News + Press

Last night, Governor Lamont and Democratic lawmakers officially closed out an impactful legislative session with key bills to lower costs for families, increased aid for towns and school districts, provide universal breakfast for students, close gun safety loopholes, and strengthen worker protections. Democratic lawmakers also ensured children and seniors are protected from opportunistic private equity investors, and did it all while strengthening the state’s long term fiscal outlook. 

Speaking at a press briefing today, Governor Lamont lauded the work done by the legislators to hammer out the final budget bill. Passed by an overwhelming majority, it will be the eighth consecutive balanced budget that the Governor has signed into law.

“We were able to back people up when it comes to health care,” Governor Lamont said. “We were able to get additional funding for schools. We were able to grow the economy, while in many other places it’s contracting. We were able to get an additional $50 million in case President Trump cuts other things, so we can protect people. I think people know where we come from and what we’ve got to do going forward.”

Between the new budget and other major legislation passed by Democratic majorities, Connecticut residents will see tangible results:

• Local Investments: hundreds of millions of dollars in new municipal and educational aid. 

• Gun Safety: banning firearms that can be easily converted into machine guns.

• Lower Utilities: savings of approx. $35/month on electric bills.

• Universal Free School Breakfast so every child starts the day ready to learn

• Worker Protections: crackdowns on wage theft.

• Vaccine Policy: public health protections in response to federal chaos.

• ICE Protections: unmasking ICE agents and preventing raids of schools, churches, and other sensitive places, allowing private citizens to sue federal agents in court.

• Private Equity Protections: protections restricting private equity’s ability to undercut the quality of nursing homes, childcare centers, and hospitals.

• AI Regulation: a first-in-the-nation comprehensive bill that covers AI hiring tools, safeguards for chatbots, protections for minors, labels for synthetic content, and training initiatives to help CT residents keep up with new tech.

• $50 million additional funding to CT’s emergency fund to counter future Trump cuts to vital nutrition and healthcare.
  

Statement from Connecticut Democrats Chair Roberto Alves:

“Governor Lamont and Democratic majorities in the General Assembly have shown what steady, focused leadership can deliver for Connecticut families. This session, Democrats met the moment and worked diligently to tackle the biggest problems facing our communities and invest in our residents, and the results will speak for themselves.”