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Dear Neighbor,
The Judiciary Committee was hard at work this week, advancing legislation that will restrict ICE from entering our state’s safe havens, such as hospitals and places of worship, and prohibiting license plate reader data from being shared with them.
More about that legislation and more is included.
As co-chair of the Committee on Children, I spoke in support of Senate Bill 265, which calls for additional funding for the Care 4 Kids Program. Residents, whom the program was established to support, are still waiting on critical relief.
Read more about our call to action below.
Ensuring Connecticut children never go hungry while in school, a student and resident of Stamford, sixth grader Alexandria Ford, spoke in front of many attendees about Gov. Lamont’s school breakfast proposal.
Alexandria’s confidence, powerful words, and admirable support for her fellow students inspired everyone in the room.
Continue rocking, Alexandria!
Many more important updates are included in this week’s edition.
Enjoy, and I’ll update you with more soon.
Sincerely,
Corey P. Paris
State Representative |
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This week, the Judiciary Committee voted to advance legislation that would expand restrictions on where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents can operate in Connecticut.
The bills would prohibit ICE from entering places of worship and hospitals, ensuring that our residents are not afraid to seek medical care or practice their faith. Connecticut is already one of the safest states for immigrants in the country, and we do not need the federal government's heavy-handed enforcement tactics to keep our communities safe.
Attorney General William Tong has voiced his support for these measures, noting that immigrants and their families have a right to be protected from violence and intimidation. |
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| Photo provided by: Inside Investigator |
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Earlier this month, the Committee also held a public hearing on several bills aimed at increasing state oversight of federal law enforcement officers, including SB 91 and SB 397, which would expand the definition of "peace officer" under state law to cover all federal law enforcement agents — not just those dealing with narcotics. Connecticut Inspector General Eliot Prescott testified that the state has a broad sovereign interest in ensuring that all officers, including federal agents, comply with Connecticut law.
While these proposals continue to be refined, the Committee is committed to ensuring Connecticut has the tools it needs to hold everyone accountable under the law. |
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Photo provided by: Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media
In a significant bipartisan achievement, the Judiciary Committee approved a compromise bill that would prevent license plate reader data from being shared with federal immigration authorities.
This legislation was the product of a broad collaboration among lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the ACLU of Connecticut, the state Judicial Branch, and the Department of Transportation. |
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Under the bill, license plate data retention would be limited to 30 days, and after 7 days, police would be required to obtain a judicial warrant to access the information.
The legislation strikes a careful balance: it preserves the ability of law enforcement to use this technology to solve crimes and protect our communities, while ensuring that residents' civil liberties are not compromised and that the data is not misused for immigration enforcement, reproductive health care investigations, or other purposes unrelated to public safety.
As Senator John Kissel, the ranking Republican on the Committee, noted, the warrant requirement after seven days is a crucial safeguard against "open-season fishing expeditions". The bill now heads to the House for a floor vote. Local law enforcement agencies are already updating their policies to align with these new standards. |
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The Judiciary Committee held a significant public hearing on SB 503, a bill that would expand early parole eligibility for individuals who committed crimes when they were under the age of 26.
Over 200 people, including incarcerated individuals and their families, submitted testimony in support of the proposal. The bill is grounded in well-established neuroscience showing that the brain does not fully develop until around age 25, particularly in areas governing impulse control and long-term decision-making. |
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Photo provided by: Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0
Under the proposed legislation, a person who committed a crime before turning 26 would become eligible for parole after serving 60% of a sentence of less than 50 years, or 30 years of a sentence of more than 50 years.
Importantly, the bill does not mean automatic release — the Board of Pardons and Paroles would still make individual determinations about whether a person has been rehabilitated. Advocates and researchers have pointed to Connecticut's own data showing that only about 1 in 10 individuals released under similar earlier laws have returned to prison, compared to a general recidivism rate of 40% to 49%.
This is about being smart on justice — acknowledging that people can grow beyond the worst mistakes of their youth while still respecting the needs of victims and communities. |
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| On Wednesday, I joined my colleagues, childcare organizations and advocates, and parents from all over our state for a press conference in support of increased funding for Care 4 Kids. |
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| Senate Bill 265, An Act Concerning Additional Funding For The Care 4 Kids Program and Certain Child Care Provider, which recently passed the Committee on Children, calls to increase the program’s funding by $70 million, seeking to support thousands of families currently waitlisted and enhance funding for child care centers in Eastern Connecticut, which are underfunded compared to those located in other regions of the state. |
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At a time when affordability is at the forefront of families’ minds, they along with providers are struggling in a challenging environment. This represents a real opportunity to help thousands of families in need, protect important childcare providers, and continue supporting our communities in strong and effective ways.
As co-chair of the Committee on Children, I know that if we continue to delay this support, we’re essentially telling families, childcare providers, home-based care centers, and the children themselves that they are on their own.
Connecticut is great for working women and growing families, but we cannot talk about raising the greatest generation of young people if expanding the universal childcare program does not include funding for Care 4 Kids.
As co-chair of the Committee on Children, I will continue to be the voice for families and children, putting them first always. |
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| Click the video above to watch my speech. |
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| Alexandria Ford shares her experiences at the press conference on Governor Lamont's school breakfast proposal and HB 5144. |
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On March 17, my fellow legislators, along with advocates from End Hunger CT, School Meals for All CT, pediatricians, teachers, parents, and students, to support the governor's school breakfast proposal, as well as HB 5144, which would bring free breakfasts to school students.
HB 5144 would provide funding to reimburse school districts for the difference between the federal reimbursement rate for reduced-price and fully paid school meals. I'm happy to sign on in support of this bill.
And I want to thank Stamford sixth-grader Alexandria for speaking at the press conference and sharing her experiences at her school. It's wonderful to see young people speak up and advocate for their futures.
I see you, Alexandria! |
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The Passport to Connecticut Libraries program is back will take place from April 1–30.
Starting April 1, visit your local library to pick up your official program passport along with a list of participating libraries across the state. Then the adventure begins, explore as many libraries as you can throughout April!
Visit at least five different participating libraries and collect stamps from those locations (only official participating libraries count, be sure to check your list). Then, once you’re done, be sure to return your completed passport by May 11 to be entered into a prize drawing.
With nearly 200 public libraries in Connecticut—plus school, college, museum, and even church libraries—there’s an incredible variety to discover. Each library offers something unique, and this program is a fun way to experience all the amazing things libraries across the state have to offer.
So grab your passport and start exploring, your next favorite library might be just around the corner! |
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| Many thanks to the Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Stamford/Norwalk Chapter, for its visit to the Capitol. I was particularly thrilled to engage with and encourage our youth. Before 2008, Stamford had never sent a Black legislator to Hartford. |
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Our city has three Black representatives, including myself, fellow Rep. State Representative Hubert Delany, and Senator Pat Billie Miller.
I understand that this progress matters deeply to our families, but also how important it is for our children to understand they are part of this legacy, too. |
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