Rep. Dave DeFronzo takes a selfie with his wife Monica and their children Matthew 9, and Grace 11, during the opening day of the 2025 legislative session at the state Capitol on Wednesday. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont speaks in the historic Hall of the House during the 2025 State of the State Address to the General Assembly at the state Capitol on January 8. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont delivers the State of the State Address to the General Assembly at the state Capitol on Wednesday. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Charlie Parker 2 holds an American Flag as he waits with his dad Rep. John-Michale Parker and mom Joyce Gendler for the start of Gov. Ned Lamont’s State of the State address at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont is concerned that a bill on regulating artificial intelligence could end up stifling innovation in Connecticut. He is shown here during the State of the State Address to the General Assembly at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont during the State of the State address to the General Assembly at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025 during the annual (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Justin Bertram, from The Health Collective, left, Rev. Elder Aaron Millor, Metropolitan Community Church of Hartford, and drag queen Mucha Mucha Placer (Richard Stillson) hands out information about the LGBTQ+ Justice and Opportunity Network at the Connecticut State Capitol during the opening day of the legislative session on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont during the State of the State address to the General Assembly at the Connecticut State Capitol last week. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Members of Husky 4 Immigrants, gather in the lobby of the Connecticut State Capitol during the opening day of the legislative session on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Rep. MJ Shannon, during the opening day of the legislative session at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont during the State of the State address to the General Assembly at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025 during the annual (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont shakes hands as he leaves after he gave the State of the State address to the General Assembly at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025 during the annual (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont during the State of the State address to the General Assembly at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025 during the annual (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Speaker of the House Matt Ritter shares a few words after he was selected to continue to be the Speaker of the House during the opening day of the legislative session at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025 during the annual (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Rep. John-Michale Parker holds his son Charlie Parker 2, as they wait for Gov. Ned Lamont’s State of the State Address at state Capitol on Wednesday. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont during the State of the State address to the General Assembly at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025 during the annual (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont during the State of the State address to the General Assembly at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025 during the annual (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont during the State of the State address to the General Assembly at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025 during the annual (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont during the State of the State address to the General Assembly at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025 during the annual (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz introduces Gov. Ned Lamont before the State of the State address to the General Assembly at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025 during the annual (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont during the State of the State address to the General Assembly at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025 during the annual (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont shakes hands with three-term House Speaker Matt Ritter of Hartford after the 2025 State of the State Address on January 8. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
On a day of optimism, state Rep. Jonathan Jacobson holds his son Ezra 2, during the opening day of the 2025 legislative session at the state Capitol in Hartford. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
House Republican leader Vincent Candelora of North Branford was concerned that Gov. Ned Lamont did not mention the fiscal guardrails during his State of the State Address. Here, Candelora nominates Rep. Matt Ritter for a third term as Speaker of the House during the opening day of the 2025 legislative session in Hartford. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Derrick Roberts II, of Hartford, plays the National Anthem on his saxophone, during the opening day of the legislative session at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam during Gov. Ned Lamont’s State of the State address at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Rep. Larry Butler stands with wife Jacqueline during Gov. Ned Lamont’s State of the State address at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Speaker of the House Matt Ritter talks about the gavel and the most asked questions he gets when school groups visit after being selected to continue to be the Speaker of the House during the opening day of the legislative session at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont during the State of the State address to the General Assembly at the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2025 during the annual (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Gov. Ned Lamont has raised concerns about a bill that would provide unemployment benefits for striking workers. Here, he is shown during the State of the State Address to the General Assembly at the Connecticut State Capitol on February 8. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Legislators are sworn in on opening day of the legislative session at the state Capitol in Hartford Wednesday. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
Rep. Dave DeFronzo takes a selfie with his wife Monica and their children Matthew 9, and Grace 11, during the opening day of the 2025 legislative session at the state Capitol on Wednesday. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
ExpandOpening day of the legislative session at the state Capitol in Hartford.