Robin Comey

I hope this message finds you and your family well. As we approach the close of this year’s legislative session, it’s been a demanding week with many late nights. Still, we’re encouraged by the work underway and remain hopeful that we’ll finish strong with meaningful progress for Connecticut residents.

Keep reading for a summary of the bills that have passed the House so far. These measures now move to the Senate, which has until May 6 to take action. We are hopeful the Senate will continue this momentum and advance this legislation so it can move closer to becoming law.

There is plenty to get to in the email below, so make sure to keep scrolling for more on:

• Around Town
• Bills Passed in the House
• CTDOT Virtual Public Open House
• Sky's The Limit Hiking & Walking Challenge
• Community Events

It was a busy and rewarding series of events at the Capitol this week. I was glad to take part in Fire Service Day alongside Rep. Rader, recognizing the dedication and sacrifice of firefighters who serve our communities every day. I also enjoyed spending time at Puppy Day with the Connecticut Humane Society, always a highlight and a great chance to connect with some future furry companions.

Non-Profit Day was another meaningful opportunity to engage with organizations doing vital work across our state, supporting everything from health care and education to homelessness and human services. I also had the pleasure of connecting with Hop Brook Counseling Center for the 4th Annual Mental Health and Wellness Day.

These events are a great reminder of the many dedicated individuals and organizations working every day to strengthen our communities.

I was blessed to be joined by the Governor Ned Lamont, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, colleagues, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), and community nonprofits to recognize Recovery Day at the State Capitol.

Coming together with individuals who have faced addiction and found strength in sobriety is truly inspiring. Thank you to everyone who helps make this meaningful event possible each year.
 

After long hours indoors during session days, it was especially refreshing to spend time outside this weekend. I joined the Branford Land Trust in celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Branford Supply Pond Fish Ladder.

The fish ladder was built to support the recovery of alewife and blueback herring, collectively known as river herring, whose annual spring migrations are a defining ecological event in southern Connecticut. I’m pleased to report that the most recent data shows a significant increase in fish using the ladder compared to previous years. Congratulations to everyone involved!
 

I also stopped by Read to Grow on School Ground Road for their Spring into Reading Family Day. They reported an incredible turnout, helping put more books into the hands of children and families.
 

After several recent tragedies involving children in Connecticut and growing calls for more accountability in our child welfare system, House Democrats are taking action in the 2026 legislative session.

The Committee on Children is leading House Bill 5004: An Act Concerning Child Welfare Accountability and Transparency, which will:

• Prioritize placing children with family members and responsible adults who are already in their lives.
• Make sure there is follow-up with sister agencies when DCF-involved children travel out of state.
• Support caregivers and children with funding for after-school programs, childcare, and incidentals.
• Uplift our child welfare workforce through improved training, stipends for mentors and mentees, and personal emergency communication devices.
•  Require additional eyes on children who are the subject of multiple reports of abuse or neglect, and those residing with someone on parole or probation after incarceration for serious crimes against children.
• Provide robust real-time data for policymakers and the public on DCF performance through a user-friendly dashboard.
• Establish a new committee to gather legislators, state agencies, experts, and stakeholders to review our child welfare policies and performance and make recommendations for improvements.

This significant legislation reflects a bipartisan effort to reform the Department of Children and Families with policies and procedures that put children first, and a commitment to continued attention to this important issue.

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.

Since 2025, masked federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, many inadequately trained, have waged a campaign of fear and intimidation with a reckless disregard for the constitutional rights of the people they encounter.
 
Parents are afraid of bringing children to medical appointments or sending them to school, court dates are skipped for fear of being detained, and congregants are afraid of going to their places of worship.
 
We as a state have an obligation to address the unprecedented breakdown in federal accountability and attacks on the rule of law. Senate Bill 397: An Act Concerning Democracy and Government Accountability, represents a measured and lawful response to these concerns. The legislation seeks to strengthen accountability by requiring clear identification from federal agents, restricting enforcement actions in sensitive locations, and creating a pathway for individuals to seek recourse when their constitutional rights are violated.  Specifically, Senate Bill 397 does the following:

• Enables any person the right to sue federal actors who violate their constitutional rights.
• Ensures the Inspector General has clear unrestricted authority to investigate the unauthorized use of force by state, local and certain federal agents when force results in death.
• Prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing masks and refusing to identify themselves when conducting operations.
• Builds on the framework established in 2025, designating protected areas – hospitals, schools, court houses, places of worship – that will be shielded from civil immigration arrests unless a law enforcement officer presents a signed judicial warrant.
• Establishes a floor of at least 480 hours of training for law enforcement officers in Connecticut.
• Regulates automated license plate reader technologies, permitting an active hot list, but capping retention of data to 21 days absent an ongoing criminal investigation.

This legislation is not born out of partisan preference. It’s a measured response to protect the people of Connecticut. No one is above the law, and the protection of constitutional rights is not solely within the federal government’s purview.

The House has passed key legislation that advances our efforts to support older adults across the state. These measures underscore our commitment to expanding access to essential services, strengthening protections, and enhancing quality of life for seniors and their families. We remain focused on ensuring Connecticut is a place where older residents can live with dignity, independence, and security.

House Bill 5140: An Act Concerning the Study of the Needs of Senior Citizens, which allows dental hygienists to serve underserved homebound patients in private residences, such as seniors, veterans, and the disabled, who would likely go without dental care. Dental hygienists currently are allowed by law to work in facilities such as senior centers and preschools without the oversight of a dentist, and this legislation expands upon that. The dental hygienist will have worked under the supervision of a dentist for more than two years. This change helps remove barriers to essential oral health services and ensures that vulnerable residents can receive the care they need in the comfort of their homes.

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.  

House Bill 5035: An Act Requiring School Districts to Ban Cellular Phones in the Classroom, advances a statewide “bell-to-bell” or arrival to dismissal cellphone policy for K–12 public schools. The goal is to reduce classroom distractions and support student mental health by creating a consistent standard across all districts.

Under the proposal, all public school districts would be required to adopt and enforce the policy, with devices turned off and stored securely, such as in lockers, throughout the school day. By limiting access to cellphones during instructional hours, the measure aims to curb social media dependency, improve student focus, and address behavioral challenges.

The bill also includes reasonable exceptions, allowing cellphone use when necessary for a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), a 504 plan, or documented medical needs approved by a physician.

We also advanced the following bills:

House Bill 5226: An Act Concerning Mobile Manufactured Homes and Mobile Manufactured Home Parks
Senate Bill 259: An Act Concerning Female Genital Mutilation
House Bill 5331: An Act Concerning Faithful Presidential Electors
House Bill 5558: An Act Concerning the Department of Developmental Services' Abuse and Neglect Investigations
House Bill 5381: An Act Establishing an Account to Compensate Victims of Unlawful Funeral Service Practices
House Bill 5514: An Act Concerning Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes
House Bill 5464: An Act Implementing Recommendations from the Department of Transportation and Establishing a Pilot Program to Operate Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Devices on Limited Access Highways
Senate Bill 89: An Act Updating Prison Rape Elimination Standards
House Bill 5567: An Act Concerning Health Care in the Department of Correction Facilities
House Bill 5343: An Act Concerning the Reporting of Advertising Purchased by the State