Memorial Day, Absentee Voting, and more

May 22, 2026



 

View this email in your browser

Dear Neighbor,

Monday is Memorial Day, a time for reflection, remembrance, and gratitude.

Let's take time to honor the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation and the values we hold dear. We also recognize the families who carry the weight of that sacrifice every day.

As a community, let us come together to remember their service, support one another, and recommit ourselves to the ideals of courage, service, and patriotism that define our country. 

Memorial Day events in the area:

In the rest of this week's eblast, you can read about absentee voting, early childhood business grants, and more. You can click the links below to navigate between sections.
 
Absentee Voting for All Bill Signed Into Law

A new law provides all eligible voters in Connecticut with the option of casting a vote via absentee ballots.

Public Act 26-42 removes certain restrictions that previously limited absentee ballots to voters who could not appear in person on Election Day for a narrow set of reasons. With this change, any eligible voter who prefers to vote absentee may now do so.

The voters of Connecticut demanded Absentee Voting For All after they overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment in 2024. The new law takes effect immediately.

The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy. Expanding access to absentee ballots strengthens participation, increases flexibility, and ensures every voter has a convenient and secure option to make their voice heard. 

To vote by absentee ballot, eligible voters must complete an absentee ballot application and submit it to their town clerk. Applications can also be submitted online through the Office of the Secretary of the State’s secure portal. For more information on applying for an absentee ballot, visit myvote.ct.gov.
 
Celebrating Nurses Week at Backus Hospital

It was an honor to celebrate Nurses Week with all of the wonderful nurses at Backus Hospital. I was lucky enough to witness a tribute led by the Connecticut Nurses Honor Guard.

Nurses are often the unsung heroes in our healthcare system, and I was so proud to spend this time with them and remind them how important and valued they are in our community!
 
2026 OLR Major Public Acts Report

I wanted to share the 2026 Legislative Session Major Public Acts document with you. The document, composed by the Office of Legislative Research (OLR) with assistance from the Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA), briefly describes the most significant, far-reaching, and publicly debated acts adopted by the General Assembly in the 2026 regular session. You can click HERE to read the full OLR report, or click the graphic below. 

If you're interested in more information on bills that passed and didn't pass this legislative session, please click HERE.
 
Early Childhood Business Grants

The Women's Business Development Council (WBDC) and Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) are accepting applications for the OEC-WBDC Program Operations Grants now through Monday, May 25 at 7pm. 

OEC and WBDC are offering grants of up to $50,000 to qualified Connecticut early childhood businesses to support operations and preserve child care access. The Operations Grant provides short-term funding to support OEC-licensed early childhood education programs. The grants are designed to help programs maintain their existing early childhood slots. 

Grants will be awarded to eligible programs serving high and medium-needs families, as defined by OEC. This funding is intended to support operational expenses, including staffing, materials, facility costs, and other business needs that ensure ongoing services to families and communities. 

This is a ONE-TIME funding opportunity. Click here for more information on eligibility requirements and how to apply. 
 
Foodshare Allocation Information

As of October 2025, the State of Connecticut allocated $3 million in emergency funding to Connecticut Foodshare to address the loss of federal SNAP benefits. These funds were designed for the nonprofit to purchase food for distribution through its network of partners and mobile pantries following federal funding cuts. [1, 2, 3]

How to Find Allocation Information (As of May 2026):

  • Connecticut Foodshare Financials: View their annual reports and 990 forms for official records on funding sources and expenditures.
  • OpenCheckbook CT: Search for "CONNECTICUT FOODSHARE INC" to see state-level expenditures and payments to the organization, which showed roughly $5.44M in 2022.
  • CT.gov Press Releases: Check the Governor's official press releases for recent emergency funding announcements, such as the $3 million declared in October 2025.
  • Connecticut Public Radio: News outlets like CT Public and WFSB frequently report on changes in state funding for food insecurity. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

In addition to state funding, Connecticut Foodshare also utilized $1 million from its own capital reserves for emergency response in October 2025. [1]
 

Please feel free to contact me at the Capitol at 1-800-842-8267 or by email at Larry.Pemberton@cga.ct.gov if you have any questions or concerns.

All my best,

Larry Pemberton
State Representative

Facebook
Facebook

Website
Website

Email
Email

Forward to a friend | Unsubscribe from this list | Update subscription preferences