These news briefs are part of The Connecticut Mirror’s 2026 political coverage. For more news about the 2026 legislative session, campaigns, elections and more, sign up here for The Issue, the CT Mirror’s weekly politics newsletter.
Senate passes bill banning former disgraced cops from becoming SROs
The Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill prohibiting police officers who were fired for misconduct or resigned or retired during an investigation into their conduct from being hired as a school security officer.
Sen. Paul Cicarella, R-North Haven, said that about a decade ago, lawmakers closed a loophole that allowed officers under investigation for misconduct to be hired at another police department. He said a similar law was now needed to prevent that handful of “bad actors” from working in schools.
Sen. Herron Gaston, D-Bridgeport, said the law is “beneficial and advantageous for the state and in the respective school in which they will be working.”
— Emilia Otte, Justice Reporter
Bill to provide more higher ed oversight passes Senate
A bill requiring the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system to report student performance data, personnel numbers and financial information to the legislature passed unanimously in the Senate on Wednesday.
Sen. Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, D-Trumbull, said the bill would help the legislature understand whether the savings and increased student programming promised under the proposal to consolidate the state community colleges had actually borne fruit.
Sen. Rob Sampson, R-Wolcott, praised the bill for its oversight. However, Sampson and Sen. Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield, said it didn’t go far enough. An amendment reallocating former CSCU Chancellor Terrence Cheng’s salary to Meals on Wheels failed on a party-line vote.
— Emilia Otte, Justice Reporter
Betsy McCaughey to sue New York Gov. Kathy Hochul
Betsy McCaughey, a Republican candidate for governor, said Friday she will sue New York Gov. Kathy Hochul over her opposition to a natural gas pipeline through her state that could bring cheaper fuel to Connecticut. She said the opposition violates the Interstate Commerce Clause.
“If Hochul erected a gate on RTE 95 to block traffic from going across New York to Connecticut, she’d be sued and stopped,” McCaughey said in a statement.
— Mark Pazniokas, Capitol Bureau Chief
Efforts underway to improve special education complaint process
The State Department of Education is working to improve its handling of special education, months after an independent report found serious shortcomings.
Federal law guarantees all students a “free appropriate public education.” If a student with special needs isn’t getting this, parents can file a complaint — but the report found the process doesn’t work well in Connecticut.
The report recommended hiring a special education attorney to improve that complaint process. On April 1, CSDE informed the State Board of Education it had two candidates to interview. The department also noted complaints have increased significantly in the last year.
— Theo Peck-Suzuki, Education Reporter
Transfer station bill advances
The Government Oversight Commitee advanced legislation Monday that would give away a transfer station in Torrington to an entity controlled by the Northwest Hills Council of Governments.
While local lawmakers are heavily in favor of continuing public ownership of the facility, a competing offer to purchase the site for $3.25 million has complicated the proposal. The committee voted 9-3 to move forward with Senate Bill 521.
“I do believe this is something that has the potential to be a good change down the road, assuming we can get everyone on board,” said state Sen. Rob Sampson, R-Wolcott.
— John Moritz, Energy & Environment Reporter
Lamont drums up support for R&D tax credit expansion
The effort to expand Connecticut’s research and development (R&D) tax credit to more businesses got a boost from the governor this week.
On Tuesday, Gov. Ned Lamont, joined by DECD Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe and state business leaders, visited a Farmington aerospace company to promote the R&D credit expansion included in Senate Bill 84, his budget proposal. The expansion would allow small businesses to claim upwards of $1.5 million a year in credits, stretching their R&D money further, and potentially encouraging job growth.
The proposal is also included in House Bill 5319, which is supported by the state Commerce Committee.
— P.R. Lockhart, Economic Development Reporter