Eilish Collins Main

Dear Neighbors & Friends,

The 2026 Legislative Session adjourned this week, on Wednesday, May 6th, at Midnight. It was an exciting and productive Short Session, and we passed numerous pieces of legislation to address affordability, protections for residents, and so much more. It has been a true honor and privilege to serve as your State Representative and advocate for the residents of Stamford's 146th District. 

Click on the links below to go to each section, and as always, if I can be of service to you, please be in touch!

• Strengthening Federal Accountability and Protecting Residents from ICE
• Taking Action to Prevent Gun Violence
• Putting Children First
• Protecting and Supporting Seniors
• Supporting Connecticut Small Businesses
• Building One Community Annual Benefit Brunch
• Upcoming Stamford Community Food Distribution Hosted by iiMPACT at Stamford PAL

Since 2025, masked federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents – many inadequately trained -- have waged a campaign of fear and intimidation with a reckless disregard for the constitutional rights of the people they encounter.
 
Parents are afraid of bringing children to medical appointments or sending them to school, court dates are skipped for fear of being detained, and congregants are afraid of going to their places of worship.
 
We, as a state, have an obligation to address the unprecedented breakdown in federal accountability and attacks on the rule of law. Senate Bill 397 represents a measured and lawful response to these concerns. The legislation seeks to strengthen accountability by requiring clear identification from federal agents, restricting enforcement actions in sensitive locations, and creating a pathway for individuals to seek recourse when their constitutional rights are violated. 

Specifically, Senate Bill 397 does the following:

• Enables any person the right to sue federal actors who violate their constitutional rights.
• Ensures the Inspector General has clear, unrestricted authority to investigate the unauthorized use of force by state, local, and certain federal agents when force results in death.
• Prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing masks and refusing to identify themselves when conducting operations.
• Builds on the framework established in 2025, designating protected areas – hospitals, schools, courthouses, places of worship – that will be shielded from civil immigration arrests unless a law enforcement officer presents a signed judicial warrant.
• Establishes a floor of at least 480 hours of training for law enforcement officers in Connecticut.
• Regulates automated license plate reader technologies, permitting an active hot list, but capping retention of data to 21 days absent an ongoing criminal investigation.

This legislation is not born out of partisan preference. It’s a measured response to protect the people of Connecticut. No one is above the law, and the protection of constitutional rights is not solely within the federal government’s purview.

I was a proud cosponsor of this legislation and am thrilled to see these much needed protections become law. Both the House and Senate passed S.B. 397, and this Monday, it was signed into law by Governor Lamont.  

After several recent tragedies involving children in Connecticut and growing calls for more accountability in our child welfare system, House Democrats are taking action in the 2026 legislative session.

The House passed HB5004, which will:

• Prioritize placing children with family members and responsible adults who are already in their lives.
• Make sure there is follow-up with sister agencies when DCF-involved children travel out of state.
• Support caregivers and children with funding for after-school programs, childcare, and incidentals.
• Uplift our child welfare workforce through improved training, stipends for mentors and mentees, and personal emergency communication devices.
• Require additional eyes on children who are the subject of multiple reports of abuse or neglect, and those residing with someone on parole or probation after incarceration for serious crimes against children.
• Provide robust real-time data for policymakers and the public on DCF performance through a user-friendly dashboard.
• Establish a new committee to gather legislators, state agencies, experts, and stakeholders to review our child welfare policies and performance and make recommendations for improvements.

This significant legislation reflects a bipartisan effort to reform the Department of Children and Families with policies and procedures that put children first, and a commitment to continued attention to this important issue.

The House passed various bills that came out of the Aging Committee this session to help protect and support seniors.

The first, HB 5142, extends protections for the use of technology to residents of residential care homes and sets a penalty for violation of the protections. It ensures residents in residential care homes can set up virtual monitoring systems so families have peace of mind and they can keep an eye on their loved ones. In the case of roommates, permission must be signed off on paperwork, which can change at any time. With the support of many stakeholders, the legislation passed unanimously, 150-0-1 in the House.

The second, HB 5143, requires homemaker companion agency employees to complete eight hours of basic training each year, including training on topics such as: helping individuals with Alzheimer’s, identifying abuse, identifying when care is above the capacity of a homemaker companion, and hygiene assistance. Currently, there isn’t a set training for homemaker companions.  The bill had strong bipartisan support, passing 149-1-1 in the House.

The House passed HB 5140, which will allow dental hygienists to serve underserved homebound patients in private residences, such as seniors, veterans, and the disabled, who would likely go without dental care. Dental hygienists currently are allowed by law to work in facilities such as senior centers and preschools without the oversight of a dentist, and this legislation expands upon that. The dental hygienist will have worked under the supervision of a dentist for more than two years. With the support of stakeholders such as the CT Oral Health Initiative (COHI) and the Connecticut State Dental Association, the bill passed unanimously, 144-0, with seven absent/note voting.

The House passed a measure to support Connecticut’s small businesses by creating a pathway to access state grants and economic development programs.

Under House Bill 5467, an employee with the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) would serve as a direct point of contact for small businesses. This individual would help business owners navigate available funds, incentives, and community development programs administered by DECD.

Too often, small businesses struggle to identify what resources are available or how to apply for them. This measure creates an accessible gateway for information and assistance, ensuring business owners have someone to answer questions, connect them with the right programs, and guide them through the process.

House Bill 5467 is an important step toward removing barriers and helping Connecticut businesses grow and thrive.