CivicXchange

05/05/2026

⚠️ CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS — THE CLOCK IS TICKING! ⚠️

The 2026 CT General Assembly session ends TONIGHT at midnight (May 6). Lawmakers are in a final sprint to pass dozens of bills before the constitutional deadline. Here’s what’s on the line:

🔫 Gun Control — A bill would ban the sale of handguns that can be readily converted into illegal machine guns. Supporters call it common-sense safety; opponents argue it’s overreach.

☀️ Solar Energy Subsidies — A bill would provide financial subsidies for residential and commercial solar customers and incentivize energy storage. Democrats say CT needs clean energy investment; Republicans warn it could mean billions in new costs passed on to consumers.

🗳️ Universal Mail-In Voting — A bill would make voting by mail a universal option in Connecticut , expanding access for all registered voters — a major voting rights push ahead of the November elections.

🚔 Immigration/ICE Protections — Senate Democrats have proposed a bill that would allow CT residents to sue federal officials if they believe their constitutional rights are violated during immigration enforcement.

🌿 Cannabis Regulation — Updates to CT’s cannabis laws are also in play in these final hours.

📋 Earmark Transparency — Reforms to legislative earmarks aimed at greater transparency over spending directed by individual lawmakers are also expected to get a final vote.

Democrats hold supermajorities of 102–41 in the House and 25–11 in the Senate, but CT’s tradition of unlimited debate gives Republicans significant influence in the final days — making outcomes genuinely uncertain.

Any bill not passed by midnight tonight is DEAD and must start over next year. Know what your lawmakers are voting on. 🏛️

05/01/2026

🏛️ CT Legislature Recap — Week of April 28, 2026
The session ends May 6th. Here’s what’s moving fast:

📵 Cell Phones in Schools — House passed a classroom cell phone ban, 117-31.

🏠 Homeschool Oversight — House passed CT’s first-ever homeschool oversight bill 96-53, requiring a DCF background check before families can begin homeschooling. Heading to the Senate.

🗳️ Faithful Electors — House voted 102-43 to legally bind CT’s presidential electors to vote for the candidate they’re pledged to support.

💰 State Employee Raises — Legislature approved 2.5% annual cost-of-living raises for most state workers through 2028.

🔒 Data Privacy — Senate passed landmark consumer data protection legislation 31-4, cracking down on data brokers and adding new rules around facial recognition and geolocation tracking.

🛂 Immigration Protections — Senate passed a bill designating schools, hospitals, and houses of worship as protected areas from civil immigration arrests, and allowing residents to sue federal agents for constitutional violations.

💬 Want to tell your state rep where you stand on any of these issues?

Create a free account at CivicXchange.co and make your voice heard — it only takes a minute

05/01/2026

State Representative Anne Dauphinais Stands for Medical and Religious Freedoms

04/13/2026

The Connecticut General Assembly is in the final stretch of its 2026 session, set to adjourn May 6. Here are three of the most debated bills still active at the state level.

HB 5044 — Connecticut Vaccine Standards Act — This may be the most charged bill in Hartford this year. Introduced by Governor Lamont, the bill would expand Connecticut’s Public Health Commissioner’s authority to establish vaccine recommendations for adults, in addition to children, and allow the state to purchase vaccines from sources beyond the CDC. A public hearing drew over 500 people signed up to testify, with the vast majority opposing the measure and calling it government overreach. Supporters say it insulates Connecticut from shifting federal guidance; critics argue it concentrates unelected authority over personal medical decisions.

SB 5 — An Act Concerning Online Safety — This 97-page bill outlines a framework for regulating artificial intelligence and consumer data transparency, covering everything from AI chatbots and automated hiring systems to workforce training programs and protections for minors online. Legislators are pushing for action as national regulation stalls, but businesses warn the bill could conflict with a Trump administration effort to establish a federal AI framework that preempts state laws. The session ends in less than a month, making this a genuine race to the finish.

SB 101 — Statewide Property Tax on High-Value Homes — This bill would establish a new statewide property tax on homes valued above $3 million, layered on top of existing local property taxes, at a time when Connecticut already ranks among the highest in the nation for property tax burden. Proponents frame it as a way to generate revenue from the state’s wealthiest residents; opponents argue it threatens Connecticut’s competitiveness and could accelerate outmigration of high-earning taxpayers.

Connecticut residents: do you know where your state legislators stand on these bills?

Look up your representatives’ voting records and track these bills in real time at CivicXchange.co.

Your voice matters — and it starts with knowing the facts.

04/13/2026

Congress returns from recess this week with a full House floor schedule. Here are three of the most significant bills up for a vote.

FISA Reauthorization (H.R. 8035) — This may be the most contested vote of the week. Section 702 of FISA allows the intelligence community to collect the communications of foreign targets abroad, but it regularly sweeps in Americans’ communications in the process — and it expires on April 20 without congressional action. With Republicans split, Speaker Johnson may need Democratic votes to pass the bill, and the central dispute is whether the renewal should include a warrant requirement before federal agents can search Americans’ data. Civil liberties groups and some members from both parties are pushing for reforms; national security officials are urging a clean extension.

ALERT Act (H.R. 7613) — This bipartisan bill is Congress’s comprehensive legislative response to recent aviation safety incidents. It would require certain aircraft to be equipped with collision mitigation technology, improve helicopter route safety and separation around airports, and update air traffic control processes and procedures. The bill passed committee unanimously.

FENCES Act (H.R. 6409) — This bill amends the Clean Air Act so that foreign emissions — including cross-border smog and smoke from international wildfires — cannot be counted against states when determining whether they meet federal air quality standards, shielding them from economic penalties for pollution beyond their control. Supporters call it a fairness fix for states; opponents argue it creates a loophole that could allow new polluting facilities to be built without adequate emissions controls.

Track these bills and your representatives’ votes at

CivicXchange.co

04/07/2026

Connecticut’s 2026 legislative session is generating serious debate across party lines — and these are the bills driving the conversation.

HB 5044 would expand state authority over vaccination schedules, drawing hundreds of residents to the Capitol to testify for and against. SB 298, a sweeping 98-section omnibus bill, was fast-tracked through the Senate using emergency certification — raising questions about process, transparency, and the role of minority voices in lawmaking.

On taxes, SB 101 proposes a new statewide levy on homes valued above $3 million, while HB 5133 would raise the top income tax rate from 6.99% to 7.99%. And HB 5554 could fundamentally reshape how state regulations are reviewed, ending decades of bipartisan oversight.

These are decisions being made on behalf of Connecticut residents right now.

Do you know where your state representative stands on any of these bills? CivicXchange lets you look up your legislators, track their voting records, and see how well they represent your views.

Track Connecticut legislation at civicxchange.co

03/31/2026

ATTENTION CT VOTERS:

What is happening at the Connecticut State Capitol right now?

The 2026 legislative session runs through May 6th and your state representatives are actively debating several issues that directly affect Connecticut residents. Here is where things stand.

Rent Cap Proposal:
The Governor has proposed limiting how much landlords can raise rent within the first year of owning a property. Supporters say it protects renters from predatory pricing in a housing crisis. Opponents argue it would discourage landlords from investing in and maintaining their buildings.

Tax Relief Debate:
A key legislative committee just endorsed nearly $900 million in potential tax relief options including new sales tax exemptions and breaks for renters, shoppers, and seniors. The debate is over how much relief, what kind, and whether it should be one-time or ongoing — with the Governor, House members, and Senate members all holding different positions.

Vaccine Standards Bill — HB 5044:
This bill would give Connecticut’s Public Health Commissioner authority to set statewide vaccination schedules and immunization standards. Hundreds of residents packed the State Capitol to testify, with most opponents arguing it expands government authority over personal medical decisions.

Consumer Privacy Bill — SB 4:
A broadly bipartisan bill that would establish new privacy protections for Connecticut residents regarding how their personal data is collected and used.

These decisions are being made by the representatives your district elected — at the state level.

Do you know how your Connecticut state rep is voting on these issues? Check their profile at

Which of these issues matters most to you? Tell us in the comments.

03/31/2026

“Not” On The Floor This Week — Week of March 31, 2026

Congress is currently on a two-week spring recess and will not return to session until April 14th. But the biggest legislative standoff in recent memory is playing out right now while lawmakers are away.
The DHS Shutdown — Now Day 45

The Department of Homeland Security has been partially shut down since February 14th, making it the longest DHS funding lapse in U.S. history. Over 61,000 TSA workers went without pay for more than six weeks, causing massive airport security delays, hundreds of officer resignations, and hours-long lines at airports nationwide. President Trump issued an executive order last week directing emergency back pay for TSA workers. The House passed a 60-day temporary funding bill before leaving for recess. The Senate passed a different bill that funds most of DHS but excludes ICE. Neither chamber will accept the other’s bill, and both have left Washington without a resolution. Congress returns April 14th.

The SAVE America Act — Still Unresolved
After two weeks of Senate floor debate, the SAVE America Act — which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo ID to cast any ballot — failed to reach the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster. Senate Republicans are now exploring whether to attach it to a budget reconciliation bill, which would only require 51 votes but faces significant procedural hurdles.

These decisions are being made — or in this case, not being made — by the people your district elected.
Do you think Congress should have canceled recess to resolve the DHS shutdown? Tell us in the comments.

Track how your representatives voted on these issues at civicxchange.co

03/24/2026

BIG UPDATES TODAY!

We have added three new data sections to every representative profile page — both federal and state level.

Voting Attendance — See exactly how often your representative shows up to cast a recorded vote, compared to the chamber average. Color coded so you can see at a glance whether your rep is showing up or skipping out.

Sponsored and Co-Sponsored Legislation — See every bill your representative has personally introduced or officially signed on to support this session, organized by topic, status, and date. This tells you what they are actually working on, not just how they vote when others bring bills to the floor.

Legislative Effectiveness Score — A data-driven score showing how successful your representative is at actually moving legislation forward and turning bills into law. Includes a Bipartisan Score showing what percentage of their work crosses party lines.
Every section includes a plain-language explanation of how the data is calculated so you always know exactly what you are looking at.

These features are now live for both your U.S. House and Senate representatives as well as your Connecticut state House and Senate representatives.
Your representatives work for you. Now you have the data to hold them accountable.

Explore the updates at civicxchange.co

Track U.S. legislation, find your representatives, and measure alignment between elected officials and verified constituents. Free, nonpartisan civic engagement.

03/23/2026

On the Floor This Week — Week of March 23, 2026
The Senate continues its extended debate on the SAVE America Act, one of the most contested pieces of legislation this session. Meanwhile, the House moves forward on the Made in America Jobs Act, a bill aimed at bringing American jobs home from overseas.
These votes are happening right now, cast by the representatives your district elected. Do you know where your representative stands?
Track every vote at civicxchange.co
AI-generated presenter. All information is nonpartisan and factual.