Wishing everyone in Bridgeport and beyond a joyful, healthy, and prosperous 2026. As we welcome the new year, let’s celebrate the strength, resilience, and spirit of our community. May 2026 bring hope, opportunity, and continued growth, and may we work together to make our city an even better place to live, work, and raise our children.
Here are the sections in today's email:
- Emergency Response Fund Put To Use
- Erasing Medical Debt
- New Laws Effective January 1, 2026
- Funding for Home Energy-Saving Upgrades
| Emergency Response Fund Put To Use |
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In November, we passed a $500 million emergency response fund during a special session to support residents facing harmful federal cutbacks. Now, Governor Ned Lamont is putting a plan in motion to put that fund to good use. His $170 million proposal calls for committing:
- $115 million to offset cuts to health care subsidies and tax credits
- $24.5 million to support community food banks and pantries
- Nearly $7 million to combat homelessness
- $4.7 million for 2-1-1 to increase call volume and Community Action Agencies to support SNAP recipients
The state announced it has helped erase some or all of the medical debt for 40,000 Connecticut residents, a move to help those struggling to pay medical bills. Those affected should have received a letter in the mail this month informing them of the news.
The governor's office says the debt is forgiven at a fraction of its face value - typically costing a few pennies on the dollar.
This is the third round of the initiative, which has now eliminated $198 million for 160,000 Connecticut residents since December 2024. CLICK HERE to learn more about the program.
| New Laws Effective January 1, 2026 |
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As we welcome a new year, several laws that we passed in the last legislative session will take effect on January 1, 2026.
These new measures address key issues impacting our state and its residents, including:
- strengthening protections for workers in sensitive professions
- expanding incentives for farmers
- improved reporting requirements to better track higher education enrollment, post-secondary credits, and student opportunities
We took a major step forward in advancing policies that support new, diverse housing options across Connecticut. With some of the highest housing costs in the region, too many individuals and families are being priced out of the communities where they work, grew up, and hope to retire.
Preventative health care continues to be a priority because early detection saves both lives and long-term costs. To support this, we now require health insurers to cover certain high-priority biomarker tests that aid in early detection, prevention, and treatment.
Additionally, we have prohibited the substitution of lower-priced drugs for higher-priced medications for individuals living with multiple sclerosis and arthritis, and we have made this ban permanent for medications used to treat mental health disorders.
These updates reflect our ongoing commitment to making Connecticut more affordable, healthier, and more equitable for everyone. To learn more about these and other laws taking effect on January 1, 2026, click the button below for a complete, easy-to-read summary.
| Funding for Home Energy-Saving Upgrades |
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The state has approved $18 million to launch the Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving Loan and Grant Fund. The new program is designed to help homeowners and affordable housing developers make energy-saving upgrades that lower utility costs and improve safety and comfort.
The program will support:
- More efficient heating and cooling systems
- Insulation and building upgrades
- Other improvements that reduce energy waste
It also tackles a big problem that often stops projects before they start: health and safety issues like asbestos, outdated wiring, mold, and moisture that must be fixed before energy work can move forward.
Funding breakdown:
- $12 million to help developers upgrade existing multifamily affordable housing with energy-efficient retrofits
- $6 million to help lower-income homeowners remove health and safety barriers so their homes qualify for weatherization and efficiency programs
Too many families — especially those with lower incomes — spend a large share of their paychecks on energy bills. Fixing these barriers opens the door to real, long-term savings and more comfortable homes.
This investment makes housing more affordable, cuts energy costs, and ensures more Connecticut residents can benefit from energy efficiency, regardless of income or ZIP code.
