Special Session Recap, Access Health Enrollment Fair, and More!

November 14, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor,

Happy Friday! I hope you had a wonderful week. The House held a special session on Wednesday. 

Please read below for information on the bills that were passed, an Access Health CT enrollment fair, and more! 

Special Session Update 

Below is a summary of some of the legislation we passed during Wednesday's marathon session:

Emergency Response Fund 

The House passed a bill that will allocate funds to offset reductions in federal programs that directly impact Connecticut residents.

The funding will cover gaps in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the Low-Income Heating Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP.

Children’s Behavioral Health

We also passed legislation that continues to build on House Democrats’ commitment to children’s behavioral health care.
 
Highlights include:

  • Statewide study to assess the demand for children’s behavioral health services and improve data collection
  • New grant program to support care coordination and resource navigation for kids and families
  • Insurance companies must now cover autism treatments — including applied behavior analysis and cognitive behavioral therapy — up to age 26
  • Adding substance abuse treatment providers for children to Transforming Children’s Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee (TCB)  

Together, these measures represent a stronger, more coordinated system of care for Connecticut’s children.

A Better Bill for Housing in CT

From retirees looking to downsize, to young professionals and families searching for attainable rental apartments and smaller homes, Connecticut residents at every stage of life share the hope of being able to have a place to call their own in the community they call home.

The bill empowers towns to plan so they can take the lead and partner on a regional view, using data- and community-driven insights from state, local, and regional partners to meet the housing needs of today and tomorrow.

We are also incentivizing the type of housing towns want to build most, and the infrastructure projects needed alongside them. We worked to bring stakeholders around the table so that communities are empowered to plan holistically and can drive their own plan for growth for their unique workforces. Developed in partnership with municipal leaders, regional councils, colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and Governor Lamont, this legislation creates a collaborative and practical framework for our communities to move forward so all members of our communities are not priced out and left behind, especially our elders and Gen Zers.

UConn Health Acquisitions

We approved legislation preserving access to health care at Waterbury, Bristol and Day Kimball Hospitals. We voted in favor of a deal for the University of Connecticut Health Center to buy the hospitals, preventing a potentially devastating closure for our communities.
 
This not only ensures that these hospitals remain open, but it also protects existing positions and strengthens the future of health care across the state. By partnering with UConn Health, we are securing long-term stability and expanding access to high-quality care for families who deserve it close to home.

Access Health Enrollment Fair 

The Access Health CT team is hosting a Health and Dental Care enrollment fair tomorrow, November 15 at Norwalk City Hall from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

Click here to register. 

Annual Holiday Extravaganza 

The 4th Annual Holiday Extravaganza in Norwalk will be held on Saturday, December 6 from 4 PM to 8 PM at 50 Washington Street! This event has plenty of family friendly activities to help get you into the holiday spirit: 

  • The official Tree Lighting Ceremony
  • Meet-and-greets with holiday characters
  • An outdoor marketplace with over 25 local vendors for holiday shopping
  • Live performances by the Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts, Roton Middle School Choir
  • Carousel rides, a trackless train, stilt walkers, and goat petting!

The holiday extravaganza is free to attend. If you have any questions, please check out the flyer below. 

Early Start CT Program Expanded

Thanks to the Early Childhood Education Endowment, an initiative that was passed by the General Assembly in the 2025 legislative session, the expansion of the Early Start CT program in 2026 marks an important step forward in meeting the growing demand for high-quality early childhood care and education across Connecticut.

Beginning in January 2026, up to 1,000 new spaces will be added to the state’s Early Start CT program, expanding access to affordable early learning opportunities for more families. In addition, the state will increase provider payments by up to 8% to help offset operational costs and support higher staff compensation. The endowment supports the governor’s initiative to implement the largest expansion of early childhood education services in Connecticut’s history. We are thrilled about this program and the tremendous benefits it will bring to children, families, and communities across the state.

Early Start CT is a state-funded early care and education program serving income-eligible families with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. The program is administered by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC).

To support this expansion, OEC will soon launch a Request for Applications (RFA) for child care providers interested in offering Early Start CT spaces. The RFA will be open to child care centers, group child care homes, family child care homes, and public school preschool classrooms throughout the state.

Click here for more information on Early Start CT.

Upcoming Library Events 

The Norwalk Public Library will hold several events over the next few weeks. If you want more information, click on the corresponding flyer or visit the Norwalk Public Library website. 

Westport Public Library also has a robust lineup of programming. Please visit their website to learn more. 

ICYMI

The Westport Fire Department is partnering with  with Bridgeport Rescue Mission for the 3rd annual “Share the Warmth” Coat Drive.

Donations of new or gently used (and clean) winter coats, hats, mittens/gloves, and snow suits will be accepted through November 30th at the following locations:

Click here to learn more. 

The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity (CWCSEO) is hosting a special virtual listening session for those who identify as GEN Z - high schoolers, college students, young adults on November 16 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Please come ready to share about issues impacting you and your community. The information you share will be used to inform policymakers and CWCSEO's work and ensure that the voice of Connecticut residents is the commission's central focus and priority.

Click here to register. 
 

Please don't hesitate to reach out to me with any questions and concerns you may have - I can be reached at Dominique.Johnson@cga.ct.gov, or through my office phone - 860-240-8585.


Sincerely,

Dominique Johnson
State Representative

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