DePino, Nunez, & Biggs, LLC

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

07/01/2025

🚨 New Connecticut Laws Take Effect Today 🚨

Today, July 1, 2025, several new laws go into effect in Connecticut impacting everything from traffic rules to childcare. Some of these changes were passed during the 2025 Legislative Session, which just wrapped in early June, while others date back to prior years. One of the biggest bills now in place is the state’s new two-year state budget, a $55.8 billion plan passed during the last few days of session.

Check Out the Full List of New Laws That Take Effect Today Here 👇
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/content/aeauto.asp

06/19/2025

📖 New DNB Blog: Connecticut’s Spending Cap Explained

This year, the legislature voted to exceed the state’s constitutional spending cap for the first time since 2007.

In This Post We Break Down:
✔️ What the spending cap is
✔️ When and how it can be exceeded
✔️ What the 2025 vote means for future budgets

👇 Read the Full DNB Blog Here 👇
https://dnblobby.com/connecticuts-budget-cap-explained-what-it-is-how-it-works-and-what-happened-in-2025/

06/17/2025

🚨 The Office of Legislative Research (OLR) has published its annual Major Public Acts Report for the 2025 Connecticut Legislative Session! This report highlights the most impactful and debated laws passed this year, from education and housing to health care, energy, and public safety.

Read the Full Report Here 👇
https://cga.ct.gov/2025/rpt/pdf/2025-R-0076.pdf

06/10/2025

📢 SCOTUS Term Nears End: Major Civil Rights Cases Await Decision

As the U.S. Supreme Court closes its term, several pivotal cases await rulings. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has submitted briefs in many major cases. These cases will shape civil rights for years to come.

CT Responds by;
🩺 Defending preventive healthcare access under the ACA
🗳️ Supporting voting rights with VRA-compliant maps
🏳️‍⚧️ Opposing bans on gender-affirming care
📚 Backing LGBTQ+ inclusive education
👶 Challenging attacks on birthright citizenship

Decisions will be released in the coming weeks. These rulings could reshape access, equity, and protections nationwide.


View Office of the Attorney General Preview of Pending U.S. Supreme Court Decisions Here 👇
https://officeoftheattorneygeneral.cmail20.com/t/j-e-wiuouy-hrldhkduq-r/

05/02/2025

In Connecticut, crafting a balanced state budget starts with consensus revenue estimates—and this week's update brings big news.

✔️ The Governor’s FY26–27 proposal in February was based on November revenue projections, allocating $55.2B.
✔️ The Appropriations Committee responded two weeks ago with a $55.7B proposal, with the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee setting aside $700M in its own proposal to offset looming federal aid cuts.
✔️ Now, updated revenue estimates show a $2.3B surplus, including a $256M boost in FY25 thanks to stronger-than-expected April income tax receipts.

These new figures act as a financial reality check, redefining the boundaries for budget negotiations as the Legislature heads toward a June 4th adjournment.

Will the surplus be used for investment, savings, or new programs? That’s the question lawmakers are now debating—and the outcome will shape Connecticut’s priorities for years to come.

👇 Review CT’s Latest Consensus Revenue Estimates here.
https://portal.ct.gov/opm/bud-other-projects/reports/consensus-revenue