Josh Elliott

This season reminds us of the power of community, compassion, and shared purpose. I am proud of all we have accomplished together this past year, and I am committed to championing the issues that matter most to you in the year to come. May 2026 bring renewed hope, good health, and new opportunities for every family in our district. Happy Holidays and a joyful New Year.

As we welcome a new year, several laws that passed in the last legislative session will take effect on January 1, 2026.

These new measures address key issues impacting our state and its residents, including expanded incentives for farmers, strengthened protections for workers in sensitive professions, and improved reporting requirements to better track higher education enrollment, post-secondary credits, and student opportunities.

We took a major step forward in advancing policies that support new, diverse housing options across Connecticut. With some of the highest housing costs in the region, too many individuals and families are being priced out of the communities where they work, where they grew up, and where they hope to retire. 

Preventative health care continues to be a priority because early detection saves both lives and long-term costs. To support this, we now require health insurers to cover certain high-priority biomarker tests that aid in early detection, prevention, and treatment. Additionally, we have prohibited the substitution of lower-priced drugs for higher-priced medications for individuals living with multiple sclerosis and arthritis, and we have made this ban permanent for medications used to treat mental health disorders.

You can click on the link below to see the full list of new laws taking effect on January 1, 2026. Feel free to reach out to my office if you have any questions.

Join the Sleeping Giant Park Association for the first hike of 2026, on New Year’s Day from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m..

The hike will leave from the kiosk at the park’s main entrance (200 Mount Carmel Ave.), click here for more information.