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Governor Lamont's Week in Review

Week ending September 12, 2026

Remembering the victims of 9/11

This week, Governor Ned Lamont and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz hosted the State of Connecticut's annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, honoring and celebrating the lives of those killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

This year’s ceremony marked the 25th anniversary of the attacks. It was attended by family members of those who were killed, and the names of the 161 victims with ties to Connecticut were read aloud.

Connecticut’s official memorial honoring the victims is located on a peninsula at the state park, where on a clear day the Manhattan skyline can be viewed across Long Island Sound. The memorial features stones engraved with the names of the people with ties to Connecticut who were killed in the attacks.

The state park was chosen as the site for the memorial because it is the location where, in the hours immediately following the attacks in 2001, many people gathered to observe the smoke and devastation on Lower Manhattan from across Long Island Sound. Additionally, the site was used immediately after the attacks by the Connecticut National Guard as a staging area for Connecticut’s relief efforts to New York City.

Visitors are welcome to visit the memorial and pay respects to the victims any day of the year. Sherwood Island State Park is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset.

📺 WATCH: Video of Connecticut's 9/11 Memorial Ceremony [[link removed]]

Connecticut pension funds generated returns of 15.1% in fiscal year 2026

On Wednesday, Governor Lamont joined Treasurer Erick Russell at a news conference to announce that Connecticut's pension funds reported returns of 15.1% for fiscal year 2026, once again substantially outpacing the assumed rate of return of 6.9%.

The funds benefited from $1.487 billion in excess contributions made in fiscal year 2025. When combined with investment earnings, total assets within the pension funds increased by $11.0 billion in 2026.

The funds have outpaced the assumed rate of return of 6.9% in each of the last four fiscal years (10.14% in Fiscal Year 2025, 11.5% in Fiscal Year 2024, and 8.5% in Fiscal Year 2023).

"This progress is the result of disciplined fiscal management, and it gives us greater flexibility to make investments in education, housing, and other priorities that strengthen our economy and improve quality of life for people across our state," Governor Lamont said.

READ MORE: Connecticut Pension Funds Generated Returns of 15.1% in Fiscal Year 2026 [[link removed]] (CT.gov)

State bonds approved to continue the recently enacted reduction in public benefit costs on electric bills

On Tuesday, the State Bond Commission, which is chaired by Governor Lamont, voted to approve additional funding that will enable the reduction on the public benefits portion of customers' electric bills that went into effect last year to continue through at least next spring, providing continued savings for ratepayers.

Currently, the public benefits category is actually appearing as a credit on customers' bills due to these state bonds combined with profitable contracts that Governor Lamont negotiated with the Millstone and Seabrook nuclear power plants, which provide energy at fixed prices and insulate ratepayers from volatile fossil fuel pricing.

Using state bonds to reduce public benefits costs was made possible by the recent enactment of the omnibus energy affordability legislation that Governor Lamont developed in collaboration with Democratic and Republican lawmakers containing several actions to reduce electric bills.

READ MORE: State Bonding Approved To Continue the Recently Enacted Reduction in Public Benefit Costs on Electric Bills [[link removed]] (CT.gov)

Supporting Connecticut's Ukrainian sister-state, Donetsk Oblast

On Wednesday, Governor Lamont met with a delegation of officials from Connecticut's Ukrainian sister-state, Donetsk Oblast, who visited the State Capitol in Hartford as part of a mission to reinforce the relationship between the two states.

Governor Lamont entered into an agreement with Donetsk Oblast last year to establish the sister-state relationship, reinforcing Connecticut's support for the Ukrainian province.

The visiting Ukrainian officials included First Deputy of Donetsk Oblast Yurii Vynokurov and Head of Bakhumt District Sergii Kalian.

"Twenty-five years ago our country was attacked by terror," Governor Lamont said. "And you're here in brotherhood with us because together, we stand up against terror. We stand up for the values that I think make the world a better place. And we’re standing with you."

IN THE NEWS: CT Officials Pledge Ongoing Support As Ukraine Delegation Visits Capitol [[link removed]] (CT News Junkie)

Connecticut issues cease-and-desists to illegal prediction market operations

On Thursday, Governor Lamont and Connecticut Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli announced that the State of Connecticut is taking a series of actions aimed at curbing illegal prediction market operations.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection has issued nine cease-and-desist orders to companies illegally operating prediction markets in the state.

"Prediction markets have branded themselves as legal and safe, but the reality is they are not adhering to Connecticut’s consumer protection standards and gaming laws, and they are not being truthful when they tell consumers that their activities are legal," Governor Lamont said. "When we legalized sports wagering in 2021, the goal was to create a safe, responsibly regulated market for Connecticut consumers, not to open a free-for-all."

READ MORE: Governor Lamont Announces New Actions Against Illegal Prediction Markets [[link removed]] (CT.gov)

Farmers can now apply for disaster relief to cover losses from 2023 and 2024 severe weather

On Tuesday, Governor Lamont held a news conference at Killam and Bassette Farmstead in South Glastonbury, where he announced that farmers in Connecticut who experienced financial losses caused by severe and unseasonable weather events that impacted the state in 2023 and 2024 can now apply for disaster relief funding.

This funding is coming from $52.9 million in disaster relief the state was awarded this summer by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support farmers impacted by these weather events.

During 2023 and 2024, Connecticut experienced a number of abnormal weather extremes—including unseasonable frost and freezing, severe flooding, dangerous hail, and extended drought events—that resulted in considerable impacts to farmers, such as losses in harvestable production and crop quality, as well as damage to infrastructure and equipment.

"When severe weather events impact farms, we need to stand by them to ensure they can recover and continue operating," Governor Lamont said.

To qualify for the first round of funding, applications must be submitted to the Connecticut Department of Agriculture by October 7, 2026.

READ MORE: Application Period Now Open for $52.9 Million in Disaster Relief Funds for Connecticut Farmers [[link removed]] (CT.gov)

Connecticut activates its 300th Wrong Way Driver Detection System

This week, the Connecticut Department of Transportation activated its 300th Wrong Way Driver Detection System on Connecticut roads.

First launched in 2023, the electronic alert system flashes lights to notify drivers when it detects that they are driving the wrong way. Additionally, it alerts nearby troopers from the Connecticut State Police so they can respond in real time.

Since its launch, more than 1,000 drivers have activated one of these systems and then successfully turned around.

The 300th system was installed in New Britain on the Route 571 Exit 1 off-ramp, adjacent to Beehive Stadium. A map of every location in Connecticut that has one of these detection systems can be found online at [[link removed]].

MORE INFO: CTDOT Activates 300th Wrong Way Driver Detection System [[link removed]] (CT.gov)

Connecticut ranks among America's happiest states

A study was released this week indicating that Connecticut ranks among the top 10 happiest states in the country.

Released by WalletHub, the study weighed internal and external factors, such as the number of adults suffering from depression, adequate sleep rate, suicide rate, number of work hours, volunteer rate, separation and divorce rate, safety and the share of adults feeling active and productive.

The study ranks Connecticut as the seventh happiest state in America.

IN THE NEWS: Connecticut ranks in top 10 happiest states [[link removed]] (WTNH)

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