SEN. NEEDLEMAN WELCOMES $864,760 STATE INVESTMENT IN HADDAM SIDEWALKS

Posted on July 23, 2026 by SDO Automation

SEN. NEEDLEMAN WELCOMES $864,760 STATE INVESTMENT IN HADDAM SIDEWALKS

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

July 23, 2026

State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) recently welcomed the state’s announced investment of $864,760 in improving and installing sidewalks in Haddam’s Higganum Village North, expected to combine a number of important centralized resources in the town.

Part of a $10 million investment in rural transportation across the state, these funds will construct sidewalks and multi-use trails to link 36 senior housing units, the resident state trooper’s office, town offices, the Senior Center and the Community Center to commercial uses in the Village Center.

The sidewalk in question will stretch about .75 miles along Saybrook Road, connecting town commercial districts and providing an ADA-compliant trail for easier access to local businesses and town organizations.

“This investment in our town will support our residents directly, making important offices and centers more easy to access,” said Sen. Needleman. “It’s a project that will last for decades, providing Haddam with more opportunities for its residents. I’m grateful to Governor Lamont and the Department of Transportation for their continued support.”

The funds come from the Transportation Rural Improvement Program, designed to support communities considered ineligible for federal transportation programs.

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Senator Norm Needleman
860-240-0428 or Toll-free 1-800-842-1420
www.senatedems.ct.gov/Needleman

NEWS ADVISORY TOMORROW: SEN. FLEXER VISITS REGIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM SHE SECURED FUNDING FOR IN THE STATE BUDGET

Posted on July 20, 2026 by SDO Automation

TOMORROW: SEN. FLEXER VISITS REGIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM SHE SECURED FUNDING FOR IN THE STATE BUDGET

SCOTLAND – State Senator Mae Flexer will visit a regional, special education summer school program in Scotland, CT that she secured $75,000 for in the recent state budget at 10:15 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, July 21, at the Scotland Elementary School, 68 Brook Road in Scotland (about six miles from downtown Willimantic).

The program serves dozens of children from regional towns such as Scotland, Chaplin, Hampton, Sprague, Eastford, Pomfret, and Bozrah. The ESY summer program is structured like a day camp, featuring recreational activities and special events, while also offering academic programs with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and paraprofessionals licensed as Board Certified Behavior Analysts, Registered Behavior Technicians, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists.

WHO: Senator Mae Flexer, Scotland School Superintendent Valerie Bruneau

WHAT: Visit to a regional special education summer school program at Scotland Elementary School

WHEN: 10:15 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, July 21, 2026

WHERE: Scotland Elementary School, 68 Brook Road in Scotland (about six miles from downtown Willimantic)

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Duff Responds to Trump’s National Address

Posted on July 16, 2026 by SDO Automation

Sen. Duff Reacts to Trump’s Speech Addressing the Nation

“A declaration of war. An international crisis. A nation mourning together. When a president takes over the airwaves in prime time, it’s supposed to meet the moment. Tonight did the opposite. The most powerful man in the world used it to whine about an election he lost over five years ago. It was pointless, it was embarrassing, and it was beneath the office.

“While the president chews on grievances from 2020, families in Connecticut are watching prices climb and a war overseas spiral with no end in sight. That’s what a real address would have been about. Here in Connecticut, we’re not waiting on Washington Republicans. We’re protecting our voters, lowering costs, and doing the work the people actually sent us to do. Donald Trump lost. He’s still losing. We don’t want the American people to lose. And the rest of us have a country to run.”

– Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) responds to President Trump’s speech addressing the nation.

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov | 203-710-0193

Senator Anwar Issues Statement on Eversource’s Proposed 18% Rate Increase

Posted on July 16, 2026 by SDO Automation

Senator Anwar Issues Statement on Eversource’s Proposed 18% Rate Increase

Today, Senator Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, released the following statement after Eversource filed for a rate increase that could raise the average residential customer’s monthly bill by 18%:

“It is hard to accept that a company making billions of dollars in profits, while paying its top executives millions, keeps coming back to working families and asking them to pay even more. The people making these decisions are not the ones climbing poles in the middle of a storm or sitting at the kitchen table trying to figure out how to pay another higher electric bill.

“What makes this even more frustrating is the timing. We are in the middle of a hot summer, and families are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, housing, childcare, and just about everything else. Electricity is not a luxury—it is a necessity. No one should have to choose between keeping their home cool and paying for other essentials.

“Our residents should not be expected to shoulder higher bills simply to protect a corporation’s profits. Connecticut families deserve a utility company that understands the financial realities people are living with every day, not one that keeps asking them to carry a heavier burden,” Senator Anwar said.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hugh McQuaid | Hugh.McQuaid@cga.ct.gov

Looney, Duff Condemn Fatal ICE Shooting in Biddeford, Maine

Posted on July 13, 2026 by SDO Automation

Looney & Duff Condemn Fatal ICE Shooting in Biddeford, Maine

“The terror that ICE has inflicted from Minneapolis to Houston has now reached New England, and a 26-year-old man is now dead because of it. This morning in Biddeford, Maine, a young man who was authorized to work in this country and who was building a life here was killed by ICE agents, and his family and community are left grieving while federal authorities offer nothing but silence. This is a dangerous escalation of the same authoritarian tactics we have watched spread across our country, and it demands a full, transparent, and independent investigation into exactly what happened and who is accountable.

No immigration enforcement operation should end in a death. When federal agents can kill a person in a car on an American street, and then refuse to answer basic questions, no family in any state is safe from the fear that this regime is deliberately spreading. New England is not immune, and Connecticut will not look away.

We call on Connecticut Republicans to join us in condemning this killing and demanding accountability. This should not be a partisan question. A man is dead. Standing up for the rule of law and the sanctity of human life is the least we owe him. Unfortunately, if past experience is any guide, we expect our Republican colleagues will stay silent or change the subject. We hope this time they find the courage to put principles before politics.

-Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) in response to the fatal shooting of a man by ICE agents in Biddeford, Maine.

Those who wish to support the people affected by ICE actions in Maine can contribute to the Maine Solidarity Fund: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/maine-solidarity-fund.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | 203-710-0193 | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov

Looney, Duff Condemn Fatal ICE Shooting in Biddeford, Maine

Posted on July 13, 2026 by SDO Automation

Looney & Duff Condemn Fatal ICE Shooting in Biddeford, Maine

-Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) in response to the fatal shooting of a man by ICE agents in Biddeford, Maine.

Those who wish to support the people affected by ICE actions in Maine can contribute to the Maine Solidarity Fund: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/maine-solidarity-fund.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | 203-710-0193 | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov

Senator Rahman Makes ‘Honor Roll’ for Education Votes

Posted on July 13, 2026 by SDO Automation

Senator Rahman Makes ‘Honor Roll’ for Education Votes

HARTFORD — In an annual legislative report card released this week, the Connecticut Education Association awarded Senator MD Rahman (D-Manchester) a score of 92.9 in recognition of his support for Connecticut students and teachers through votes in the General Assembly.

The report card tracks the voting record of every state legislator and grades them on their support for bills that improve learning and teaching conditions in Connecticut schools, and their opposition to measures that would hinder educational progress or harm the interests of students and educators.

“Every student in Connecticut deserves a classroom where they can learn and a teacher who has the support to teach,” Senator Rahman said. “As a father, I know how much these protections and investments matter for the people who show up for our kids every day. I’m proud of the work we’ve done this session, and I’ll keep fighting to make sure our schools have what they need.”

This year’s grade reflected Senator Rahman’s support for a number of proposals, including:

Senate Bill 1: the 2026 budget, which included nearly $200 million in district relief along with free school breakfast, universal pre-k, and special education grants.
House Bill 5003: legislation strengthening fair termination standards and workers’ compensation protections for teachers.
Senate Bill 220: legislation expanding eligibility for the Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program and requiring Department of Education guidance on student literacy.
Senate Bill 325: legislation protecting educators’ personal information from disclosure in Freedom of Information requests.
House Bill 5323: legislation extending necessary teacher certification regulations.
Senate Bill 85: legislation supported in the Finance Committee establishing the CT Supplemental Graduate Student Loan Program for educators and other impacted professions.

Senator MD Rahman represents the 4th Senate District covering Manchester, Glastonbury, Andover, and Bolton and serves as Senate Chair of the Planning and Development Committee.

TODAY: Accessible Parking Awareness Day to be Recognized at Guilford Police Department

Posted on July 13, 2026 by SDO Automation

ADVISORY: Accessible Parking Awareness Day to be Recognized at Guilford Police Department

WHAT:
A recognition event organized by the Department of Motor Vehicles in coordination with state legislators, local law enforcement, and disability advocates. Accessible parking access and enforcement remain a persistent issue for Connecticut residents with disabilities, and the event will highlight available resources and ongoing work to protect accessible parking statewide.

WHEN:
Monday, July 13, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE:
Guilford Police Department
400 Church Street
Guilford, CT 06437
(Event staging expected in the front parking lot near accessible parking spaces. Parking will be available behind the police department.)

WHO:
Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz
State Senator Christine Cohen, Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee
DMV Commissioner Tony Guerrera
State Representative Vincent Candelora, House Minority Leader
Guilford First Selectman Matthew Hoey
Guilford Police Chief Christopher Massey
Mary Caruso, Founder, and Alex Bode, Executive Director, Peace, Love ACCESSibility
Members of the Accessible Parking Advisory Council
Members of the local legislative delegation and Transportation Committee leadership

MONDAY: Accessible Parking Awareness Day to be Recognized at Guilford Police Department

Posted on July 10, 2026 by SDO Automation

ADVISORY: Accessible Parking Awareness Day to be Recognized at Guilford Police Department

WHAT:
A recognition event organized by the Department of Motor Vehicles in coordination with state legislators, local law enforcement, and disability advocates. Accessible parking access and enforcement remain a persistent issue for Connecticut residents with disabilities, and the event will highlight available resources and ongoing work to protect accessible parking statewide.

WHEN:
Monday, July 13, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE:
Guilford Police Department
400 Church Street
Guilford, CT 06437
(Event staging expected in the front parking lot near accessible parking spaces. Parking will be available behind the police department.)

WHO:
Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz
State Senator Christine Cohen, Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee
DMV Commissioner Tony Guerrera
State Representative Vincent Candelora, House Minority Leader
Guilford First Selectman Matthew Hoey
Guilford Police Chief Christopher Massey
Mary Caruso, Founder, and Alex Bode, Executive Director, Peace, Love ACCESSibility
Members of the Accessible Parking Advisory Council
Members of the local legislative delegation and Transportation Committee leadership

Senator Miller Makes ‘Honor Roll’ for Education Votes

Posted on July 10, 2026July 13, 2026 by SDO Automation

Senator Pat Billie Miller Makes ‘Honor Roll’ for Education Votes

HARTFORD– In an annual legislative report card released this week, the Connecticut Education Association awarded Senator Pat Billie Miller (D-Stamford) a score of 93.2 in recognition of her support for Connecticut students and teachers through votes in the General Assembly.

“This year’s votes were about giving Connecticut classrooms what they need to function, from universal pre-k and free school breakfast to stronger protections for the educators who show up every day for our kids,” Senator Miller said. “Extending teacher certification regulations and expanding the Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program help us keep good teachers in the classroom and support a strong pipeline of new talent. Connecticut students learn better when their teachers are supported, and that’s what these votes reflect.”

This year’s grade reflected Senator Miller’s support for a number of proposals, including:

Senate Bill 1: the 2026 budget, which included nearly $200 million in district relief along with free school breakfast, universal pre-k, and special education grants.
House Bill 5003: legislation strengthening fair termination standards and workers’ compensation protections for teachers.
Senate Bill 220: legislation expanding eligibility for the Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program and requiring Department of Education guidance on student literacy.
Senate Bill 325: legislation protecting educators’ personal information from disclosure in Freedom of Information requests.
House Bill 5323: legislation extending necessary teacher certification regulations.
Senate Bill 85: legislation supported in the Finance Committee establishing the CT Supplemental Graduate Student Loan Program for educators and other impacted professions.

Senator Pat Billie Miller represents the 27th Senate District covering portions of Stamford and Darien and serves as Senate Chair of the Banking Committee.