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Connecticut
Lamont presents optimistic view of Connecticut in State of the State address
In a speech interrupted by protest, Gov. Ned Lamont presented a State of the State Address that underscored tax breaks and attractive budget initiatives while downplaying crises unfolding in the state.
After feeling “footloose” and free in his 2023 address, Lamont’s remarks for the 2024 session cast a rosy glow on a state constrained by challenge.
In a meandering 30-minute speech, Lamont emphasized wins secured in 2023, including a tax cut for the middle class, millions of dollars earmarked for mental health, workforce incentives, health care, debt relief, technological advancements in quantum and biopower, and population growth.
Citing the “state’s largest ever commitment to child care, K-12 education, our universities, workforce training, and not-for-profits,” Lamont largely glossed over several problems plaguing the state, including a historic rise in homelessness, a crisis in early child care, continuing teacher shortages, strains on the nonprofit system and deficits in higher education budgets.
The issues Lamont did acknowledge? Affordable housing, extreme behavior, climate change and social media.
“We have too many people who cannot find a place to live — it is not available, or it is not affordable,” Lamont said.
Lamont highlighted new housing development in Connecticut’s urban centers and the commuter rail investments “turbocharging this renaissance.”
The governor said he wants to expand the reconfiguration of empty parking lots, office buildings, and brownfields into new, affordable communities. Lamont said he wants to take that approach to the suburbs.
“We are taking this model across the state, and we will be looking for input from towns and cities — where do you want the housing to be, what is the density, and how far are you from public transportation and our schools? The state will be your partner in completing the financing ASAP to get that shovel in the ground.”
He added that the state must balance the growth with green space preservation and other considerations.
“We are one of the densest states in the country — more people per square mile — so we have to manage our growth carefully. What do we want Connecticut to look like in 2035?”
Six minutes into the address, pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted the proceedings shouting “Cease-fire now” as they attempted to unfurl banners from the gallery.
The disruption lasted less than a minute as Capitol Police quickly escorted the demonstrators out.
Returning to the podium, the governor noted that he had been to “a few antiwar demonstrations, as well” back in his day.
“Whatever the justice of the cause, I think you do a disservice when you’re rude and disrespectful in a room like this. Disrespecting the people in this room, disrespecting the audience,” Lamont said.
His response received a round of applause and standing ovation from lawmakers.
“All right, back to our regularly scheduled programming,” Lamont quipped as he carried on with his remarks.
After discussing continued clean energy initiatives to combat climate change and extreme weather, Lamont turned his attention to “extreme behavior,” which he said “reflects something … profound.”
“Our culture is unleashing more extreme behavior, be it expressions of racism and hate speech, increased domestic abuse and fentanyl overdoses, with a sad surge in mental health calls starting younger and younger,” Lamont said.
When it comes to youth, Lamont said later in his speech that “severe anxiety and aberrant behavior can be traced back to social media.”
“Social media is often anti-social, and too much smartphone makes you stupid,” Lamont said.
To address the problem, Lamont said he hopes to take “little bit from China and a little bit from Beyoncé.”
In China, Lamont said children are barred from using TikTok for more than one hour each day. At Beyoncé concerts, attendees must place their phone in a “Yondr Pouch” — a smartphone sleeve that magnetically locks and unlocks devices to inhibit use.
“We will be sending out guidance to your school board — have your younger students leave their smartphones at home or drop them in a Yondr pouch at the start of every school day,” Lamont said.
Toward the end of his speech, Lamont addressed Connecticut’s fiscal health.
“Like too many of our citizens, Connecticut in years past was living paycheck to paycheck with too much debt and no room for error,” Lamont said. “Today, in addition to making our regular payments to the pension fund we have paid down an extra $8 billion, saving taxpayers about $800 million every year for the next 25 years that can be dedicated to critical services.”
The spending caps and guardrails that ushered Connecticut out of debt and into an era of record surplus have been faced with criticism lately from lawmakers who argue that as residents struggle, the state should do more with its reserves.
“Paying down our debts and a robust rainy day fund doesn’t short change our programs, it has resulted in six years of consistent increases in our key social programs, rather than the herky-jerky boom and bust cycles of yesteryear,” Lamont said.
But not everyone in the legislature agrees.
“I’ve been here during some really challenging and promising economic cycles. I’ve been here for $4 billion deficits, never fun. I’ve been here for $4 billion surpluses. That should be fun, but it doesn’t quite feel that way right now,” said House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, reflecting on his 16 sessions in the legislature in a speech before Lamont’s address.
“We are paying down debt. Wall Street has responded positively. The business community has responded positively. Those are all good things, but what about the stability of many other critical institutions in our state? Our system of higher education is not stable. Our nonprofit providers are not stable. Our homelessness response system is not stable. Our state agencies are understaffed. We’ve done our best to provide as many resources as we can to them, but we have to do more,” Rojas said.
In reference to Lamont’s proposed budget adjustments, Rojas said the legislature will have “some tough decisions to make.”
“We’ll have to strike a careful balance between his priorities and ours, recognizing that we share many similar priorities between the executive branch and the legislative branch,” Rojas said. “We clearly have the work to do. Are we up to that challenge? I believe we are.”
PHOTOS: CT State of the State Address
Luxury Homes
Kathie Lee Gifford and her late husband, football legend Frank Gifford, purchased the house in 1994.
Former “Today” show host Kathie Lee Gifford is selling her sprawling 13,163-square-foot Connecticut home. The asking price? $100,000,000.
Dubbed “Cedar Cliff,” the Greenwich estate at 108 Cedar Cliff in the Riverside section of town, was once owned by railroad tycoon Henry F. Shoemaker. Kathie Lee Gifford and her late husband, football legend Frank Gifford, purchased the house in 1994 for $7.8 million . The 13,163-square-foot, 29-room estate has eight bedrooms and 14 bathrooms (nine full, five half).
“They added a substantial addition to the house to make it work for their lifestyle,” listing agent Leslie McElwreath of Sotheby’s International Realty said. That addition is the east wing of the house, constructed in the early 2000s, which includes a private theater and wine cellar.
The eight bedrooms are similarly sized and have views of Greenwich Cove. The primary bedroom and two guest bedrooms have a balcony as well. The estate has a greenhouse, a screened porch, a sun room, a tennis court, and a billiards room currently containing Frank Gifford memorabilia. There are 10 fireplaces throughout the house.
Within the 2.91-acre gated peninsula is a spa, pool, and pool house.
McElwreath said “empty nester” Gifford is selling the property because “her children are grown and are married with their own children. Kathie Lee spends most of her time in Tennessee and is no longer using the house full-time.”
The house has a recently installed Ludowici terra cotta roof, sun decks that have been rebuilt, and there is access to a full-property generator as well as a private beach.
McElwreath said there are additional aspects that make this property worth the monstrous price tag.
“The setting is extraordinary. Elevated high above the water with over 1,250 feet of frontage, the property offers the rare combination of commanding panoramic views and direct waterfront access via a private pier and deep water dock,” she said.
McElwreath said the kind of buyer looking at this property is attracted to Greenwich for its high quality of life and proximity to Midtown Manhattan.
”High net-worth buyers do not compromise. They seek exceptional properties in prime locations. Cedar Cliff is a one-of-a-kind opportunity and will attract buyers looking for privacy and resort-like amenities,” McElwreath said.
The task of selling the estate was entrusted to McElwreath by Gifford after McElwreath represented the seller of Copper Beech Farm in Greenwich, which sold for just under $139,000,000 in 2023.
“[Copper Beach] is still the highest sale ever in Greenwich and the state of Connecticut. I plan to use the full resources of Sotheby’s International Realty to find the buyer for Cedar Cliff,” McElwreath said. “I also represented the seller of 100 Field Point Circle, the second highest sale in Greenwich at $50 million. My proven track record, combined with the marketing expertise of Sotheby’s, will prove to be a winning combination.”
Connecticut
Hailey Van Lith waived by Connecticut Sun after just nine games, marking second cut in under a month
Hailey Van Lith’s rocky WNBA start took another unexpected turn Thursday.
The Connecticut Sun waived Van Lith after just nine games with the team, including three starts.
CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 25: Hailey Van Lith #2 of the Chicago Sky high five during the game against the Las Vegas Aces on August 25, 2025 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images))
TCU’s Hailey Van Lith poses before the WNBA basketball draft in New York on April 14, 2025. (Pamela Smith/AP)
Van Lith was once one of college basketball’s brightest stars at Louisville, but her path has become increasingly turbulent in recent years. After a disappointing stint at LSU stalled her momentum, Van Lith revived her draft stock with a standout final season at TCU.
CHICAGO SKY WAIVE HAILEY VAN LITH ONE YEAR AFTER SELECTING HER WITH THE 11TH OVERALL PICK
The former NIL standout was selected 11th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She struggled to establish herself as a rookie, averaging 3.5 points and 1.6 assists in 12.4 minutes per game across 29 appearances before Chicago waived her on May 4.
Hailey Van Lith’s brief stint with the Connecticut Sun ended Thursday after the franchise waived the former first-round pick. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images) ((Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images))
Hailey van Lith drives past opponents during the women’s 3×3 basketball bronze medal game between the United States and Canada at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
TCU’s Hailey Van Lith jogs onto the court during introductions before the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Louisville in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 23, 2025. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)
Van Lith also helped Team USA win a bronze medal in 3×3 basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Connecticut quickly gave Van Lith a second chance, but the reunion lasted just over two weeks.
“The Connecticut Sun has activated Leïla Lacan,” the team announced on X. “In a corresponding move, Hailey Van Lith has been waived.”
EX-WNBA STAR CRITICAL OF SKY ROOKIE HAILEY VAN LITH, BELIEVES POPULARITY PLAYED ROLE IN DRAFT SELECTION
The move comes as Lacan — the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft — returns after averaging 10.4 points and 3.7 assists with Connecticut last season.
Van Lith appeared in Wednesday’s 71-61 loss to Portland, finishing with seven points, no assists and two turnovers in 13 minutes.
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Van Lith averaged 8.1 points and 2.2 assists in nine appearances with Connecticut before Thursday’s move, marking her second waiver in less than a month.
The Connecticut Sun waived Hailey Van Lith on Thursday, ending the former college star’s nine-game stint with the franchise. ((Photo by Mollie Handkins/NBAE via Getty Images))
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
The following article was submitted by Brody and Associates, LLC. It is posted here with permission.
The Connecticut legislature passed broad artificial intelligence legislation May 11, 2026 that includes a new framework governing the use of AI in employment-related decisions.
The bill, known as SB 5, is awaiting Gov. Ned Lamont’s signature, which is expected shortly.
Once enacted, Connecticut will join a growing list of jurisdictions that are imposing transparency and accountability requirements on employers that use AI tools in recruiting, hiring, promotion, discipline, scheduling, and termination decisions.
The statute regulates what it calls automated employment-related decision technology.
In general, AEDT refers to technology that processes personal data and generates an output that is a substantial factor in an employment decision.
The definition is broad enough to potentially cover resume-screening software, applicant ranking systems, video-interview analytics, skills assessments, productivity tools, and certain workforce management platforms when those tools materially influence personnel decisions.
What Does the Law Require?
The purpose of the law is to reduce the risk that algorithmic systems will continue or worsen historic discrimination while also giving applicants and employees more visibility into how these systems are used.
One of the most important features of the new law is its notice requirement.
Beginning Oct. 1, 2027, employers that deploy AEDT intended to interact with applicants or employees must disclose, in plain language, that the individual is interacting with such technology unless it would be obvious to a reasonable person.
When the tool’s output will be used as a substantial factor in making an employment-related decision, the employer must also provide a written notice before the decision is made.
The law does include protection for proprietary or trade secret information.
Notice must identify the purpose of the tool, the categories and sources of personal data being analyzed, how data will be assessed, and contact information for the employer.
If such employment-related decision is “adverse,” employers must provide a high-level statement disclosing the principal reasons for the decision, including “the degree to which, and manner in which” an AEDP output contributed to the decision, the type of data used, and the right to examine or correct such data.
The law does include protection for proprietary or trade secret information, but employers should not assume that vendor confidentiality excuses them from compliance.
If an employer withholds certain information regarding the AEDP based on a third party’s confidentiality claim, the employer must nevertheless disclose that the information is being withheld and identify the legal basis for the withholding.
As a practical matter, this means employers that rely on outside vendors for screening, testing, or candidate evaluation should begin reviewing vendor contracts now to ensure they can obtain the information needed to satisfy Connecticut’s notice obligations.
Anti-Discrimination and Related Obligations
The law also makes clear employers cannot avoid liability by blaming an algorithm.
Connecticut’s anti-discrimination framework will expressly provide the use of AI or automated systems is not a defense to a discrimination claim.
The employer may still be responsible even if the challenged output came from a third-party platform.
In other words, if an AEDT disproportionately screens out candidates or influences decisions in a way that has an unlawful discriminatory effect, the employer may still be responsible even if the challenged output came from a third-party platform.
This provision reinforces a principle regulators have increasingly emphasized nationwide: employers remain accountable for employment decisions, whether those decisions are made by people, software, or a combination of both.
What Employers Should Do Now
For employers, the immediate takeaway is AI governance can no longer be treated as an IT issue.
Human resources, legal, compliance, and procurement teams should collaborate to identify all tools used in recruiting or personnel management, assess whether those tools materially affect employment decisions, and determine what disclosures this new law may require.
Even companies that already use AI responsibly may need to formalize review procedures.
Employers should also assess whether internal policies, vendor agreements, and recordkeeping practices are sufficient to support compliance.
Even companies that already use AI responsibly may need to formalize review procedures, conduct bias testing, and create documentation explaining how automated outputs are considered by human decision-makers.
Connecticut’s new law reflects a broader regulatory trend: employers may continue using AI, but they must do so transparently, carefully, and with meaningful human accountability.
About the authors: Robert Brody is managing partner at Brody and Associates, LLC, which he founded in 1997. Matthew Chiota is a law clerk at Brody and Associates, awaiting admission to the Connecticut and New York Bar associations. Contact them at [email protected] or 203.454.0560.
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