Robin Comey

I hope this email finds you and your family well. Last week, my colleagues and I passed legislation that the governor has approved. These measures represent meaningful progress, especially because they fell short of final passage last year.


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

• Around Town
• Session Day Recap
• Stay Informed and Follow Along
• CT State Department of Education Survey
• Generation Power CT Assistance
• Poster Competition for CT Schools
• Free Tax Filing Resources
• Community Events

Thank you, Superintendent Tranberg, for the invitation to join Hive Minds Headlines, the new Branford Public Schools podcast. We had a great conversation about the power of student advocacy.

You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or on the district website at branfordschools.org.

I also spent an afternoon at the historic Harrison House Museum with BCTV, Branford’s local public access station.

For a peek inside the museum, keep an eye out for an upcoming episode of Branford Voices, hosted by Tracy Everson. She’s been interviewing a wide range of fascinating local residents, so be sure to tune in.

You can follow the show on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/branfordvoices and watch BCTV online on YouTube @BranfordTV.

We are now well into the legislative session, and the Capitol is alive with engaged members of the public. From committee meetings to extended public hearings, there are many opportunities for residents to connect with their elected officials and make their voices heard. I encourage you to take full advantage of these opportunities and participate in the process.

I have served on several of these committees alongside my colleagues for many years, and I can honestly say we have been through a great deal together. Long hours spent listening to residents, working through some of our state’s most pressing issues, and hearing passionate—sometimes deeply emotional—testimony create a strong bond among those of us in the room. More importantly, those experiences keep us grounded in the very real challenges members of our community face every day.

It is a true honor to serve you in this capacity, and I never take that responsibility lightly.

Moving these bills across the finish line this session reflects our commitment to getting important work done for Connecticut residents.

Here are some of the key reforms of Senate Bill 298:

Seal of Civics Education and Engagement diploma distinction

• Honoring exceptional community involvement and demonstrated achievement in civics education
• Will be awarded starting with the graduating class of 2027

Strengthening Our Election Laws

We took important steps to protect the integrity and security of our elections by:

• Safeguarding private voter data
• Requiring that ballots cast early be securely stored in a voting tabulator
• Preventing individuals convicted of election-related crimes from serving as elections moderators

Supporting Law Enforcement and First Responders

• Strengthening support for the Firefighter Cancer Relief Fund
• Updating police training standards to improve interactions with individuals with disabilities

Protecting Workers 

• Enhancing protections for employees in warehouses and fulfillment centers
• Requiring employers to provide clear, written quota descriptions that cannot interfere with basic rights like meal breaks and bathroom access

Addressing Antisemitism in Our Schools

Senate Bill 299 addresses Environmental and Consumer Protections by:

• Increasing fines for violating the state's bottle bill law after a surge in out-of-state redemption fraud
• Requiring redemption centers to record anyone seeking to redeem more than 1,000 bottles and cans in a day (threshold lowered from 2,500 bottles)
• Protecting the integrity of the system while maintaining the 10-cent deposit
• Granting law enforcement the authority to pursue out-of-state violators

Together, these measures invest in education, workers, health care, public safety, and consumer protection — delivering support and clear standards that benefit residents, businesses, and communities across Connecticut.

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 State Department of Education (CSDE) invites you to share your feedback by completing a survey about A Parent’s Guide to Special Education in Connecticut (2021).

Developed by the CSDE, this guide is designed to help parents and guardians understand, navigate, and actively participate in the Planning and Placement Team (PPT) process and the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. It also explains families’ legal rights and outlines key topics such as evaluation, eligibility, service delivery, dispute resolution, and the provision of a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for children with disabilities.

Your feedback is welcomed on all aspects of the guide, including formatting, readability, clarity of content, accessibility, how and where it can be found online, and any other relevant details. When possible, please reference specific page numbers or section titles in your responses. 

A broad range of perspectives is being pursued, including both first impressions and insights from individuals who have and have not previously accessed the Parent’s Guide. Your input will help ensure the guide is clear, accessible, and responsive to families’ needs.

Click here to access the guide and take the survey.

On Monday, Generation Power CT’s Emergency Energy Assistance Program launched its final assistance cycle of the season, which runs through March 10. Eligible Connecticut households may receive a one-time grant of up to $500 to help cover electric, gas, or heating fuel expenses.

Click here to learn more about eligibility requirements and access application materials.

The CT Coalition for Climate Action is hosting its third annual Climate Change Student Poster Contest.

NEW FOR 2026: In addition to individual student entries, there is a new K–4 Classroom Poster Category, with one poster submission per class. The winning classroom will receive a $100 Staples® gift card along with a visit from either Leah Lopez of Save the Sound or Save the Sound’s Soundkeeper, Bill Lucy.

Students and finalists are invited to the judging at the Capitol on Earth Day, April 22nd between 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.. Semi-Finalists will be displayed at the state Capitol and the top three individual winners of the Grades 5–12 category will receive scholarships of $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place.

The deadline for submissions is April 1 and submissions can be emailed to CTClimateActionCoalition@gmail.com.

With the tax deadline approaching on April 15th, now is the time to take action if you haven’t filed yet. There are several free resources available this year for anyone who needs to file state and federal taxes.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help for low-to moderate-income (under $58,000) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Volunteers, sponsored by various organizations, receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. Visit Connecticut's 2-1-1 website and the Free Tax Help page for VITA assistance updates, or visit the IRS Site Locator. 

AARP's Tax-Aide Program, a partnership between the AARP Foundation and the Internal Revenue Service, provides free tax counseling and preparation services to middle-and low-income taxpayers, with special attention to people age 60 and older. Many sites will e-file your federal and Connecticut returns at no cost to you. Visit the AARP Tax-Aide Site Locator to find a location near you. 

The UConn Law School Tax Clinic is a pro bono (free) legal clinic that provides free legal help to low-income taxpayers with tax problems, either with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS). Lisa Perkins, Clinical Professor & Director, and law students will work on your case. The Tax Clinic also works with attorneys in Connecticut who volunteer to help low-income taxpayers pro bono. The Tax Clinic is independent and separate from the IRS and DRS. It is important to note, that the UCONN tax clinic is only able to assist individual taxpayers with Connecticut income tax problems. Contact Lisa Perkins at lisa.perkins@uconn.edu or 860-570-5165