DePino, Nunez, & Biggs, LLC

06/24/2026

📚 CHANGES TO SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING

The Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA) recently released an overview of Connecticut's special education state funding programs, highlighting both longstanding funding sources and newer grant initiatives.

Key investments include:

✅ $221.1 million for the Excess Cost Grant, which reimburses school districts for exceptionally high special education expenses

✅ $30 million for the Special Education Expansion and Development (SEED) Grant, distributed to municipalities based on student need and town wealth

✅ Additional targeted funding to support in-district special education services, behavioral health programs, and workforce development for special education teachers and paraprofessionals

While the Excess Cost Grant remains the state's largest source of special education support, OFA estimates that approximately $317 million would be needed to fully fund eligible district costs statewide.

View OFA's Special Education State Funding Overview to learn more. 👇
https://cga.ct.gov/ofa/Documents/year/SMF/2026SMF-20260612_Special%20Education%20State%20Funding%20(June%202026).pdf

06/02/2026

🚨 The Office of Legislative Research (OLR), with support from the Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA), has released its Major Public Acts Report for the 2026 Connecticut Legislative Session. The report highlights some of the most significant and widely debated laws passed this year across areas including education, housing, health care, elections, public safety, labor, artificial intelligence, and municipal funding.

The report includes brief summaries of major public acts, special acts, and resolutions adopted during session, with more detailed breakdowns expected later this year in OLR’s full Public Act Summary Book.

Read the Full Report Here 👇

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/rpt/pdf/2026-R-0071.pdf?t=1779465917761

05/26/2026

🚨 Connecticut’s Office of Fiscal Analysis recently released a helpful overview breaking down the major education funding changes included in the FY 27 Revised Budget.

The revised budget provides nearly $191 million in additional education-related funding, including new support for municipalities, magnet schools, charter schools, vocational agriculture programs, and RESCs. The report also notes that while there were no direct changes to the ECS formula, the supplemental funding is intended to help towns and school districts manage rising education costs.

The summary also highlights that special education grants and school choice tuition rates remain level funded for another year.

Read the full overview below ⬇️
https://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa/Documents/year/SMF/2026SMF-20260520_Major%20Changes%20to%20Education%20Funding%20FY%2027%20Revised%20Budget%20(May%202026).pdf

04/10/2026

Now that Connecticut has reached its Joint Favorable (JF) deadlines, the point when committees must vote bills out for them to keep them moving forward, we’re taking a moment to step back and highlight how committees shape the legislative process.

If a bill doesn’t advance by the JF deadline, it will not move forward this session. But what exactly are committees, and how do they operate behind the scenes?

DNB partner Atty. Melissa Biggs walks through it in a blog covering committee structure, scheduling, and how bills move between committees.
👉 Take a look: https://dnblobby.com/the-committees-of-the-general-assembly/

A helpful refresher as session shifts from committee work to action on the House and Senate floors.

10/21/2025

As federal pandemic relief funds expire, Connecticut schools have shared they’re struggling to maintain mental and behavioral health supports while facing growing student needs and ongoing workforce shortages.

We want to recognize our client, the Child Health and Development Institute - CHDI, featured in a recent article discussing the urgent need for reliable, long-term funding to sustain effective school-based behavioral health services.

As CHDI’s Jeana Bracey explains, without consistent resources, many districts are forced into a “crisis-driven approach,” responding only to the most immediate needs rather than building comprehensive, sustainable systems of care.

Read the full article here 🔽
https://www.ctinsider.com/news/education/article/ct-schools-mental-behavioral-health-funds-needs-21098612.php

Many Connecticut school districts used pandemic relief funds to provide mental health supports.

09/24/2025

🚨 Community Safety in Action 🚨

Last week, Mayor Justin Elicker, Police Chief Karl Jacobson, and regional leaders stood together as New Haven crushed its first batch of illegal ATVs and dirt bikes — thanks to new state legislation that empowers cities to permanently remove these dangerous vehicles from our streets.

We’re proud to represent both the City of New Haven and Sims Metal Management, whose high-speed crusher helped make this possible. Once destroyed, the metal is recycled responsibly — ensuring these vehicles are gone for good, while supporting a more sustainable future.

This is what progress looks like when public safety, innovation, and collaboration come together.

Remote control in hand, Mayor Justin Elicker stood alongside Police Chief Karl Jacobson and North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda -- just a few steps…

09/02/2025

🎓 Celebrating this year’s cohort of Interns in Avangrid’s Trade Internship Union Scholars Program!

Launched in 2023 with UI and the Utility Workers Union of America Local 470-1, this 10-week paid program offers students from local trade high schools and Housatonic Community College hands-on experience in electric linework.

This year’s graduates represent the next generation of skilled workers who will help power our communities. Through this program, Avangrid is investing in Connecticut’s workforce of the future.

📖 Read more about the program and this year’s graduates here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250821494570/en/Avangrid-Utility-Subsidiaries-in-Connecticut-Celebrate-New-Line-Worker-Graduates-of-Trade-Internship-Program

08/01/2025

🌟 Honoring Leadership and Culture at the PRU Gala! 🇵🇷

What an unforgettable evening at the 2025 Puerto Ricans United, Inc. (PRU) Annual Awards Dinner, held at the beautiful Anthony’s Ocean View. This celebration of Puerto Rican pride, heritage, and service brought together community leaders, advocates, and changemakers from across the region.

✨ One of the night’s most powerful moments was seeing Paul Nuñez receive the President’s Award — a heartfelt recognition of his unwavering commitment to community uplift, equity, and leadership. His work continues to inspire and impact lives throughout Greater New Haven and beyond. Felicidades, Paul — so well deserved!!

07/31/2025

We were happy to present at the CT Cannabis Chamber of Commerce's End-of-Session Recap Meeting to share our take on this year’s legislative session.

The Chamber continues to do important work for Connecticut’s growing cannabis industry and we’re grateful to support that work by helping members stay informed, engaged, and ready for what’s next.

07/24/2025

🚨 Connecticut’s Office of Legislative Research (ORL) just published a summary of key new laws affecting commercial insurance from the state’s 2025 legislative session that just wrapped in early June. The report includes public act numbers and highlights the most notable changes.

Read the Full Report Here 👇🏼
https://cga.ct.gov/2025/rpt/pdf/2025-R-0103.pdf