Wishing everyone in Windham and beyond a joyful, healthy, and prosperous 2026. As we welcome the new year, let’s celebrate the strength, resilience, and spirit of our community. May 2026 bring hope, opportunity, and continued growth, and may we work together to make our community an even better place to live, work, and raise our children.
As we prepare to ring in the new year, several new laws will take effect impacting health care, housing, higher education, and so much more. Please read below for a summary of what to expect in 2026.
In the new year, I will continue to advocate for state funding for our public schools. Keep scrolling to hear about the positive developments happening in our classrooms.
Here are the sections in today's email:
Stay Indoors Due to Dangerous Cold
New Laws Effective January 1, 2026
Let's Talk About It: Windham Public Schools
Stay Indoors Due to Dangerous Cold
You may want to stay indoors after the state activated the severe cold weather protocol from now until noon on Sunday, January 4. Temperatures will dip into the single digits at times during the overnight hours.
The protocol gives our most vulnerable a lifeline – ensuring that anyone can receive shelter from the outdoors. If you need a warm place to stay, visit 211ct.org or call 2-1-1 to find available locations. Transportation can be provided if necessary.
As we welcome a new year, several laws that we 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:
strengthening protections for workers in sensitive professions
expanding incentives for farmers
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, grew up, and 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.
These updates reflect our ongoing commitment to making Connecticut more affordable, healthier, and more equitable for everyone. To learn more about these and other laws taking effect on January 1, 2026, click the button below for a complete, easy-to-read summary.
Two respected education leaders recently joined my radio show to talk about the state of Windham Public Schools.
Ken Folan and Mark Doyle host Windham Weekly every Thursday at 4 p.m. on WILI 1400 AM and 95.3 FM, where they regularly spotlight students, educators, and staff while highlighting the many positive developments happening in our classrooms. Mark Doyle brings a wealth of experience to the conversation, currently serving his seventh term on the Windham Board of Education.
Rep. Susan Johnson, Ken Folan, Mark Doyle, Dennis O'Brien
During our discussion, Folan and Doyle highlighted the significant progress made under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Iris Gomero. Among the accomplishments: Windham Middle School’s removal from the state’s turnaround list, improved student attendance, and a reduction in student suspensions.
We also discussed the work my colleagues and I are doing in Hartford to ensure districts like Windham receive their fair share of state funding through the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grant, which will finally reach full funding in 2026—after more than a decade of effort. Continued investment in Windham Public Schools is essential because our schools are the foundation of the town’s future.
Finally, we touched on the impact of child homelessness on student success and why addressing it is critical to educational outcomes. Please click the video below to listen to the full conversation.
Ken Folan and Mark Doyle discuss the state of Windham Public Schools
