Updates from State Rep. Nick Menapace for Feb. 3, 2026

February 3, 2026

I joined hundreds of state legislators from across the country in signing a letter supporting the people of Minnesota following the killing of two people at the hands of federal immigration agents.

Please take a moment to read the statement below:

We, the undersigned state legislators from across this country, contend we are at a decisive moment in our nation’s history. For a nation founded 250 years ago on the basic and fundamental principles of freedom, liberty, and inalienable rights, having armed masked federal agents on our streets engaging in a campaign of wanton destruction threatens to destroy these foundational values that underpin our democracy.

We are stepping into extraordinarily dangerous territory in this country and have reached an unimaginable point where ICE and Border Patrol agents have now, twice within one month, killed US citizens on camera while the federal government tells us not to believe our own eyes.

Further, the vast majority of ICE arrests in our cities and suburbs are of those with no criminal record, while due process and search and seizure rights guaranteed by our constitution are not just being violated daily: chillingly, these violations are officially sanctioned by leaked Department of Homeland Security memos.

We stand with the people of Minnesota and demand that ICE and Border Patrol leave Minnesota immediately.

We demand a full and independent investigation into the shootings and deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, as well as others over the last year.

Finally, we demand the restoration of our American values and principles to our federal government, an end to the abductions and killings, an end to the occupation of our towns and cities, and an end to Congressional funding for ICE.

Letter to the Editor in The Day

Setting aside resources isn’t enough — leadership requires action. Connecticut has the capacity to protect our residents from federal instability, but only if we’re willing to use the tools we already have. We were elected to lead, not to wait.

Please read the letter here.

Special Access Health Enrollment

Access Health CT is offering a Special Enrollment Period for eligible customers to enroll in health coverage with the new state subsidy, which started Feb. 1. The Special Enrollment Period end date will be determined.

People who qualify for this Special Enrollment Period include:

Households with an annual income between 100% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), who are not already enrolled in the Covered CT Program. These people will receive a state subsidy to replace 100% of the expired federal enhanced premium tax credit amounts.
Households with an annual income over 400% and up to 500% FPL. These people will receive a state subsidy to replace 50% of the expired federal enhanced premium tax credit amounts.

Eligible people who have already enrolled or plan to enroll in a 2026 health plan will see a credit applied to their carrier bill.

It’s important to note that while customers will not see the state subsidy amount in AHCT’s online system until all updates have been made in the coming weeks, all eligible customers will soon receive a notice in the mail from AHCT with the amount of their state subsidy.

Insurance companies will send consumers updated premium bills with the credit for the state subsidy amount. This manual process will begin soon in advance of the system updates to be implemented in the coming weeks.

CT Education Summit

A strong lineup for Connecticut’s students: Sen. Kushner, Rep. Sweet and I with former U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona at the 2026 CT Education Issues Summit.

Standing Up for Decency

Standing up for civil rights, fair wages and a better Connecticut at a press conference at the Legislative Office Building on Monday. A bright future is an affordable one that treats everyone with decency, respect, and fair pay.

Make the Polluters Pay

Last week, I stood in the cold with my colleagues, activists, and everyday people to demand accountability. Our state, our nation, and our planet are already feeling the effects of climate change — and we cannot allow the costs of pollution to keep falling on working people instead of the polluters who caused it.

That’s why we need to establish a Climate Superfund, pass an Environmental Rights Amendment, and make polluters pay for the damage they are doing.

Housing Legislation Discussion

Tonight (Feb. 3) at 5:15 p.m., I will be talking about Housing and the new HB 8002, along with state Sen. Martha Marx, Evonne Klein, Sean Ghio and Michael Passero.

This event will be held at Connecticut College in Oliva Hall, located in the Cummings Art Center.

The livestream for the event can be found here.

Event details here.

Pemberton Swearing In

Photos from Rep. Larry Pemberton's swearing in. I'm proud to serve Montville and the State of Connecticut with him.

Animal Welfare Caucus Meeting

I attended 4-hour informational hearing last Tuesday (which can be watched here) to highlight the need for strengthening laws around animal abuse, neglect and starvation. We also discussed a proposed moratorium on incoming pets of dogs, cats, and rabbits to support the overcrowded animal shelters and in-state nonprofits attempting to rehome and care for the strays and surrendered pets we have.

As this report shows, there has been an increase in incidents of animal cruelty and abuse in Connecticut over the past five years, but enforcement or conviction of these crimes has lagged. (Please read more in this CT News Junkie article here.)

The Animal Advocacy Caucus is also committed to protecting the health and well-being of domestic and wildlife here in our beautiful state. We are also advocating to regulate use of harmful pesticides, rodenticides, neonicinoids, that harm the health of the ecosystem and wildlife habitat.

Around the 37th

On Saturday, it was my pleasure to honor Sue Kumro as the Niantic Lions Humanitarian of the Year (left) and Bartolo Drennen as the Salem Lions Humanitarian of the Year.

Congratulations to both honorees!