Robin Comey

I hope this email finds you and your family well. The House is BACK IN SESSION this Thursday, February 26th! We’re returning to the Capitol ready to get to work and tackle the important issues facing our state. Catch every hearing and floor session live on CT-N and stay up to date as the work unfolds.


There is plenty to get to in the email below, so make sure to keep scrolling for more on:

• Around Town
• Branford Short-Term Residential Rentals
• Stay Informed and Follow Along
• CTDOT work on I-95 
• Local Food Purchase and Assistance Grant Program
• Access Health CT: The Broker Academy
• Judges Needed for CT History Day
• CT Art Trail Passport
• Community Events

CBIA recently reached out with an invitation to visit the Career Academy at New Britain High School to see firsthand how workforce needs are being addressed through innovative career readiness and pathway programs. Connecting education to workforce demands is critical as we work to strengthen career preparation in our classrooms.

The program serves as a powerful model of collaboration and investment between business partners and school systems. As a hands-on learner myself, it was especially exciting to see students actively preparing for careers in manufacturing, business and science, education, and healthcare.

New Britain High School stands as a strong example of what is possible when schools create clear, industry-aligned pathways that equip students with the skills and experiences needed for future success.

So Every BODY Can Move Connecticut, along with the Connecticut Amputee Network, came together in Hartford for a press conference with Sean Scanlon and other legislative leaders.

My neighbor and constituent, Brenda Novak, joined fellow advocates to highlight the 45,000 Connecticut residents living with limb loss and limb difference. Their goal is to ensure that insurance companies recognize physical activity as a medical necessity and provide coverage for prosthetics and orthotics that support participation in a wide range of sports and healthy activities.

The proposal has been raised before the Insurance Committee, and I will be supporting these policy efforts as an important extension of Connecticut’s health care parity law. Ensuring equitable access to movement, activity, and wellness is essential to improving quality of life for thousands of residents across our state.

Branford Public Schools is setting the pace in the Northeast by investing in clean transportation. Today’s ceremony made it clear that Branford is emerging as a model not only for Connecticut, but for the nation. The leadership demonstrated by the district is truly inspiring.

Innovative companies like Zūm are proving that electric school buses aren’t just cleaner, they’re smarter. With vehicle-to-grid technology, these buses can return power to the grid during periods of peak demand, strengthening community resilience while reducing emissions.

The Trump administration recently rescinded the Environmental Protection Agency’s endangerment finding on greenhouse gases, a move that rolls back key federal climate and air quality protections.

Even amid environmental rollbacks in Washington, Connecticut — and communities like Branford — are stepping up. 🚌🌎

Thank you to the Martin Luther King Heritage Foundation of Branford for the invitation to their recent Black History Month program. On Saturday, Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas presented to an enthusiastic crowd at the Blackstone Library. After her presentation we had the opportunity to ask a lot of questions. Many of those questions were about the national landscape and proposals and its impact on Connecticut voting integrity and access.

Focused on outreach, education and engagement she highlighted many of the programs that her office has put together to increase voter participation.  Check out this great online resource, The Power of Civics, a free online training course and tools to get involved. The office has also been encouraging businesses and nonprofits to commit to being civically engaged, either through active participation in the local community or by helping to broaden public and employee civic awareness. They have created the Civically Engaged Organization program with resources, suggestions, and messaging.

First Selectman Brooks tied it together with the decrease in citizen engagement at our town meetings, encouraging residents to get involved locally. We all left the event inspired and motivated to do more.

Thank you to everyone who joined me for our Coffee with Comey event. I appreciate the thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation.

We covered a number of important topics, including vaccine mandates and the health impacts of gas-powered leaf blowers. Family members spoke passionately about the need for greater state support for the Encompass Accessible & Senior Transportation program, sharing concerns that their loved ones’ transportation needs are not currently being met.

Several attendees also raised privacy concerns about license plate readers connected to Flock Safety. We discussed the benefits of installing solar to help offset rising electric bills, as well as the challenges Branford neighborhoods are facing with an overpopulation of Canadian geese.

One of the most rewarding parts of the gathering was seeing neighbors share their knowledge and resources with one another. These conversations are exactly why I host these events, and I look forward to scheduling another Coffee with Comey soon.

The Town of Branford has put in place regulations requiring home owners who offer their property for Short-Term Residential Rentals to annually register with the town.

The Town of Branford announces that the Short-Term Residential Rental (STRR) Registration Application will be available online beginning March 1, 2026. Property owners who operate, or intend to operate, a short-term residential rental in Branford are required to complete the annual registration process in accordance with the Town’s Short-Term Residential Rental Ordinance, Chapter 199.

Click here to access the online application.

The STRR registration program is intended to balance the ability of homeowners to rent their properties on a short-term basis with the need to protect neighborhood character, public safety, and quality of life. Registration helps ensure that rental properties meet applicable safety, parking, and hosting requirements, and that a clearly identified local contact is available to respond to concerns if they arise.

Applicants will be required to provide information related to property location and type, owner and host contact information, parking availability, life-safety features, and required certifications confirming compliance with Town regulations.

Annual permits are issued for the period of May 1 through April 30. Properties operating without a valid permit may be subject to enforcement action, including fines and permit revocation.

For more information or question email, PlanningandZoning@branford-ct.gov

It's easier than ever to follow along and get involved. There are several resources you can utilize that will help you stay updated on the legislative process as it unfolds in Hartford.

Here's how you can stay connected and actively participate:  

• The Office of Legislative Research (OLR) provides nonpartisan and unbiased research to members of the General Assembly and its staff. Part of OLR's duties include writing bill analyses, which are summaries of bills in plain language. 
• You can view the Connecticut General Assembly's upcoming events by checking out its schedule on the CGA official website. 
• Follow CT-N for live coverage of committee meetings, press conferences, as well as House and Senate floor debates. 
• Click here to register to monitor any bill's journey as it goes through the legislative process. By signing up, you can enter the bill number and receive real-time updates. Stay informed with email notifications whenever there's a change. 
• Click here for information on how to testify on a bill at a public hearing.

Together, we can ensure all voices are heard. 

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will be performing a vegetation management safety improvement operation on I-95 southbound in Branford. This project is scheduled to occur on Monday, March 2 and be completed on Friday, April 3.

To ensure the safety of the public, CTDOT is removing dead, diseased, and decaying trees. Additionally, trees and vegetation that have grown into the clear zone, which is the safety space along the side of the roadway, are also being removed. This work helps save lives in the event of a crash or vehicle leaving the roadway.

LANE CLOSURE/DETOUR INFO

Motorists can expect right lane closures on I-95 southbound in Branford between Exit 55 and exit 54 from Monday, March 2 to Friday, April 3, during the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., Monday night to Friday morning. Traffic control signing patterns, State Troopers will guide motorists through the work zone.

Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this area. No work will be performed around any scheduled holidays.

Governor Ned Lamont announced $1.55 million in state funding to support the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Purchase and Assistance Grant program, ensuring continued access to Connecticut Grown products for food-insecure residents after recent federal funding cuts.

The program increases access to fresh, locally grown food while supporting Connecticut farmers and the state’s agricultural economy. Eligible entities, including food hubs, pantries, municipalities, community health centers, and nonprofits, may apply for grants ranging from $100,000 to $301,000.

Food insecurity remains a serious challenge in the state, affecting one in ten residents, including more than 100,000 children. Since 2022, the program has enabled eight statewide partners to purchase more than $5.6 million in products from 166 producers, distributing food through roughly 500 organizations across 121 cities and towns.

Click here to learn more and to apply for the grant program. Grant applications must be submitted to the Connecticut Department of Agriculture by March 11 at 4:00 p.m.

Access Health CT is committed to reducing health disparities across Connecticut. To support this mission, a free Broker Academy training program is being offered to empower community members and organizations to drive positive change. Participants will receive comprehensive training, have their exam fees covered, and be paired with a mentor, ensuring support at every step of the journey.

Minimum requirements to apply:

• 18 years or older
• High school diploma or GED
• 1-3 recommendation letters Community service experience
• Preference will be given to applicants who reside or work in underserved areas

Click here for more information and to sign up for notifications.

For questions, email  AHCT.BrokerAcademy@ct.gov

Click here to sign up for a virtual Broker Academy Info Session, multiple dates available.

A program called Connecticut History Day is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to serve as judges at one of its five Regional Contests. Judges play a crucial role in encouraging students as they share their historical research and creative work. Click here to learn more and sign up to judge at a regional contest.

Judges have the opportunity to meet students, evaluate and rank projects, and provide meaningful, constructive feedback to every participant. No prior judging experience is necessary, judges receive pre-contest training and clear materials to review in advance.

Contest day judging runs from 8:00 a.m. until the early afternoon with coffee, snacks, and lunch provided. Website and paper judges meet with students on contest day, but they review projects in the week prior to the event. Documentary, performance, and exhibit judges both view the project and meet with the students at the contest.