Reading at Pine Grove, An Affordable Housing Request From Fairfield

March 6, 2026

Dear Neighbor,

Happy Read Across America Week! Lucky me, I was able to stop by Pine Grove School Thursday afternoon with Senator Honig in between meetings to read to some really adorable Kindergarten students. Parents, you're doing an awesome job with these lively and curious kiddos.

We are in the thick of all of our hearings and committee meetings.

I am sharing some clips from both the Public Health Committee and the Planning and Development Committee. The best part about serving on multiple committees, for me, is that we get to cover a variety of interesting topics. Each day, we learn something new, often about topics we thought we knew a lot about, and that's thanks to you, the public, testifying. We are grateful to hear from you!

Many committees are hitting their "JF deadline." That means that the committee is voting bills out of committee as "joint favorable" status or JFS, which is "joint favorable substitute" language. The second one means that we decided to make a change in the bill between when it was drafted, when we heard it at the public hearing, and then when we voted the bill out of committee. Our deadline for Planning and Development is a couple of weeks away, but some committees are finished this week or next. That's a short session for you . . . blink, and you'll miss it.

The e-news is chock full today, and I appreciate you taking time out of your day to read it. Please reach out if there is anything I can do to assist you or your family. Always here to help!

Have a great week,

Eleni

Reading at Pine Grove School

A Special Visit

I had a great visit this week with some of my constituents who represent the Agaram Tamil Padasalai school, which they run in Avon.

In addition to delivering warm Pongal (the harvest festival) wishes and delicious food, they also shared their essay contest that is open to all high school students in Avon, Farmington, and Simsbury (details below).

Thank you for bringing my staff and me such a wonderful cultural experience.

Affordable Housing Request From Fairfield

Thanks to Jackie Page of Fairfield for testifying this week on the "Yes, In God's Back Yard" (YIGBY) bill. This bill seeks to allow affordable housing on religious property.

Jackie shared that they have a similar project in Fairfield, but that there are many zoning and land use hurdles challenging. This bill would allow housing to be built in an easier way.

I hope you'll enjoy her testimony and our discussion right after.

Tobacco Settlement Fund Discussion

It's always exciting when one of my constituents comes to testify. This time, it was Ruth Canovi, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association in Connecticut.

Our conversation is around the money we receive from Tobacco Settlement Money and how it is used, as well as whether the money from the settlement that we put toward cessation also includes educating our children about the dangers of vaping.

Thanks, Ruth, for always keeping us focused on ensuring that the tobacco settlement money saves lives and prevents people from becoming smokers or vapers.

Walking for Homelessness

On Saturday, I walked with my team, Compassionate Soles, for the Coldest Night of the Year to end homelessness. Thanks to the CT Coalition to End Homelessness and Community Renewal Team for putting on an inspiring event.

Special thanks to State Representative Laurie Sweet and State Representative Nick Menapace for being great teammates.

The speakers at the event reminded us that we lost 200 souls to homelessness last year. We have too many folks unsheltered and too many living in shelters.

It doesn’t have to be this way. I’ll continue my work on the legislative side and hope next year, you’ll join me on the walk.

A Shout Out to Boy Scout Troop 274!

On Sunday, State Senator Paul Honig and I celebrated three new Eagle Scouts for Boy Scout Troop 274 - Avon, CT.

I say it every time, but this program and the wonderful young men and families who participate are impressive.

It’s a long road to get to Eagle Scout, and they are known worldwide for their leadership.

It all starts when they are mere Cub Scouts, and the qualities of helpfulness, kindness, and preparedness are taught throughout.

Congratulations, Logan, Sujith, and Keshav!

Ellie: My First Public Hearing

Hello and welcome back to my weekly update!

This week, I attended my first public hearing for the Planning and Development committee and was tasked with keeping track of the speaker order.

This was an exciting experience as I had never attended a public hearing before.

I found it admirable how many members of the public came to read testimony, because it is an intimidating endeavor. I also enjoyed the productive conversations that occurred between both legislators and members of the public.

I was truly seeing the legislative process in action.

The testimonial process sparked some questions for me. What is expected in a written and oral testimony? How does a person convey their point in such a short period of time? Testifying means people are willing to show up and speak true to their convictions, which takes an immense amount of courage.

This was not a closed-door meeting, but a living exchange between people who make decisions and pass legislation, and those who are affected by that legislation and those decisions. From what I observed, the most powerful testimonies were those that were personal, specific, and ended with a clear message. It was evident who truly cared about the matter at hand and was willing to fight for it.

This was a shorter week for me due to inclement weather, but it was a great example of how the LOB is never quiet. Even in two days, I experienced so much and gained even more knowledge.

I often reflect on my days in the office, thinking about how much more I know now. I am an avid reader and a particularly big fan of Maya Angelou, whose words I often connect with closely.

I feel her wise adage: “I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn,” accurately summarizes what this internship has felt like and what it will continue to feel like.

Happy March!

Best,

Ellie Rosen

Omnibus Bill Highlights

You're probably aware that we passed an omnibus bill, Senate Bill 298, in the House and Senate last week, comprised of legislation introduced last year. If not, well, we passed an omnibus bill in the House and Senate last week.

Here's a small recap.

Part of that bill includes a number of education provisions that passed by a wide margin in the House last year, and unfortunately was not voted on in the Senate.

One part of it improves the state’s practice of crisis response drills to improve students’ physical safety and properly balance their psychological well-being. While schools must be prepared for an emergency, organizers must ensure these drills are conducted effectively and responsibly.

Another section creates a state seal of civics education and engagement to be earned on high school diplomas for students who demonstrate civics mastery in the classroom and community engagement.

At a time when civic engagement is alarmingly low in our country, this recognition will encourage students to learn more about the way our government works and the role they play in shaping society.

This seal also sends a powerful message that civics isn't just a class to pass; it's a way to make a difference and give back to your community.

Other key aspects of this bill include:

Addressing antisemitism in schools
Adding additional public reporting on student outcomes for our multi-lingual learners
Providing curriculum on Islamic and Arab Studies
Phases out the waiver for children under the age of 5 to begin kindergarten early.
Raising the standard for when a student in pre-K to grade 2 can get an out-of-school suspension
Requiring same-day notification of any use of restraint or seclusion of a student.

The legislation we passed is an important bill that encourages civic engagement and protects our students' mental health

Strengthening and Modernizing Our Elections

We advanced legislation to strengthen and modernize Connecticut’s election laws. These reforms take important steps to protect the integrity, security, and transparency of our democratic process by:

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

These updates reflect a balanced approach: expanding access to the ballot while maintaining strong safeguards to protect public trust.

Addressing Antisemitism in Our Schools

We also passed education reform legislation responding to rising antisemitism in schools.

The bill establishes a working group that will equip educators with tools and guidance to combat anti-Jewish hate and foster inclusive, respectful learning environments for all students.

And We Passed SB 299, Too

Cracking Down on Bottle Redemption Fraud

In addition, we approved legislation targeting bottle redemption fraud, an issue that has grown since Connecticut increased its bottle deposit from five cents to ten cents. Some out-of-state actors have exploited the higher refund value by transporting large quantities of containers into Connecticut, leading to reported losses in the millions for beverage distributors.
The new law addresses this abuse by:

Increasing fines for violations of the state’s bottle bill
Requiring redemption centers to record identifying information for anyone redeeming more than 1,000 bottles and cans in a single day
Granting law enforcement clear authority to pursue out-of-state violators

These changes protect legitimate consumers and small businesses while preserving the integrity of Connecticut’s recycling system.

March: A Month of Awareness

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a time to foster understanding, break down barriers, and celebrate the talents and achievements of people with developmental disabilities.

Disabilities are part of the human experience, and we must promote inclusion at every opportunity. You can show your support by wearing orange, the official color of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, symbolizing energy and positivity.

March is Women’s History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the remarkable contributions women have made to our communities, our state, and our nation. Here in Connecticut, countless women have shaped our history through leadership, innovation, advocacy, and perseverance.

While this month offers a special opportunity to reflect, their stories deserve to be honored all year long. From historic homes and museums to landmarks connected to groundbreaking achievements and social movements, our state is rich with places that preserve and share the legacy of women who helped shape Connecticut’s past and future.

Take some time to explore these meaningful sites and learn more about the women behind them. Click here to view a list of historic landmarks across Connecticut that are deeply connected to women’s history and the stories that continue to inspire generations today.