Recent Bills Signed into Law
June 11, 2026
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Dear Neighbor,
The 2026 legislative session ended about a month ago. The General Assembly’s constitutional responsibility is to draft legislation, hold hearings, debate, and vote on proposals for new laws. But it doesn’t end there. A bill does not become law until it is signed by the governor. Here’s a report that highlights some of those laws.
Gun Responsibility
I’ve always been a passionate champion of common-sense, reasonable gun safety laws. Last week, Governor Ned Lamont signed Public Act 26-41, which prohibits the sale and importation of handguns that can easily be converted into fully automatic machine guns. This addresses a recent nationwide increase in which firearms have been designed in a way that enables them to become automatic weapons with the use of a simple conversion device that’s about the size of a Lego.
Connecticut’s gun responsibility laws make our state, cities, neighborhoods, schools, and people safer. The continued decrease in crimes of violence shows that.
School Bus Safety
Governor Lamont signed a bill that holds drivers accountable when they fail to stop for school buses. Protecting students is our goal.
Beginning October 1, 2026, drivers who violate the state’s school bus stopping law for a third time will face a six-month suspension of their driver’s license. Drivers must stop at least 10 feet from the front or back of a school bus displaying its flashing red lights and remain there until the lights are off. Violations include a $450 fine for the first offense and a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to 30 days in prison, or both for a subsequent offense.
Combined with Danbury’s addition of cameras to school buses to track bad drivers, this new law adds another important layer of accountability and strengthens protections for children going to and from school.
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Shielding you from the Chaos, Cruelty, and Corruption in Washington
In response to the instability and inconsistency of the federal government, we have funded crucial services.
Connecticut is allocating $8.5 million from its Federal Cuts Response Fund to provide $300 grocery assistance cards to roughly 25,000 residents who are expected to lose their SNAP benefits due to federal rule changes enacted by the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans. This investment aims to protect vulnerable families and ensure they can continue putting food on the table in lieu of these federal cutbacks. No one should go hungry in America.
We have funded the federal cuts in health insurance and health care, vaccinations, and education. We have protected your right to vote safely, securely, and conveniently. Don’t forget to exercise your superpower: VOTE!
Reducing Medical Debt
More than 97,000 Connecticut residents can expect to receive letters in the mail beginning this week that their medical debt has been reduced or eliminated.
Medical debt places a significant financial burden on families in communities across Connecticut. This marks the fourth round of the state's medical debt relief initiative, which provides meaningful assistance to qualifying residents who are struggling to pay outstanding medical bills. Since the program launched in 2024, more than 252,000 Connecticut residents have had over $513 million in medical debt cancelled, helping families regain financial stability and peace of mind.
Residents whose medical debt has been forgiven will receive a letter in an Undue Medical Debt-branded envelope featuring the Connecticut state seal. These notifications are legitimate and do not require any action on the recipient's part.
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Love Conquers Hate
Last but not least, the Hate Crimes Advisory Council announced the launch of a new statewide campaign, “Hate Is More Than a Word... It May Be a Crime”, alongside expanded online resources to help residents recognize and report hate crimes and bias incidents. The rise of hate crimes such as those against religions, ethnicity, sexual orientation, judges and elected officials, and peaceful protests, some of which have resulted in the death of innocent people, must be opposed. Connecticut must be safe.
Please click here for more information.
If you or someone you know requires assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at the Capitol at 1-800-842-1902 or email me at Bob.Godfrey@cga.ct.gov.
Sincerely,
Bob Godfrey
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