Special Session Recap

November 13, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor, 

The House held a special session yesterday. A lot of great legislation was packed into the day - please keep reading for a summary of the bills that were passed.

Emergency Response Fund

The House passed a bill that will allocate funds to offset reductions in federal programs that directly impact Connecticut residents.

The funding will cover gaps in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the Low-Income Heating Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP. Connecticut will not sit by idly as the federal government attacks middle and low-income families.

Click here or the link below to see my remarks on the House floor. 
State Representative Brandon Chafee on H.B. 8003
 

Housing

From retirees looking to downsize, to young professionals and families searching for affordable rentals, Connecticut residents at every stage of life share a common goal: finding a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.
 
The bill empowers towns to plan for responsible, data-driven growth using insights from state, local, and regional partners to meet the housing needs of today and tomorrow. Developed in partnership with municipal leaders, regional councils, colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and Governor Lamont, this legislation creates a collaborative and practical framework through local Housing Growth Plans.

UConn Health 

We also approved legislation preserving access to health care at Waterbury, Bristol and Day Kimball Hospitals. We voted in favor of a deal for the University of Connecticut Health Center to buy the hospitals, preventing a potentially devastating closure for our communities.
 
This not only ensures that these hospitals remain open, but it also protects existing positions and strengthens the future of health care across the state. By partnering with UConn Health, we are securing long-term stability and expanding access to high-quality care for families who deserve it close to home.

Children’s Behavioral Health

Finally, we passed legislation that continues to build on our commitment to children’s behavioral health care.
 
Highlights include:

  • Statewide study to assess the demand for children’s behavioral health services and improve data collection
  • New grant program to support care coordination and resource navigation for kids and families
  • Insurance companies must now cover autism treatments — including applied behavior analysis and cognitive behavioral therapy — up to age 26
  • Adding substance abuse treatment providers for children to Transforming Children’s Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee (TCB)  

 
Together, these measures represent a stronger, more coordinated system of care for Connecticut’s children.

Sincerely,

Brandon Chafee
State Representative

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