Wishing everyone a joyful, healthy, and prosperous 2026. As we welcome the new year, let’s celebrate the strength, resilience, and spirit of our community. May 2026 bring hope, opportunity, and continued growth, and may we work together to make Hartford and West Hartford even better places to live, work, and raise our children.
Speaking of the new year, Hartford will host a fantastic New Year's Eve party and a cherished Three Kings Day celebration for the whole family. Keep scrolling to learn about both of these fun-filled events!
As we prepare to ring in the new year, several new laws will take effect affecting health care, housing, higher education, and so much more. Please read below for a summary of what to expect in 2026.
You will find the following sections in today's email:
- New Laws Effective January 1, 2026
- Funding for Home Energy-Saving Upgrades
- New Year's Eve Party in Hartford
- Three Kings Day Celebration
| New Laws Effective January 1, 2026 |
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As we welcome a new year, several laws that we passed in the last legislative session will take effect on January 1, 2026.
These new measures address key issues impacting our state and its residents, including:
- strengthening protections for workers in sensitive professions
- expanding incentives for farmers
- improved reporting requirements to better track higher education enrollment, post-secondary credits, and student opportunities
We took a major step forward in advancing policies that support new, diverse housing options across Connecticut. With some of the highest housing costs in the region, too many individuals and families are being priced out of the communities where they work, grew up, and hope to retire.
Preventative health care continues to be a priority because early detection saves both lives and long-term costs. To support this, we now require health insurers to cover certain high-priority biomarker tests that aid in early detection, prevention, and treatment.
Additionally, we have prohibited the substitution of lower-priced drugs for higher-priced medications for individuals living with multiple sclerosis and arthritis, and we have made this ban permanent for medications used to treat mental health disorders.
These updates reflect our ongoing commitment to making Connecticut more affordable, healthier, and more equitable for everyone. To learn more about these and other laws taking effect on January 1, 2026, click the button below for a complete, easy-to-read summary.
| Funding for Home Energy-Saving Upgrades |
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The state has approved $18 million to launch the Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving Loan and Grant Fund. The new program is designed to help homeowners and affordable housing developers make energy-saving upgrades that lower utility costs and improve safety and comfort.
The program will support:
- More efficient heating and cooling systems
- Insulation and building upgrades
- Other improvements that reduce energy waste
It also tackles a big problem that often stops projects before they start: health and safety issues like asbestos, outdated wiring, mold, and moisture that must be fixed before energy work can move forward.
Funding breakdown:
- $6 million to help lower-income homeowners remove health and safety barriers so their homes qualify for weatherization and efficiency programs
- $12 million to help developers upgrade existing multifamily affordable housing with energy-efficient retrofits
This investment makes housing more affordable, cuts energy costs, and ensures more Connecticut residents can benefit from energy efficiency, regardless of income or ZIP code.
| New Year's Eve Party in Hartford |
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The capital city's annual New Year's Eve celebration called First Night Hartford returns for its 37th year on December 31 from 2 p.m. to midnight!
There will be all kinds of activities for kids and adults during the day and at night including free ice skating, stand-up comedy, live musical performances, and much more. Fireworks will light up the night sky at 6 p.m. and midnight.
You can purchase all-access buttons for $5 for children and $15 for adults. Button information can be found HERE, or use the information link below.
| Three Kings Day Celebration |
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Your family is warmly invited to attend the annual Three Kings Day Parade, also known as "El Dia De Los Tres Reyes Magos," at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. This cherished Christian tradition commemorates the visit of the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus and is a meaningful celebration of faith, culture, and community.
Each year, the Three Wise Men ride on camels from 95 Park Street to Pope Park, where organizers hand out toys to children in need and offer camel rides at the Arroyo Recreation Center. For some children, this event may be their only opportunity to receive a holiday gift, making the day especially meaningful.
I would like to thank SAMA, Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Hartford, and CICD Puerto Rican Parade for their partnership in keeping this beautiful tradition alive and creating lasting memories for our children and families.
