Jennifer Leeper

This week, the House and Senate passed an omnibus bill comprised of legislation introduced last year. Part of that bill includes a number of education provisions that passed by a wide margin in the House last year and unfortunately was not voted on in the Senate. I'm extremely proud of this work, and I'm thrilled the legislature convened to see this bill through.

One part of this bill improves the state’s practice of crisis response drills to improve students’ physical safety and properly balance their psychological wellbeing. While schools must be prepared for an emergency, organizers must ensure these drills are conducted effectively and responsibly.

Another section creates a state seal of civics education and engagement to be earned on high school diplomas for students who demonstrate civics mastery in the classroom and community engagement.

At a time when civic engagement is alarmingly low in our country, this recognition will encourage students to learn more about the way our government works and the role they play in shaping society.

The House is BACK IN SESSION Feb. 26th. Our representatives are gearing up to pass critical legislation through May 6th. Follow along at CT-N.com and stay tuned for updates!

Tomorrow, Feb. 20 at 10am, the Education Committee will hold our public hearing for HB 5149 - An Act Concerning Phone-Free Schools. The bill seeks to ban the use of cell phones during the school day and to prohibit school districts from using social media as the only means of providing information to families.

I have spoken before about seeing firsthand the effects of phone addiction on students, and I believe this bill is an essential first step in helping our kids reclaim their childhood and restore a focused learning environment. As you can read here and here, having phone-free schools prevents distractions, allows our students to be more engaged, gives our teachers more focused students, and even makes our schools safer.

Though it is early in the legislative session, the Education Committee is already taking steps to pass critical legislation.

This week we moved several bills forward in the legislative process, including one that provides free breakfast for all students and free lunch for students eligible for reduced priced lunch, and another bill that increases education funding for public schools. There is a long road left for these bills and concepts, and I'll keep you updated as these proposals advance through the process!

The House came back into session this week, where we will meet for the next three months to pass legislation to better our state. It was wonderful to welcome our First Selectperson Christine Vitale in the House Chamber to join us in kicking off our work on behalf of our community.

This session, the Education Committee will tackle several very important topics, including adjusting state funding for public education, passing a statewide ban on cellphones in schools, and properly compensating our student teachers.

Next week, the 2026 legislative session will officially get underway at the state Capitol. My legislative colleagues and I will begin several months of debate, deliberation, and decision-making on a wide range of key policy issues that will shape our state in the year ahead.

Watch the 2026 legislative session live on CT-N beginning Wednesday, February 4, at 10:00 a.m., with coverage of opening day. Live streams of subsequent session days and committee meetings are also available at any time.

Governor Ned Lamont activated Connecticut’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol today at noon, and it will remain in effect until noon on Wednesday, January 28, due to a blast of extremely cold air that will impact the state during this period.

Please be reminded that warming centers throughout the area are available for individuals and families in need. You can search for them here. These locations provide a safe, heated space during extreme cold conditions. Please use extreme caution on the roads during the impending snowstorm and stay safe.

A reminder to please join me, Reps. McCarthy Vahey and Keitt, and state and local leaders on tonight at 7pm in the BOE Conference Room (501 Kings Hwy E, Fairfield) for a housing forum to discuss the impact and implementation of An Act Concerning Housing Growth.

This is an important bill that I truly believe will benefit our community, and I'd love to have a conversation with you about it. You can join us either in person or online. I hope to see you there!