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, CT Mirror’s weekly politics newsletter.

Family caregiver tax credit

People who are caregivers for their family members could apply for a tax credit under a bill raised by the legislature’s Aging Committee.

The credit would help cover expenses such as the purchase or lease of medical equipment, adult day care visits, certain types of technology, respite care and other services. It would be equal to 50% of the expenses incurred by the caregiver in a taxable year but could not exceed $2,000.

If two or more caregivers claim the credit for the same family member, it would be split in equal amounts among those caregivers.

— Jenna Carlesso, Investigative Reporter

A bigger Correction Ombuds office

Correction Ombuds DeVaughn Ward told lawmakers Tuesday that he wants to double the number of positions in his office. Ward said he anticipates an influx of new complaints once the office sets up drop boxes and phone lines in the prison facilities.

The new positions include a communications person, a data scientist, an additional office assistant and two more associate ombuds. Ward said that currently, the four ombuds in the office are responsible for facilities housing 2,000 people each. He is also asking for another health care consultant. With two health care positions, he said, one could focus on individual complaints and one on systemic issues. The additional positions would cost nearly $800,000 — a doubling of the office’s current budget.

— Emilia Otte, Justice Reporter

Life jackets bill

Rep. Joe Gresko, D-Stratford, told the Committee on Children that a proposed bill that would require children 12 and under to wear life preservers on piers, docks and wharfs across the state was written in reaction to the death of a 6-year-old boy who drowned in the Housatonic River after falling off of a dock in Stratford last year. Lawmakers questioned the liability implications for dock-owners. Gresko said he’s open to amending the language but hoped it would prevent more loss of life. 

— Laura Tillman, Human Services Reporter

Athlete exemption from PE

High school students testified before the Education Committee this week on a bill that would allow school sports to count for physical education credit. Students said PE was redundant for athletes and prevented them from taking certain AP classes. A track athlete who finished top 10 in the 800 meter told legislators she finds it “impractical to spend this time jogging or even walking in gym class” when she could be learning new skills.

Critics raised concerns about equity (athletic participation correlates to higher incomes and not all schools have strong programs) and certification (coaches are often not certified teachers).

— Theo Peck-Suzuki, Education Reporter

More staff for Child Advocate Office

Former Child Advocate Sarah Eagan told the Committee on Children that her former office needs more staffing, as she testified in support of a bill to fund an additional position for the Office of the Child Advocate.

Eagan, who is executive director of the Center for Children’s Advocacy, said her former office has many responsibilities and is spread thin when a need arises to focus on one system. The proposed bill would require the office to hire one or more additional employees to oversee children in the care of the Department of Children and Families. 

— Laura Tillman, Human Services Reporter

Lawmakers look to unwind Aquarion sale

The Energy and Technology Committee heard public testimony Tuesday on House Bill 5249, which would amend sections of a 2024 law that was hurriedly passed during a special session to allow the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority to purchase the Aquarion Water Company from Eversource.

The deal has faced pushback from officials and customers concerned about rate hikes under the new ownership. In November, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority voted to block the sale — only to have that decision voided by a judge.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Joe Gresko, D-Stratford, said his intention is to provide clarity to the law that would “allow PURA to do their job” and, he hopes, reject the sale again.

— John Moritz, Energy & Environment Reporter

Energy efficiency

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes told lawmakers on Tuesday that Connecticut should have a backstop for product energy-efficiency standards should the Trump administration succeed in its efforts to end the national Energy Star program.

Dykes spoke in favor of legislation, House Bill 5248, that would allow her office to join with other states or third-party entities to establish efficiency standards absent federal regulations. Last year, Trump sought to end the Energy Star program — which has helped Americans save over $500 billion on energy since 1993 — only to have its funding restored by Congress.

— John Moritz, Energy & Environment Reporter

Chronic absenteeism down in Connecticut

Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker shared at a press conference Wednesday morning that chronic absenteeism rates in January were the lowest for Connecticut since the state began keeping track six years ago. This follows historically low chronic absence rates in October and November, with an “uptick” in December that Russell-Tucker attributed to respiratory illnesses.

Russell-Tucker connected the shift to the Learner Engagement and Attendance program, which the Lamont administration launched in 2021. It employs home visits and check-ins to improve attendance. Lamont has called for an additional $7 million to go to LEAP in his proposed budget.

— Theo Peck-Suzuki, Education Reporter

Protecting ‘activities of daily living‘

State lawmakers are again considering a bill that aims to protect people experiencing homelessness by ensuring they aren’t arrested for activities like sleeping, eating or asking for money in public places.

The Housing Committee on Tuesday heard testimony on House Bill 5260, which bans municipalities from passing ordinances that prohibit unhoused people from activities of daily living, sleeping in legally parked vehicles or using public bathrooms.

The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities opposed the bill, saying it would remove local control. Unhoused people say they need the bill to minimize “harassment” by local officials.

— Ginny Monk, Housing and Children’s Issues Reporter

Manufacturer to shut down facility

Connecticut-based power tool manufacturer Stanley Black and Decker announced on Thursday that it would soon shutter one of its New Britain facilities.

The closure will primarily affect the company’s Myrtle Street factory, which produces single-sided tape measures. Demand for the item has declined; the company has also dealt with economic difficulties from tariffs and increased material costs. The closure is expected to affect some 300 workers, half of the company’s New Britain workforce.

The company is looking to move workers into other positions, and legislators plan to assist with retraining and job assistance.

— P.R. Lockhart, Economic Development Reporter

Himes gets briefed on Iran

Hours before he boycotted the State of the Union address, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes received a classified briefing from the Trump administration on Iran.

As a high-ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee and part of the “Gang of Eight,” Himes is one of the few privy to getting the earliest information on major military operations.

But over the past year, he sometimes only learned about military strikes after the fact and at times through social media.

“I’ll give the administration points for reaching out to Congress a little bit more aggressively prior to the Iran and Venezuela strikes,” Himes said in an interview. 

— Lisa Hagen, Federal Policy Reporter