Reflecting on the 2025 Legislative Session

The 2025 legislative session has come to a close, and it was certainly a trying session for all. In a session where roughly 3,800 bills were introduced, only about 380 bills were passed, rounding up to a passing rate of about ten percent.

By Rachel Moon

A group of women are standing in a hearing room at the Capitol, holding signs that says "Undocumented + Unafraid" and "Strengthen the Trust Act Now!"

Inspector General Candidates Answer ACLU of CT Questionnaire on Police Accountability and Racial Justice

The Criminal Justice Commission is interviewing the final 2025 Connecticut Inspector General candidates Tuesday, April 29th at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Here's what the finalists had to say about police accountability and racial justice.

A white sign with red writing, surrounded by other protest signs and against a backdrop of trees. The sign with red writing says: END POLICE BRUTALITY NOW

HB 6948 is about the fight for survival for each and everyone affected by the collateral consequences of living with a criminal record

My name is Terri Ricks, I am a resident of Hartford and a Smart Justice Leader with the ACLU of Connecticut. I am a person who has been directly impacted by homelessness due to housing challenges. I am an individual who is here speaking and fighting for change even when I lived for three-and-a-half years in a hotel due to housing challenges. Every day has been a fight, but nothing has been a fight as tough as being freed from prison in 2005. After completing changing my life, housing has consistently been a problem that even eludes me to this day.

By Terri Ricks

Terri, one of our Smart Justice Leaders, is a Black woman wearing a yellow leather jacket with her hair in a protective style (locs) and black wire rim glasses.

Housing is a Human Right: Q+A with Jess Zaccagnino

In order to better understand how HB 5242, an Act Concerning the Collateral Consequences of Criminal Records on Housing, helps people to get access to housing, digital content strategist Rachel Moon sat down with Jess Zaccagnino, our policy counsel, to discuss what exactly this bill does.

By Rachel Moon, Jess Zaccagnino

Jess, policy counsel, sits in front of the housing committee testifying in support of HB5242 with Smart Justice leaders behind her.

New Report on False State Police Ticket Records Raises Questions and Concerns

When the new state-ordered investigation regarding the CT State Police falsifying traffic records was released on January 31, 2024, we hoped it would shed new light on this statewide scandal. Instead, the more carefully we read this new report, the more it reinforced our concerns.

This photo captures a legislative forum about the fake traffic ticket scandal from the back of the room. Several people's backs are towards the camera with legislators in the background of the photo.

Looking Ahead: Our 2024 Legislative Priorities

Welcome to 2024. We have a lot to do during this legislative session and we’ll need your help to step up to protect the civil rights of everyone in our communities. Are you ready to join us?

By Rachel Moon

In the Senate room, five of our Smart Justice leaders are sitting together and smiling at the camera with their Smart Justice blue apparel.

Wrapping up the 2023 legislative session

The ACLU of Connecticut approached the 2023 legislative session with ambitious goals to improve access to the ballot box, begin holding prosecutors accountable, and protect children from police lying and threats. 

Connecticut State Capitol

Defend the right to learn and read

Attempted book bans are on the rise in Connecticut. Here’s how you can push back.

A red "censored" stamp covers a stack of books and a hand holding a bullhorn. All are behind a pink filter effect.

Here's How Connecticut Could Implement a Historic New Voting Law

Introducing early voting would begin to address the state’s racist history of voter suppression.

An Afrian-American woman drops a ballot into a State of Connecticut Official Ballot Drop Box outside Hartford City Hall.