Updates from State Rep. Nick Menapace for April 28, 2026

April 28, 2026

Just four more days at the Capitol (Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) left in the session!

I know I won't get everything I wanted passed off my wish list, there have been some major wins. The work doesn't end at midnight on May 6. I'm looking forward to doing more.

Support for Just Cause Evictions

One of the issues I've worked on that has gotten traction is just cause evictions.

I was proud to stand last week with my legislative colleagues and Governor Ned Lamont in calling to pass those protections for renters.

Just cause evictions are about stability and fairness — making sure people aren’t pushed out of their homes without a legitimate reason.

At a time when housing costs are rising, this is a common-sense step to protect residents and strengthen our communities.

Southeastern Connecticut Day

Thank you to everyone who came out this week for Southeastern Connecticut Day, which brought together businesses and organizations from across the region to share how their work strengthens our community!

My colleagues from the area and I are looking forward to hosting more in the future.

Grateful that Safe Futures took part in the special day, sharing information about its services and raising awareness about the Center for Safe Futures, the new Family Justice Center scheduled to open next year.

Puppy Day at the Capitol

It was puppy day on Monday at the Capitol!

As part of Southeastern Connecticut, the Connecticut Humane Society has some puppies here who will be up for adoption in a few weeks. Check out their locations in Waterford, Newington and Wilton.

Letter to the Editor

When the state underfunds education, property taxes go up.

When we don’t build enough housing, local budgets get tighter.

These issues are connected, and our policies should be too.

I wrote about it here in The Day.

Banning Rodenticides

I got to meet an eastern screech owl named Cassie from A Place called Hope.
Rodenticides don’t just kill rodents, they poison the animals that rely on them, including wildlife like Cassie. That’s why the House passed HB5155 to ban their use.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where I hope it also passes and then makes its way to Gov. Ned Lamont's desk.

Election Security, Ballot Access Expansion

People’s right to vote is under constant attack around the country, but here in Connecticut, we’re making sure elections are free and fair. Some of the key provisions:

Replacing the confusing second envelope with a more reliable bar code system
Setting up a system to check the status of your absentee ballot online
Allowing more people who request a ballot to be automatically sent one for each election
Expanding where town-supervised voting by absentee ballot takes place (currently it is only in nursing homes and hospice)
Letting anyone who will be 18 by Election Day vote early or by absentee ballot

Bills to Help Older Residents

On Monday, the House of Representatives passed two pieces of legislation that originated in the Aging Committee.

The first, HB 5142, extends protections for the use of technology to residents of residential care homes and sets a penalty for violation of the protections. It ensures residents in residential care homes can set up virtual monitoring systems so families have peace of mind and they can keep an eye on their loved ones. In the case of roommates, permission must sign off on paperwork, which can change at any time. With the support of many stakeholders, the legislation passed unanimously, 150-0-1 in the House.

The second, HB 5143, requires homemaker companion agency employees to complete eight hours of basic training each year, including training on topics such as: helping individuals with Alzheimer’s, identifying abuse, identifying when care is above capacity of a homemaker companion, and hygiene assistance. Currently, there isn’t a set training for homemaker companions. The bill also had overwhelming bipartisan support, passing 149-1-1 in the House.

Around the 37th

I had the chance to visit the Pattagansett Art Center at the former Girl Scout camp by Pattagansett Lake.

They have some exciting plans for the grounds, and I was lucky to get a tour. Looking forward to seeing them open soon!