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.

The end for gas tax holiday idea?

The average price of regular gasoline in Connecticut topped $4.06 per gallon on Friday, according to the AAA, but legislators and Gov. Ned Lamont are focused on other forms of relief than a temporary waiver of fuel taxes.

The retail cost here is up more than 60 cents per gallon since Lamont first floated the idea of a gasoline tax holiday on March 10 to mitigate rising burdens caused by the U.S. war with Iran.

But leaders say lawmakers prefer ongoing income and sales tax cuts.

— Keith M. Phaneuf, State Budget Reporter

Who is Tim Ackert?

Rep. Tim Ackert’s moment in the sun Wednesday as Erin Stewart’s choice of a running mate in her GOP campaign for governor was overshadowed by a bit of news coming out of New Britain. Here’s some unused tidbits from the Ackert file. 

He is 63, an Air Force vet and business owner who flipped a Democratic seat in the 8th House District of Coventry in 2010 after a couple of losing efforts. His wife, Teddy, died in 2019, and his daughter held a framed portrait of her at the press conference with Stewart. 

Ackert made an unsuccessful bid for House minority leader in 2017, losing to Themis Klarides. He voted against the Sandy Hook gun law that the House passed 105-44, a potential help to Stewart, a gun owner who nonetheless has faced doubts in some circles about her support of gun rights. She recently posted on Instagram and Facebook a video of her shooting a handgun and rifle at a target range.

You can expect the Stewart-Ackert ticket to leave social media to Stewart, a digital native. Ackert signed up for Twitter in 2014. He has 175 followers. He never has posted anything. 

— Mark Pazniokas, Capitol Bureau Chief

Landlord registry

A bill that passed the Senate on Tuesday would require nonresident landlords to register with the town and provide their contact information.

Senate Bill 274 would also allow towns to increase fines on landlords whose properties repeatedly violate city code. The proposal aims to improve accountability for absentee landlords who rarely visit their properties and often have several business licenses, making it hard to find the person who actually owns the property.

The measure would apply to larger municipalities, although under current law any town can require a landlord registry.

— Ginny Monk, Housing and Children’s Issues Reporter

Eversource, RWA respond to Tong

Eversource and the Regional Water Authority this week pushed back against claims that state regulators made an accounting error in their decision approving the sale of the Aquarion Water Company.

Both Attorney General William Tong and the state’s Office of Consumer Counsel said that the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority failed to spot $474 million in rate increases that will result from the $2.4 billion transaction. Both parties have asked PURA to reconsider its decision.

In their response on Monday, utility officials said that it was Tong and OCC that miscalculated. PURA has yet to rule on either filing.

— John Moritz, Energy & Environment Reporter

Bill allowing phys ed exemptions one step closer to law

In a win for high school political activism, the Senate advanced a bill allowing school districts to make physical education optional for student athletes.

Senate Bill 222 maintains Connecticut’s 25-credit graduation requirement, meaning students in participating districts would replace PE with some other class.

Sen. Eric Berthel, R-Watertown, said he hopes the bill will help incentivize kids to stay in school. Sen. Doug McCrory, D-Hartford, agreed, and he praised high school students for coming to him last year and bringing the matter to his attention.

The bill passed by a vote of 32-4 and now goes to the House.

— Theo Peck-Suzuki, Education Reporter

Whiting Settlement

The Appropriations Committee signed off on Monday on a spend of $2.5 million in the 2026 state budget toward a contingent settlement agreement in a federal lawsuit between patients of Whiting Forensic Hospital and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Whiting patients have not been transferred to lower levels of security or back in the community despite their progress. The money will be used to address those issues. “Money will be used to expand the number of community providers that can provide services to the qualified acquitted class members that are part of the settlement agreement,” said Rosemary McGovern, Associate Attorney General.

— Laura Tillman, Human Services Reporter

Wage theft bill clears Senate

A second attempt at addressing wage theft in the state has made it through the Senate.

On Wednesday, lawmakers voted 31-5 in favor of Senate Bill 268, which would give the state comptroller the ability to temporarily withhold paying state contractors that are under Department of Labor investigations for wage violations. The payments would be frozen until the investigation has concluded.

In 2025 a similar bill passed the Senate but did not clear the House.

— P.R. Lockhart, Economic Development Reporter

‘Golden Girls’ bill

The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill — known as the Golden Girls bill — that would mean Connecticut homeowners can rent out rooms in their homes to long-term tenants.

Senate Bill 339 requires municipalities to allow residents to rent out rooms in their homes to tenants for six months or longer without needing to change the zoning in the area to multifamily. The bill got bipartisan support, although some Republicans voted against it arguing it weakens local control.

Supporters say it would allow people to live with friends or family members, alleviating the housing shortage and offering companionship.

— Ginny Monk, Housing and Children’s Issues Reporter