Updates from State Rep. Farley Santos for May 6, 2026

May 6, 2026



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Last week was long and productive. Early mornings at city hall and late nights under the dome of the state capital advocating for Danbury, refining bill language, garnering support from colleagues, and working to address issues of importance.

We passed a bipartisan budget that resulted in HUGE wins for Danbury totaling over $94.5 million coming home to us and over $4.84 million going directly to organizations and projects right here in our city.

Beyond that, we passed bills that will help every resident and will support every police officer, firefighter, EMS worker, teacher, nurse, and so many others who keep our communities strong.
This week, we delivered real results:

✅ Supporting our first responders & workers. Expanding benefits for police, fire, and EMS, providing mortgage assistance, tuition support, and protecting nurses and teachers on the job with stronger financial and workplace protections.

✅ Delivering a strong, bipartisan budget. Historic investments in our schools, tax relief for families, expanded free school meals, funding for childcare, and millions more for cities and towns, while continuing to pay down long-term debt responsibly.

✅ Protecting children & strengthening families. Major DCF reforms that prioritize keeping kids with family, increase support for foster and kinship caregivers, improve oversight, and invest in the social workers doing this critical work.

✅ Standing up for civil rights & public safety. Advancing legislation that protects constitutional rights, increases accountability, sets clear standards for law enforcement, and ensures fairness in how technology and policing tools are used.

✅ Lowering energy costs & expanding access. Modernizing our solar and renewable energy programs to make them more affordable, more reliable, and accessible to working families, especially those who need relief the most.

This is what it’s about, delivering real, tangible results for our residents while making Connecticut stronger, safer, and more affordable.

This is what it's about.
 

Delivering for Danbury Pt. 1 (Education)

Education is why I got involved in public service. When I was elected to the Danbury Board of Education, it was clear our schools were facing years of systemic underfunding, and that had to change.

Since taking office as State Representative, I’ve worked alongside my colleagues to deliver real results: a total of over $20 million in increased funding for Danbury Public Schools, and this year, we’ve secured an additional $2.96 million!

These are meaningful investments in our students, our teachers, and our future, and we’re not done yet. I’ll keep fighting to make sure every child in Danbury has the resources they need to succeed.
 

Delivering for Danbury Pt. 2 (Municipal Aid)

WE DID IT! We don’t just talk about results, we DELIVER them!

Since Day One, I made it my mission to bring new funding back to Danbury. Working alongside Mayor Roberto Alves, my Democratic leadership and colleagues, and Governor Ned Lamont, we’ve secured $39.59 MILLION since 2024 in new municipal aid that Danbury never received before.

This year: $14.59 million
2025: $13 million
2024: $12 million

That’s not luck. That’s leadership. That’s partnership. That’s fighting every single day for our city. And we’re not done yet.
 

Delivering for Danbury Pt. 3 (Local Groups)

Danbury organizations and projects are receiving a total of $4.84 million. This funding helps knit together the things that make Danbury special: youth programming, cultural groups, nonprofits and health care.

To be sure, the wins for Danbury this session have been significant. Real investments, real results, and real progress for our city.

But the work doesn’t stop here. There’s still more to fight for, more to deliver, and more opportunities ahead for our community.

We push on.
 

Universal School Breakfast

A hungry child can’t learn. That’s a fact.

This year, we delivered real results:

✅ Universal FREE school breakfast for all students

✅ FREE lunch for those who qualify for reduced-price meals
Because when kids are fed, they can focus, grow, and succeed.

This one is personal for me. I grew up on reduced lunch, and even the $2 a week was a stretch. I remember collecting dimes just to make sure I could eat that day.

No child should have to go through that. That’s why I believe every school meal should be free and this gets us a step closer to that goal.
 

Increasing Consumer Protections on Gaming

We also passed HB 5229, which is designed to make online gaming safer, more transparent, and more responsibly marketed.

The bill, which passed on Monday and heads to the Senate, prevents users from creating multiple accounts and limits each account to one debit or credit card.

Players can set daily spending limits, and any money in an account belongs only to the account holder.

Withdrawals can be requested by the user and generally cannot be changed or canceled. Gaming operators must also provide a toll-free customer support number and share information about responsible gambling.

The bill also tightens rules around advertising and marketing. It bans ads that feature people under 21 or target individuals who have self-excluded or are waiting on withdrawals. Advertising is not allowed in college athletic facilities, and all ads must clearly state the minimum age required to participate.

In addition, the bill restricts how artificial intelligence can be used in online sports betting, especially for tracking individual behavior or creating targeted promotions. It also prohibits off-track betting sites from accepting wagers on out-of-state or international dog races.

Finally, gaming operators must improve transparency by submitting quarterly withdrawal records and providing monthly account statements to users.

I was happy to work on and support in the General Law Committee. We live at a time where the ability to place a wager is no more than a couple of clicks away on our phones. That also means people are also no more than a few phone clicks away from financial ruin. Greater consumer protections are needed in this area, and I'm pleased my colleagues in the House agreed.
 

Strengthening Federal Accountability

Since 2025 federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have waged a campaign of fear, operating with masked faces, inadequate training, and reckless disregard of the constitutional rights of the people they encounter.

We as a state have an obligation to act to address an unprecedented breakdown in federal accountability. Parents are afraid of bringing children 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.

Senate Bill 397 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.

Senate bill 397:

  • 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 20205, designating protected areas – hospitals, schools, court houses, places of worship 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 auto license plate reader technologies, permitting an active hot list, but caps retention of data to 21 days absent an ongoing criminal investigation.

This is not a statement of partisan preference, but a measured response to protect the people of Connecticut. No one is above the law, and the protection of constitutional rights does not stop at the involvement of federal authority.
 

Congratulations, Victoria!

Big congratulations to Victoria, a proud student of Westside Middle School Academy and one of my Sunday School students, on an incredible achievement!

She’s headed to NATIONALS after qualifying at Connecticut History Day with her powerful documentary on the Carnation Revolution (25 de Abril) 🇵🇹🌹

Victoria told the story of how the people of Portugal came together peacefully, using flowers instead of force, to end decades of dictatorship, a message the world needs now more than ever. Even more special, she highlighted the Portuguese community that has helped build and shape Danbury into what it is today.

We must always learn from the past so we don’t repeat it in the future.

So proud of you, Victoria. The future is bright and it’s in great hands.
 

Soccer Tournament Kickoff

Kicked off the 30th Annual Summer Soccer Tournament with the Ecuadorian Civic Center!

Nothing better than seeing our youth out on the field, building skills, staying active, and celebrating culture and tradition all at once. This is what community is all about.

Gracias a la junta directiva del centro! Que tengan un gran torneo!
 

Sincerely,

Farley Santos

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