States, Cities and Counties
Here's a look at documents covering state government, cities and counties
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Conn. Gov. Lamont Announces Commissioner Jordan Scheff Leaving the Department of Developmental Services, Names Elisa Velardo as Successor
HARTFORD, Connecticut, May 26 -- Gov. Ned Lamont, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release:
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Governor Lamont Announces Commissioner Jordan Scheff Leaving the Department of Developmental Services, Names Elisa Velardo as Successor
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Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Commissioner Jordan Scheff will be leaving his position with the state effective June 11, 2026, to pursue a new professional opportunity in Virginia.
Upon Commissioner Scheff's departure, Governor Lamont will name DDS Deputy Commissioner Elisa Velardo to
... Show Full Article
HARTFORD, Connecticut, May 26 -- Gov. Ned Lamont, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release:
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Governor Lamont Announces Commissioner Jordan Scheff Leaving the Department of Developmental Services, Names Elisa Velardo as Successor
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Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Commissioner Jordan Scheff will be leaving his position with the state effective June 11, 2026, to pursue a new professional opportunity in Virginia.
Upon Commissioner Scheff's departure, Governor Lamont will name DDS Deputy Commissioner Elisa Velardo toserve as the agency's interim commissioner.
"I am proud of the services offered here in Connecticut through the Department of Developmental Services and its partners to ensure that everyone has access to pursue meaningful life opportunities and can fully participate as valued members of our communities," Governor Lamont said. "Throughout his tenure, Jordan has strengthened this state agency to innovate and refine these services to provide quality supports for the individuals and families it serves, and his leadership has been instrumental in their continued success. I thank him for everything he has given to our state, and I wish him the best in this next chapter. Deputy Commissioner Velardo has the experience and skills to keep DDS moving forward, and I appreciate her for accepting this appointment to this leadership position."
Commissioner Scheff has served as the head of DDS since 2017.
"After much deliberation, and for reasons that are quite personal, I have made the difficult decision to conclude my time as commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services," Commissioner Scheff said. "Serving in this role has been one of the greatest honors of my professional career. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together over the past 12 years to expand opportunities, strengthen supports, and continue building a more person-centered system for individuals and families across Connecticut. I am grateful to both Governor Lamont and former Governor Malloy for the opportunity to serve, and I want to thank the individuals, families, staff, providers, advocates, and partners who made this work possible every day. I know the future of DDS is bright, and I look forward to seeing its continued progress."
Deputy Commissioner Velardo brings many years of experience supporting individuals with intellectual disability and their families. She began her career as a direct support professional, ultimately becoming a nationally recognized leader and a fellow of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD).
"For more than 25 years, I have dedicated my career to supporting and expanding opportunities for individuals with intellectual disability and their families, including the last ten years at the Department of Developmental Services," Deputy Commissioner Velardo said. "This work has always been more than a job for me. It has been a passion and a lifelong commitment. I am honored by the opportunity to serve as interim commissioner and appreciate Governor Lamont's confidence in me. I look forward to continuing the important work ahead and building on the strong foundation that has been created at DDS."
DDS is the state agency responsible for partnering with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to support lifelong planning and promote meaningful opportunities for individuals to fully participate as valued members of their communities.
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Original text here: https://portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2026/05-2026/governor-lamont-announces-commissioner-jordan-scheff-leaving-dds
ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL URGES COURT TO UPHOLD BLOCK ON UNLAWFUL NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
CHICAGO, Illinois, May 26 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release:
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ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL URGES COURT TO UPHOLD BLOCK ON UNLAWFUL NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
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Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 26 states, urged the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to uphold a lower court's ruling blocking the unlawful deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C.
In their amicus brief filed today, Raoul and the coalition argue that the deployment undermines the sovereignty of states
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CHICAGO, Illinois, May 26 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release:
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ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL URGES COURT TO UPHOLD BLOCK ON UNLAWFUL NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
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Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 26 states, urged the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to uphold a lower court's ruling blocking the unlawful deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C.
In their amicus brief filed today, Raoul and the coalition argue that the deployment undermines the sovereignty of statesand local jurisdictions and threatens the foundational principle of American democracy that the military must not be deployed for domestic law enforcement purposes.
"The American people, regardless of the city or state in which they reside, should not live under threat of military occupation simply because they live in a jurisdiction that has fallen out of a president's political favor," Raoul said. "I am proud to have successfully blocked the Trump administration's attempt to illegally deploy the National Guard in Illinois, and I join my fellow attorneys general in asking the court to uphold the injunction on the administration's unlawful deployment in the District of Columbia."
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's attempt to deploy the National Guard in Illinois after Raoul filed a lawsuit challenging the deployment. Lower courts have also repeatedly ruled against the administration's deployments in American cities. Yet the president has continued the deployment in the District of Columbia while the district court's injunction has been stayed pending appeal, and he has stated his intent to send troops to more American cities "one by one."
The brief documents serious harm in states that have already experienced these deployments, including disrupted law enforcement operations, economic damage to local communities, diverted National Guard resources and increased civil unrest.
The coalition urges the D.C. Circuit to uphold the district court's ruling and affirm that the president does not have the authority to deploy the National Guard as a domestic police force.
Attorney General Raoul is joined in filing the brief by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, as well as the governors of Kansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
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Original text here: https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/news/story/attorney-general-raoul-urges-court-to-uphold-block-on-unlawful-national-guard-deployment-in-washington-dc
ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL SUPPORTS STRONGER ONLINE PROTECTIONS
CHICAGO, Illinois, May 26 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release:
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ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL SUPPORTS STRONGER ONLINE PROTECTIONS
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Raoul and Coalition Oppose KIDS Act; Bill Weakens Ability to Protect Children Online
Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general opposing the federal Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act ("KIDS Act"), arguing the bill would weaken states' ability to protect children online while insulating technology companies from accountability.
In their letter sent to Congressional leadership, Raoul
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, May 26 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release:
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ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL SUPPORTS STRONGER ONLINE PROTECTIONS
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Raoul and Coalition Oppose KIDS Act; Bill Weakens Ability to Protect Children Online
Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general opposing the federal Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act ("KIDS Act"), arguing the bill would weaken states' ability to protect children online while insulating technology companies from accountability.
In their letter sent to Congressional leadership, Raouland the coalition warned the KIDS Act would broadly preempt state laws addressing online harms to minors, including social media harms, obscenity, social gaming platforms, and artificial intelligence chatbots. The coalition emphasized that Congress should instead advance legislation that includes a meaningful duty of care requirement for online platforms.
"Instead of protecting our children and teens, the KIDS Act protects big tech from the appropriate oversight needed to actually protect young people from harm online," Raoul said. "American children and teenagers are in the grip of a devastating mental health crisis, which is why I will continue to collaborate with fellow attorneys general to ensure technology companies take reasonable steps to protect our children online."
Raoul and the attorneys general expressed support for the U.S. Senate's version of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), S. 1748, which includes a key provision requiring online platforms to act in the best interests of minors while preserving states' authority to enforce stronger protections for children and teens; the coalition explains the KIDS Act imperils the ability of states to fully protect children.
The letter comes as Raoul and attorneys general across the country continue investigations and litigation involving major social media platforms, including Meta and TikTok, over allegations that their platforms target and harm underage users.
Joining Raoul in filing the comment letter are the attorneys general of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
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Original text here: https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/news/story/attorney-general-raoul-supports-stronger-online-protections
ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL REACHES $8.25 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY OVER ALLEGED ANTICOMPETITIVE EPIPEN PRACTICES
CHICAGO, Illinois, May 26 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release:
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ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL REACHES $8.25 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY OVER ALLEGED ANTICOMPETITIVE EPIPEN PRACTICES
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Raoul's Office and Mylan Reach Settlement Agreement after Mylan Allegedly Monopolized Epinephrine Auto-Injector Market
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced an $8.25 million settlement with Mylan Inc. (Mylan), the company that sells the EpiPen, resolving concerns about the company's anticompetitive conduct related to EpiPen products. Mylan's alleged
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, May 26 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release:
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ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL REACHES $8.25 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY OVER ALLEGED ANTICOMPETITIVE EPIPEN PRACTICES
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Raoul's Office and Mylan Reach Settlement Agreement after Mylan Allegedly Monopolized Epinephrine Auto-Injector Market
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced an $8.25 million settlement with Mylan Inc. (Mylan), the company that sells the EpiPen, resolving concerns about the company's anticompetitive conduct related to EpiPen products. Mylan's allegedanticompetitive scheme resulted in the state of Illinois paying excess amounts for EpiPens purchased through its Medicaid and employee health benefits programs.
Most of the money recovered will be split by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) for its Medicaid purchases and the Illinois Department of Central Management Services for its purchases for employee health benefits programs.
"I am proud of my office's work to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for engaging in business practices that result in Illinoisians paying more money for the prescription medication they need," Raoul said. "I am committed to stopping unlawful and unfair tactics that fuel health care inequity in Illinois and around the country."
"Affordable access to medication can be lifesaving and is critical for both Medicaid recipients and the hardworking employees of our state," said HFS Director Elizabeth M. Whitehorn. "HFS would like to thank Attorney General Raoul and his staff for their work on this matter, and for helping us continue to promote equitable healthcare for all state residents through the management of medication costs."
In 2023, Raoul's office investigated allegations that Mylan monopolized the epinephrine auto-injector market through a variety of anticompetitive tactics, including increasing prices, delaying generic versions of EpiPen, forcing consumers to unnecessarily buy EpiPens in two-packs instead of a single pen, creating misleading advertisements concerning competing products, and contracting with third-party pharmacy benefit managers to block competitors to EpiPen.
In addition to paying the state $8.25 million, Mylan has agreed to increase its copay coupon for the authorized generic version of EpiPen from $25 to $40, which will lower out-of-pocket costs for consumers.
This settlement is the latest action in Attorney General Raoul's ongoing efforts to end unlawful tactics by pharmaceutical companies that lead to consumers paying more money out of pocket for prescription medication. In February, Raoul joined a bipartisan coalition announcing two settlements totaling $17.85 million with Lannett Company Inc. and Bausch Health US LLC and Bausch Health Americas Inc., which resolved allegations that the companies engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition and unreasonably restrain trade regarding numerous generic prescription drugs.
In 2024, Raoul and a bipartisan coalition also announced a $39.1 million settlement with generic drug manufacturer Apotex, as well as a $10 million settlement with Heritage Pharmaceuticals,, resolving allegations that the companies engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition and unreasonably restrain trade with regard to numerous generic prescription drugs.
Deputy Bureau Chief Jennifer Coronel handled the case for Raoul's Antitrust Bureau.
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Original text here: https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/news/story/attorney-general-raoul-reaches-825-million-settlement-with-pharmaceutical-company-over-alleged-anticompetitive-epipen-practices
Attorney General James Joins Bipartisan Coalition Opposing Federal Legislation that Would Weaken State Protections for Children Online
ALBANY, New York, May 26 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following news release:
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Attorney General James Joins Bipartisan Coalition Opposing Federal Legislation that Would Weaken State Protections for Children Online
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New York Attorney General Letitia James joined a bipartisan coalition of 44 other attorneys general in urging Congress to reject the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act), arguing the bill would weaken states' ability to protect children online and shield big tech companies from accountability.
In a letter to Congressional leadership, Attorney
... Show Full Article
ALBANY, New York, May 26 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following news release:
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Attorney General James Joins Bipartisan Coalition Opposing Federal Legislation that Would Weaken State Protections for Children Online
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New York Attorney General Letitia James joined a bipartisan coalition of 44 other attorneys general in urging Congress to reject the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act), arguing the bill would weaken states' ability to protect children online and shield big tech companies from accountability.
In a letter to Congressional leadership, AttorneyGeneral James and the coalition warn that the KIDS Act would prevent states from addressing online threats to minors, including from social media, social gaming platforms, and artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots. The coalition is calling on Congress to reject the KIDS Act and instead pass the Senate version of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).
"Online platforms are fueling a mental health crisis among young people, and New York has led the way to enact new measures to protect our kids," said Attorney General James. "The KIDS Act would strip states of their ability to protect our children online. I am proud to join a bipartisan coalition of my fellow attorneys general in sending a clear message to Congress: the KIDS Act should not become law."
In 2024, New York enacted nation-leading legislation championed by Attorney General James to combat addictive social media feeds and protect kids online. The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act requires social media companies to restrict addictive feeds on their platforms for users under 18. The New York Child Data Protection Act prohibits online sites from collecting, using, sharing, or selling the personal data of anyone under the age of 18, unless they receive informed consent or unless doing so is strictly necessary for the purpose of the website.
Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the KIDS Act would preempt state laws that address critical safety measures concerning online obscenity, online harms to children, social gaming platforms, and AI chatbots. This sweeping federal preemption would also severely restrict states' abilities to pass new laws to protect children online and limit the power of attorneys general to enforce state laws. The coalition instead urges Congress to pass KOSA, which includes a key provision requiring online platforms to act in the best interests of minors while preserving states' authority to enforce stronger protections for children and teens.
Attorney General James has been a leader in efforts to protect children online. In addition to advancing legislation, Attorney General James has filed lawsuits against TikTok and Meta for harming children online. In February 2026, Attorney General James sued game developer Valve for promoting gambling through its video games that are popular with children and teens. In September 2024, Attorney General James co-led a bipartisan coalition of 42 attorneys general in urging Congress to implement warning labels on social media platforms as called for by the United States Surgeon General.
Joining Attorney General James in sending the letter are the attorneys general of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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Original text here: https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2026/attorney-general-james-joins-bipartisan-coalition-opposing-federal-legislation
Conn. Gov. Lamont Signs FY 2027 State Budget, Delivering a Reliable Path Forward for Schools and Municipalities and Increasing Affordability Initiatives
HARTFORD, Connecticut, May 26 -- Gov. Ned Lamont, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release:
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Governor Lamont Signs FY 2027 State Budget, Delivering a Reliable Path Forward for Schools and Municipalities and Increasing Affordability Initiatives
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Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed into law the fiscal year 2027 budget adjustment bill (Public Act 26-68), which his administration developed in collaboration with legislative leaders and was overwhelmingly approved on a bipartisan basis by the members of the Connecticut General Assembly.
Most notably, the budget
... Show Full Article
HARTFORD, Connecticut, May 26 -- Gov. Ned Lamont, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release:
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Governor Lamont Signs FY 2027 State Budget, Delivering a Reliable Path Forward for Schools and Municipalities and Increasing Affordability Initiatives
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Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed into law the fiscal year 2027 budget adjustment bill (Public Act 26-68), which his administration developed in collaboration with legislative leaders and was overwhelmingly approved on a bipartisan basis by the members of the Connecticut General Assembly.
Most notably, the budgetincludes an historic increase in state funding for every school district and municipality statewide with the goal of helping towns and cities deliver essential services, while also working to stabilize and lower property taxes. It also includes a major investment into the state's Early Childhood Education Endowment to continue Governor Lamont's landmark expansion of early childhood education programs, continuing the state on the path forward toward providing universal pre-K for all children.
"This budget delivers more education funding and municipal aid than ever before, and it does it in a responsible way that will keep Connecticut on stable financial ground in the coming years, while also making strategic investments to support affordability initiatives and paying down debt," Governor Lamont said. "It maintains the historic middle-class income tax cuts that we enacted, preserves our newly increased EITC rates that have essentially eliminated income taxes for working families, enables most seniors to keep receiving income tax exemptions on pensions and Social Security, and preserves the cap on motor vehicle property taxes that we adopted. And it does this while continuing to fund our more recently enacted programs to support working families, such as Paid Family and Medical Leave and our Early Childhood Education Endowment, which is on its way to delivering universal pre-K so that every child of every background has access to a good education right from the start."
The governor added, "Before I came into office, Connecticut was experiencing year after year of deficits and instability, and over these last several years our administration has produced balanced budgets that are built to last, bringing the sustainability to our state that we so desperately needed. I am proud that for another year we've passed a balanced budget on time, and we did it in collaboration with the input of so many people in our state, which is why it was overwhelmingly approved by legislators, supported by municipal leaders, backed by education advocates, applauded by community providers, and has been endorsed by so many other groups statewide."
Table: Town-by-town b reakdown of the f unding increases for every school district and municipality in the FY 2027 state budget
Notable new investments include:
K-12 education : The budget provides an additional $193 million in supplemental education grants for towns and cities, including $162.2 million in direct aid to municipalities, $8.7 million for charter schools, $8.3 million for magnets schools, and $800,000 for vocational agriculture programs-representing an increase for all Connecticut public school students-and approximately $10 million in temporary educational aid. Since Governor Lamont took office in 2019, Education Cost Sharing grants have grown by roughly $444.9 million-an 18% increase in support for K-12 public schools.
The budget includes Governor Lamont's priority investments in children's education, including $12 million for universal free school breakfast to ensure all 500,000 Connecticut students have access to a healthy meal to start the school day; $5 million to expand impactful mental and behavioral health supports in schools; $2 million to fund 75 teacher apprentices per year (providing stipends, mentoring and tuition supports, among other benefits to trainee teachers); and $2 million for a new literacy coaches program.
Municipal aid : The budget provides more than $100 million in one-time financial assistance for towns and cities. This investment will help local communities lower property taxes.
Early childhood education : The budget invests approximately $300 million in the Early Childhood Education Endowment. As championed by Governor Lamont, the endowment is the largest expansion of early childhood education programs in Connecticut history, enabling tens of thousands of additional children to enroll in these opportunities. This funding will support sustained investments in the early care and education system, including increasing the number of state-funded slots and providing critical investment for providers and families.
Higher education : The budget provides $30 million in General Obligation bonding for the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA) to launch a new alternative to the Grad Plus Subsidized Loan Program, which was eliminated upon passage of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill.
Unfunded liabilities : Under this budget, the state is expected to make additional pension payments of more than $1 billion in both FY 2026 and FY 2027. These payments are projected to generate roughly $200 million in annual savings in each of the next 25 years. Over the course of the Lamont administration, the state will have made about $11 billion in additional pension payments, reducing taxpayer costs by approximately $1 billion per year each year over 25 years, resulting in cumulative savings of $25 billion.
Federal Cuts Response Fund : This budget bolsters the recently created Federal Cuts Response Fund by $50 million to ensure Connecticut remains well-positioned to address federal policy and funding challenges.
Child welfare accountability and transparency : The budget provides an additional $3.34 million for the Department of Children and Families to establish several new programs and services, which include grant-funded programs for certain caregivers to help cover child-care costs, postsecondary education assistance, paid social worker internship and mentorship programs, and mandatory employee training programs. In addition, a new Urgent Crisis Center in Stamford will be established, and personal emergency communication devices will be made available for certain employees.
Health and human service providers : This budget provides $892,000 for the Department of Public Health to pilot free flu vaccines to uninsured and under-insured adult residents, which will reduce hospitalizations and healthcare costs.
It redistributes activities formerly performed by the Office of Health Strategy among the state agencies best equipped to handle them, clarifying responsibilities and fostering greater alignment between federal and state efforts-including for healthcare-related IT. The Department of Public Health is taking over and streamlining the Certificate of Need (CON) program to improve care quality, access, and affordability. The Office of Policy and Management is absorbing healthcare cost and affordability work, including health data and rural health tech initiatives.
In the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, $3.54 million will ensure the availability of community resources that allow for timely discharge from state hospitals and $775,000 will expand suicide prevention and postvention services through Regional Behavioral Health Action Organizations.
Additional support for veterans includes a $1 million investment for the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide free bus passes, along with nearly $500,000 to support veteran housing and services at the skilled nursing and other residential facilities in Rocky Hill.
Private providers : This budget maintains $156 million to support significant rate increases for human services providers. In addition, the legislature created a new Nonprofit Provider Advisory Board under the Office of Policy and Management to strengthen the partnership between the state and its nonprofit providers, serving as a forum to identify emerging issues and opportunities and to work collectively on solutions that streamline reporting, standardize processes, and promote administrative efficiencies and improved outcomes.
Hospitals : The budget reflects a new five-year agreement with the hospitals that will provide not only stability but predictability for the industry. In addition to increased supplemental payments, the budget provides increased funding for hospital-affiliated physician groups, as well as increased support for those hospitals that serve a greater share of the state's Medicaid members.
Housing : The budget provides an increase in operating support of $500,000 for the Department of Housing to operationalize the various housing efforts set in motion through the passage of Public Act 25-49.
Transportation : This budget continues historic investments in public transportation. A total of $3.5 million is invested to provide U.S. military veterans with passes at no cost, enabling veterans to use Connecticut's network of public bus services, including CT transit, CT fastrak, and various transit districts throughout the state. Additionally, the funding supports providing K-12 students with a 50% discount on CT transit buses. These efforts build on annual support of $716.6 million in support for public bus and rail.
Public safety : The budget includes $9.86 million for the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to address costs of modernizing equipment and technology used by the Connecticut State Police. This investment will help replace outdated, first-generation police technology and equipment with advanced tools that modernize operations, enhance efficiency, and improve safety for both officers and the public.
Inmate medical : The legislature built on the proposals made by the administration to help transform the provision of health care to people in and returning to the community from prison in a number of meaningful and actionable ways. The budget provides $1 million to make permanent its first-in-the-nation interagency, holistic, cross-sectional efforts linking the state's Medicaid administrative services organization, the Department of Correction, Office of Policy Management, and Department of Social Services, including the flow of all such patients in the population health management of publicly-funded medicine. Funding of $9.15 million across state government will support implementation of section 5121 of the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which mandates certain health coverage for youth in the care and custody of the state's carceral settings. Additionally, the budget creates a pilot at York Correctional that will engage community providers more actively in the care and transition of incarcerated women.
Revenue adjustments include:
Lowers the cost of health insurance : The budget creates a new tax credit for small businesses to encourage employers to offer Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRA) through Access Health CT's BusinessPlus platform. This new incentive will expand healthcare coverage options while allowing small employers to better attract and retain workers.
Expands Sales Tax-Free Week : The budget expands eligible items during Sales Tax-Free Week, increases the sales price which is exempt from the cap during the period from $100 to $300 dollars.
Eliminates Taxes on School Supplies : The budget eliminates taxes on school supplies, putting $6 million dollars back into families' pockets.
Caregiver Tax Credit : The budget provides a Caregiver Tax Credit for individuals who pay out-of-pocket costs to support the activities of daily living of adult family members. This change will support families and allow individuals to continue to live independently if they desire.
Supports knowledge-based industries : The budget makes changes that will encourage research and development in the state, increasing the dynamism in Connecticut's economy. The budget allows pass-through entities to participate in the research and development tax credit program and earn a credit equal to 6% of qualifying expenditures upon approval from the Department of Economic and Community Development. This change will allow fast-growing, early-stage companies to invest in the future economy right here in Connecticut. In addition, the budget allows immediate, full expensing of research and experimentation costs beginning in income year 2026, encouraging innovation and economic growth.
Cannabis tax modifications : This budget converts the current tax on cannabis from a THC tax to a 10.75% excise tax, simplifying the current tax structure for cannabis.
PeoplesBank Arena Tax Credits for UConn Athletics : This budget provides tax credits that will ensure UConn's basketball and hockey teams play games in Hartford for the next 20 years.
Volatility cap : This budget continues the trend of prudent fiscal management while utilizing extraordinary revenue to make investments in key areas. Due to the state's continued fiscal stewardship, volatile revenues subject to the volatility cap have exceeded $2 billion in FY 2026. At the same time, the state faces higher than expected Medicaid costs, and municipal and school budgets are negatively impacted by inflation, rising healthcare costs, and federal cutbacks. Governor Lamont issued a declaration permitting the investment of $813.7 million of these volatile revenues to promote affordability and growth in the state while still making a sizable contribution to the pension system. The authorized investments include $183 million for schools, $100 million for municipalities, $50 million to be added to the Federal Response Fund, and $80 million to address Medicaid deficiencies.
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Original text here: https://portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2026/05-2026/governor-lamont-signs-fy-2027-state-budget
AG Brown joins coalition opposing KIDS Act, supports stronger online protections for children
OLYMPIA, Washington, May 26 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release:
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AG Brown joins coalition opposing KIDS Act, supports stronger online protections for children
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Attorney General Nick Brown and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general have sent a letter to congressional leadership opposing the so-called Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act), H.R. 7757, which in reality would weaken states' ability to protect children online while insulating Big Tech from accountability.
The coalition warned against the KIDS Act's broad preemption
... Show Full Article
OLYMPIA, Washington, May 26 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release:
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AG Brown joins coalition opposing KIDS Act, supports stronger online protections for children
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Attorney General Nick Brown and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general have sent a letter to congressional leadership opposing the so-called Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act), H.R. 7757, which in reality would weaken states' ability to protect children online while insulating Big Tech from accountability.
The coalition warned against the KIDS Act's broad preemptionof state laws addressing online harms to minors, including social media harms, obscenity, social gaming platforms, and artificial intelligence chatbots.
Brown emphasized that Congress should instead advance legislation that includes a meaningful duty of care requirement for online platforms. A duty of care obligation would require tech companies to design their platforms with safety for youth at the forefront.
"For years, tech companies have placed profits ahead of the safety of our children, designing platforms that are so addictive that kids forgo sleep, play, and in-person socializing just to keep scrolling," Brown said. "Because Congress refuses to act, they should get out of the way of states advancing sensible legislation to protect kids from damaging content online."
The letter comes as attorneys general across the country, including Washington, continue investigations into and litigation against major social media platforms, including Meta and TikTok, over allegations that their platforms target and harm underage users and improperly collect and profit from using their data.
Washington joins the attorneys general of Connecticut, Hawai`i, Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The letter is being sent to congressional leadership, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Read the letter (https://agportal-s3bucket.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Federal%20Litigation/KIDS%20Act%20_%20FINAL.pdf?VersionId=q_Re9zD2JsLCXPXPbQTy.zDc3Ir1BOFz).
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Washington's Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state's largest law firm, the Attorney General's Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington's 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
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Original text here: https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-brown-joins-coalition-opposing-kids-act-supports-stronger-online-protections
Action Taken by Governor Phil Scott on Legislation - May 26, 2026
MONTPELIER, Vermont, May 26 -- Gov. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, issued the following news release:
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Action Taken by Governor Phil Scott on Legislation - May 26, 2026
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Montpelier, Vt. - Governor Phil Scott announced action on the following bills, passed by the General Assembly.
On May 26, Governor Scott signed bills of the following titles:
* H.512, An act relating to the regulation of the event ticketing market
* H.559, An act relating to the Parole Board
* H.536, An act relating to toxic heavy metals in baby food products
* H.739, An act relating to prohibiting the use and sale
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MONTPELIER, Vermont, May 26 -- Gov. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, issued the following news release:
* * *
Action Taken by Governor Phil Scott on Legislation - May 26, 2026
*
Montpelier, Vt. - Governor Phil Scott announced action on the following bills, passed by the General Assembly.
On May 26, Governor Scott signed bills of the following titles:
* H.512, An act relating to the regulation of the event ticketing market
* H.559, An act relating to the Parole Board
* H.536, An act relating to toxic heavy metals in baby food products
* H.739, An act relating to prohibiting the use and saleof the herbicide paraquat
* H.956, An act relating to approval of an amendment to the charter of the City of Burlington relating to the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
To view a complete list of action on bills passed during the 2026 legislative session, click here.
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Original text here: https://governor.vermont.gov/press-release/action-taken-governor-phil-scott-legislation-may-26-2026
