End of Session Mental Health Update
Human Services and Appropriations Committees voted in support of expanding HUSKY to all income-eligible individuals regardless of immigration status up to age 18 through HB6616. While the bill was not called for a vote by the full legislature, the final budget incorporated these provisions and expanded eligibility to age 15. While this falls short of […]
End of Session Housing Update
HB 6633 (which included Fair Share zoning reform) was passed by the Housing Committee but ran into major opposition in the full legislature. A stripped- down version of Fair Share was included in the omnibus housing bill that was debated for many contentious hours in the final week of the session before finally being passed. […]
End of Session Education Update
On June 7, 2023 the CT legislature passed H.B. 5003 with an additional $150 million going to educational funding through the Educational Cost Sharing formula. Furthermore, this formula will be fully funded in fiscal year 2025 for the first time in Connecticut’s history. Instead of relying on a town’s resources to fund it’s schools, the ECS […]
Lawmakers, activists seek to ’cap the rent’
Hundreds of tenant rights organizers from across Connecticut gathered online to kickstart a new campaign focused on limiting annual rent increases — on the same day that two New Haven state legislators introduced a bill in Hartford that would cap such hikes at no more than 2.5 percent a year. The Connecticut Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and partnering organizations […]
A Trio of Organizers Join CLJ
Rev. Jocelyn Gardner Spencer comes to CLJ from New Haven where she served as Senior Minister of United Church on the Green. She is a faith leader with over a decade of experience moving congregations and wider church organizations toward justice and equity, including the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ […]
Rev. Isaac Lawson’s New Role
It is with admiration and support that the Center for Leadership and Justice says goodbye to Rev. Isaac Lawson. Four years ago Isaac was hired to fill a joint role at CLJ and Immanuel Congregational Church. The partnership was a new but Isaac wove his time seamlessly as he cared for, trained and communicated with […]
GHIAA Organizer Moves On
It is with some sadness that we report that GHIAA Organizer, Cesar Aleman, is moving on from CLJ. However, we ask that you join us in celebrating the great opportunity awaiting Cesar. In Cesar’s own words: Dear friends, I write to let you know I am leaving GHIAA at the end of the legislative session […]
Faith Leaders, Advocates Celebrate Elimination of Welfare Liens
https://cljct.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Faith-Leaders-Advocates-Celebrate-Elimination-of-Welfare-Liens-–-NBC-Connecticut.mp4 Connecticut became the 48th state in the nation last week to prevent the state from putting a welfare lien on someone’s home. Advocates and faith leaders took a victory lap Tuesday but they aren’t stopping there.“To buy my own home at 50 years old, first of all, was amazing because I came out of […]
Big Win On Welfare Liens Campaign!
After a hard-fought legislative campaign that was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, GHIAA received word that Gov. Lamont signed H.B. 6516 into law on March 4, 2021, effectively putting a long-overdue end to welfare liens in Connecticut. Renee Blake, a leader in this campaign has a lien against her home for state assistance received over […]
Advocates, lawmakers press for health equity measures as legislative session heats up
A family at the press conference called to oppose racism in Manchester Dawn Cook prays along with others who came to a protest at Bushnell Park in June. “I hope it will be a momentum to make substantial changes,” Cook said. A month into the legislative session, advocates are turning a spotlight back on an […]