, and our most vulnerable populations,” Governor Lamont said. “These federal changes represent a cruel decision to pull food away from people who need it most. I am particularly troubled by the decision to eliminate the exemption for veterans who risked their lives for our country and are now having the rug pulled out from under them. Connecticut is providing this food assistance as a bridge to prevent people from going hungry as we help them navigate these federal changes. I am urging Congress to reverse these inhumane cuts so we can get groceries back on the tables of those who need it.”

Any individual in a household who lost SNAP eligibility due to the new federal changes—commonly referred to as ABAWD, or Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents requirements—since December 1, 2025, and who is no longer receiving SNAP, qualifies for the benefit. The benefit is available per individual, not per household, and the amount is the same for every eligible recipient.

Connecticut residents who received a DSS notice stating they do not meet the ABAWD requirements and who are identified in that notice as having reached their three-month SNAP benefit limit should reach out to their local community action agency about how to request the benefit. Eligibility will be confirmed at the time of request.

The new grocery benefit functions like a prepaid Mastercard or Visa and can be used at any food retailer that accepts standard credit cards. It does not expire, and any unused balance remains on the card until spent. The benefit is intended for SNAP-eligible food purchases.

Duff & Maroney Call for Pause on New Flock Cameras as Privacy Concerns Mount

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Duff & Maroney Call for Pause on New Flock Cameras as Privacy Concerns Mount

HARTFORD – Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and Senator James Maroney (D-Milford) today called for cities and towns to voluntarily pause the installation of all new automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and Flock cameras. The senators pledged to introduce legislation in 2027 to further strengthen privacy protections for residents and tighten how Connecticut regulates the technology.

Additionally, Senators Duff and Maroney will ask the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) to survey every city and town in Connecticut for the number and location of Flock cameras within its borders, giving the state and the public a clear picture of how far the technology has spread.

The call comes as communities across the state raise questions about the reach of these cameras and the surveillance they enable. Connecticut has led the nation in reining in this technology. Under Public Act 26-14, signed by Governor Lamont this year, the state set new rules on ALPRs as part of a broader law on government accountability and federal immigration enforcement. The framework set a default retention period of 21 days, down from 30, restricted real-time and bulk access to the data unless tied to a documented, case-specific request, and barred the use of the technology to enforce immigration laws or to monitor people based on protected characteristics. It also limited data sharing to neighboring states that agree not to use the information for immigration, reproductive care, or gender-affirming health care investigations.

“Communities across Connecticut are taking a hard look at these cameras and deciding they don’t want them, and they’re right to ask the question,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “Flock cameras track the movements of ordinary people going about their lives, and that kind of surveillance carries real dangers. Town after town is saying they don’t want a permanent record of every car that drives down their streets. We’re calling for a pause because residents deserve real answers about who is watching them and why before a single new camera goes up.”

“This is invasive technology, and people are right to be concerned about it,” said Senator James Maroney (D-Milford). “We’ve led the country in protecting people’s privacy, and we’re not going to stop now. When we see towns rejecting these cameras and questioning whether they need this kind of surveillance at all, that tells us the public is ahead of the law. We intend to keep it that way by strengthening these protections in 2027.”

The data collected from DESPP will directly inform that legislative work, giving Duff and Maroney a full picture of where these cameras are and how they’re being used as they write the next round of protections.