Gregg Haddad

The legislative session has wrapped up, and I’m proud of the progress we made, especially in the final stretch. 

The accomplishments -- please scroll down for more on them -- reflect our shared values: fairness, safety, opportunity, and accountability. While there is still more work ahead, I’m grateful to continue fighting for policies that make a real difference for Connecticut families every day.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

The budget passed with major bipartisan support, 127 to 21, in the House.

Major, positive changes in the second year of the adjusted budget include: 

• Millions in increased aid for local boards of education in the form of an additional ECS grant. The increase will also be built into the ECS grant in FY 28, which begins on July 1, 2027.
• Continued commitment to responsible budgeting by putting $1 billion toward paying down long-term debt. The continued focus on debt service is literally paying dividends, as it freed up $800 million that Connecticut would have otherwise have paid in interest-servicing debt.
• Additional funding to ensure all school districts receive a minimum of a 4% increase in their ECS grant this year, regardless of student enrollment.
• Provides for universal, free school breakfast. While it doesn't go far enough -- we should also include free, universal lunches -- it's a very positive step in the right direction.
• Establishes the first-in-the-nation, state-level graduate student loan program to replace the Grad PLUS loan program cancelled by the federal government (more on that below).
• A $75 million increase to HUSKY Health, which provides comprehensive, no-cost or low-cost medical coverage to eligible low-income residents, children, seniors, and people with disabilities.
• Provides a $300 million transfer of ‘volatile’ state revenue to the Early Childhood Endowment, which helps families access child care, supports higher wages for educators, and improves child care facilities.
• Maintains support for the Micro-transit Pilot Program, providing alternatives for those without immediate access to public transportation lines. Provides millions in additional support to various transportation districts, including the Greater Bridgeport Transit District, Shoreline East, and the Rides for Jobs program in Eastern Connecticut. Reduces bus fare costs for Veterans and Students.
• Helps small businesses offer health care support by providing a tax credit when they contribute toward employees’ individual health insurance coverage.
• Supports small businesses and biotech companies through a new research and development tax credit to help them grow and create jobs in our state.

The budget now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.

In response to backwards federal changes to graduate student lending, we dedicated $30 million in the budget to establish the nation’s first state-level graduate student loan program. 

The initiative is designed to take the place of the federal Graduate PLUS loan program, which is being eliminated by the Trump administration, and to ensure Connecticut students can continue to afford advanced degrees in critical, high-demand fields, such as nursing and teaching.

For the entire legislative session, Sen. Derek Slap and I –- co-chairs of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee –- and Rep. Kaitlyn Shake, a registered nurse, championed urgent and bold state action following federal policy changes adopted under the Trump administration.

These changes include federal loan caps that sharply restrict borrowing for graduate students. Beginning in July, new students in graduate programs face limits of just $20,500 per year (or $100,000 total). Notably, despite requiring extensive training and licensure, nursing, public health, social work, education, and other essential fields have been excluded from the “professional” designation that has been granted higher loan limits.  However, these degree programs often cost more than the limits.

Compounding the issue, the federal government is eliminating the Graduate PLUS loan program entirely — forcing many students to turn to private lenders with uncertain terms and limited accessibility, particularly for those without established credit or from low- and moderate-income backgrounds. Grad PLUS loans had been critical to cover the cost of degree programs in excess of the new limits.

Connecticut has stepped in to fill the void in leadership and to provide low-interest loans that ensure the next generation of professionals – our educators, our health care providers – can attend graduate school, free from high-cost private loans.

It’s an investment in a workforce that benefits communities statewide.

I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues to answer the threat to these professions with an affordable state solution.

The House and Senate passed two major pieces of legislation that I co-sponsored in order to position Connecticut as a national leader in protecting residents in the digital age.

Senate Bill 4 makes it easier for residents to demand that companies delete their personal data at no cost and ensures businesses treat consumers fairly as technology evolves. The bill also:

• Provides a one-stop Data Deletion Option for residents
• Strengthens consumer privacy protections by cracking down on data brokers
• Limits the sale of precise geolocation data
• Increases transparency around algorithmic “dynamic” pricing
• Prevents streaming platforms from blasting commercials at higher volumes

Specifically, Senate Bill 397 does the following:

• Enables any person the right to sue federal actors who violate their constitutional rights
• Allows federal agents to be prosecuted if they abuse their authority or otherwise violate people’s rights
• Establishes protected spaces, such as hospitals, schools, court houses, places of worship, where federal agents cannot make immigration arrests unless they have a judicial warrant

No one is above the law, and the protection of constitutional rights is not solely within the federal government’s purview.

The House and the Senate passed a bill, House Bill 5001, allowing no-excuse absentee voting.

The bill was written and passed as the direct result of the statewide public referendum held in November 2024 when 58% of Connecticut voters demanded that the state Constitution be amended to allow for absentee voting by anyone, without having to meet one of Connecticut’s five restrictive absentee voting excuses: active military service, being out of town, being sick, personal religious beliefs, or serving as an election official.

HB 5001 passed the House of Representatives on April 23, 101-49 vote, and the Senate last week, 24-11. 

The bill now heads to the desk of Democratic Governor Ned Lamont for his signature into law.

Twenty-eight states in America already offer “no-excuse” absentee voting, meaning any voter can request and cast an absentee ballot, with no excuse or reason required. Another eight states and Washington, D.C., conduct elections entirely by mail (California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington), which means voters don’t need to request a ballot, and instead automatically receive one. In total, 36 states already offer no-excuses absentee voting.

The foundation of every democracy is the right to vote. The people of Connecticut have demanded that we do this and it's long overdue that we passed the legislation to accomplish it.

The House passed two agency bills related to the DOT and the DMV.

Some of the things in the comprehensive DOT bill that will directly affect 135th District residents: 

• Dynamic part-time "flex" lanes, with the first of those projects planned for Danbury in the I-84/Route 7 corridor in Danbury. The lane will allow to drive on the shoulder of the road during peak travel times to address congestion and mobility. It’s all a few years down the road, (ahem) but the aim is to relieve the unforgiving congestion we have all experienced down in our stretch of I-84.
• A Traffic Signal Grant Program, which adjusts the DOT's prioritization for traffic signal modernization to heavily congested areas and removes some of the more cumbersome barriers toward accessing grants. 
• A working group, which will study freight rail's impact and encourage freight rail's use in transporting goods throughout the state. 
• Distracted driving law updates. The legislature updated the state's laws and explicitly prohibited driving while a video is visible to drivers in a normal driving position. Much of this activity is already illegal under existing law, but this makes it clear that watching a video while driving is illegal, regardless of the technology that is being used.
• Creation of a DEEP working group to evaluate Connecticut school bus fleets' use of alternative fuels and technologies. This is in response to the federal government's elimination of funds to help support districts in converting to the kinds of vehicles that support clean air. Additionally, the deadlines have been pushed back for districts to convert their fleets. Our goal to achieve clean air is still in place, but we have to be realistic that, without federal funds, not all districts will meet the current deadlines. 

The DMV bill includes the following:

• Dealer conveyance fees consumer protections -- We addressed dealer conveyance fees, which a lot of folks have been led to believe are a state fee -- they are not.  Those fees are used by dealers to recoup certain expenses and are uncapped. The bill requires dealers to include the fee in the price they advertise or quote, including all ads and negotiation materials. This was a consumer protection measure that took a number of years to get done, but we are extremely proud of the protections this bill will put in place.
• In-person ID renewal - We also gave the DMV commissioner discretion to waive the requirement to appear in person to renew a non-REAL ID card who is 65 or older, or has disability or condition that substantially impairs their ability to appear in person at the DMV.

The Senate passed both bills; they await Gov. Lamont's signatures.

The House passed important bills advancing our efforts to support older adults across the state. These measures reflect our commitment to improving access to essential services, strengthening protections, and enhancing quality of life for seniors and their families. I’m proud to have worked alongside my colleagues to move this legislation forward, and I look forward to continuing our work to ensure Connecticut remains a place where older residents can live with dignity, independence, and security.

Senate Bill 285: An Act Providing a Family Tax Credit. Creates a new $2,000 family caregiver tax credit for eligible taxpayers, starting for tax years on or after January 1, 2027, with reimbursements beginning in 2028. It allows caregivers to get 50% of eligible expenses back — up to $2,000 per year — for out-of-pocket costs like home modifications, medical equipment, and nursing services. It's limited to individuals with a federal adjusted gross income (AGI) of up to $50,000, or couples with an AGI of less than $100,000.Qualified expenses include the following:

• Hiring home health aides or personal care attendants (PCA).
• Home modifications (e.g., ramps, widening doorways).
  
• Medical equipment (e.g., lift chairs, specialized beds).
  
• Respite care or adult day care.

House Bill 5142: An Act Concerning the Use of Technology for Virtual Visitation and Monitoring in Nursing Homes and Residential Care Homes, extends protections for the use of technology to residents of residential care homes and sets a penalty for violation of the protections. It ensures those living 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.

House Bill 5143: An Act Requiring Training for Homemaker-Companion Agency Employees, 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.  

Connecticut House Democrats took action to prevent gun violence by banning convertible pistols — firearms that can be easily modified to function like automatic weapons — and making it easier to safely surrender firearms to local police.

The Senate subsequently passed the measure last week after a filibuster.

I'm proud we took common-sense steps to keep our communities safer.

House Bill 5003: An Act Concerning Workforce Development and Working Conditions in the State, focuses on creating safer, more equitable workplaces while strengthening Connecticut’s workforce.

The bill makes targeted investments in the people who keep our communities running by supporting first responders, veterans, nurses, teachers, and skilled workers. It expands benefits for police, firefighters, and veterans, including assistance for families of fallen responders, housing support, and improved access to education and job opportunities.

It also enhances worker protections by providing stronger safeguards for nurses, teachers, and paraeducators, ensuring better support in the event of workplace injuries, and promoting fair pay and safer conditions across industries. Updated standards, such as protections for nursing mothers, reflect the needs of today’s workforce.

In addition, the legislation invests in workforce development through training programs and stronger partnerships between education and industry, helping connect residents to good-paying jobs while supporting business growth. It also includes measures to improve oversight in home care, strengthen hospital staffing compliance, and establish clear guidelines for remote work during severe weather.