State Representative Steve Stafstrom

05/25/2026

Honor the memory of those who gave all this Memorial Day.

05/09/2026

“It’s certainly welcome news and a step in the right direction,” said state Rep. Steve Stafstrom, who has previously criticized the Ganim administration for not investing more in education. “We knew the state would need to do the lion’s share, but the city had to be a partner in that effort and step up with more than the initial $5 million,” recalled Stafstrom on Friday. “So the delegation certainly had pushed the mayor to increase the city’s contribution.”

The additional $35 million for the 2026-27 budget year still falls short of the $44 million local school officials have said is required.

05/07/2026

Sine Die! What a productive Session. Now we sleep.

05/04/2026

A Budget that Delivers for City of Bridgeport,!

05/04/2026

The fight is far from over!

Steve Stafstrom, a vocal critic of the overhead transmission line plan, called the appeal a “mind-boggling” waste of the company’s time and resources when it should instead be trying to negotiate a path forward. “The bottom line is we believe the Siting Council inevitably got it right, that UI’s proposal is wrong for Bridgeport, it’s wrong for Fairfield and wrong for the state of Connecticut as a whole,” Stafstrom said. He said the utility should be “doing what it should have done all along — get in the room with the relevant stakeholders and come to a reasonable plan with the affected communities that UI serves.”

The utility is targeting the months-long roller coaster process the Siting Council conducted in reviewing its power line upgrade in Fairfield and Bridgeport.

05/03/2026

The Connecticut General Assembly passed a responsible, people-focused state budget that invests in our communities while maintaining fiscal discipline.

This budget delivers real progress for working families by:
✅ Investing hundreds of millions in childcare and early education to help parents work and kids succeed
✅ Increasing education funding for our cities and towns, including additional ECS support for underfunded districts
✅ Providing new municipal aid to help communities manage property tax pressure
✅ Expanding funding for healthcare programs like HUSKY and strengthening our social safety net
✅ Supporting small businesses and workers with targeted tax relief and economic development tools

The budget also preserves Connecticut’s fiscal stability while directing surplus resources toward the services families rely on every day.

For cities like Bridgeport, these investments mean stronger schools, healthier families, and more support for the services our residents count on.

I’m proud to support a budget that prioritizes opportunity, affordability, and a stronger future for Connecticut.

05/02/2026

The Bridgeport House Democratic Legislative Delegation is pleased to announce that it has secured more than $25 million in additional funding for the City of Bridgeport, including critical support to help address the current budget shortfall facing Bridgeport Public Schools.

This funding reflects the House’s strong commitment to prioritizing education and delivering meaningful assistance to municipalities facing fiscal challenges. Through the focused and sustained advocacy of the Bridgeport House Democratic Legislative Delegation, in collaboration with colleagues across the caucus, this investment will provide much-needed relief to Bridgeport Public Schools and help stabilize the city’s finances.

Bridgeport has been called fiscally irresponsible for years. We say math tells a different story. Additional funding exists through a voluntary state oversight program - a chance to let the numbers speak for themselves.
The delegation extends its sincere appreciation to Speaker Matt Ritter for his leadership in advancing this funding plan, as well as to Governor Ned Lamont for his continued support

05/02/2026

Today, I led House passage of a historic immigration bill that safeguards the constitutional rights of our residents in the face of growing concerns about ICE enforcement practices and respect for the rule of law. Here’s my opening:

04/30/2026

“The Judiciary Committee continues to hear repeated concerns from those who are incarcerated, from staff, from family members, from advocates and others about those who are entrusted to the care of the state through DOC not receiving timely access to their medication, not receiving routine medical treatment and not receiving — in some instances — the life saving treatment that they need to come back out of prison on the other side,” said Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, co-chair of the legislature’s Judiciary Committee. Stafstrom said medical care in the state’s prisons was “at a crisis level.”

HB 5567 would grant correction ombuds resources to investigate medical complaints, require DOC to fix problems with medication, nurse staff.

04/28/2026

, you have been clear: Education funding and property tax relief are the priorities. The Legislature is ready to deliver.

Gov. Ned Lamont had proposed rebate checks for some Connecticut residents of $200 for individuals or $400 for couples.