CT Nonprofit Alliance Outlines Legislative Priorities for 2026

The Connecticut Nonprofit Alliance, the self-described Voice of Community Nonprofits, has outlined the organization’s priorities for the state legislature during the just underway 2026 session.

Those priorities include passage of bills that:

·         Allocate $25 million in bonding to the Nonprofit Grant Program and ensure that the Bond Commission authorizes more of the allocated funding to go to nonprofits.

·         Increase access to behavioral health services by implementing the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic model in Connecticut.

·         Solve the nonprofit health and human services liability insurance crisis by creating a state supported captive insurance program to allow nonprofits to ensure their vital programs that they are providing on behalf of the State.

·         Require regular reviews of POS and PSA contracts, removing duplicative requirements and modernizing the state’s contracting system.

·         Repeal or reform statutes that artificially cap executive salaries at rates far below the market, leaving nonprofits with a limited talent pool when hiring.

·         Support the nonprofit workforce by providing high quality, affordable health insurance options for nonprofit employers, creating student loan and tuition reimbursement programs in response to federal program cuts, and eliminating unnecessary testing requirements for LMSWs.

·         Increase access to affordable housing.

·         Strengthen the service-delivery system for children, including early intervention, behavioral health, residential, child welfare, juvenile justice, and education services.

·         Support children’s access to special education services through Approved Private Special Education Programs

The Alliance points out that “last year’s biennial budget delivered important funding increases for community nonprofits, but with the largest gains going to DDS residential programs,  the rest of the nonprofit system continues to fall behind. Now, sweeping federal cuts to healthcare, Medicaid, SNAP, homelessness services, and more are pushing nonprofits and the communities they serve into crisis.”

The are calling on the legislature to allocate $155 million in additional funding that they indicate is needed for community services in FY27, adding that “With a projected $2.5 billion state budget surplus, Connecticut can meet the needs of its residents, stabilize community services, and remain fiscally responsible.”

In a statement following Governor Lamont’s State of the State Address on February 4, the Alliance explained:

“Connecticut’s community-based nonprofit providers appreciate that Governor Lamont’s proposed budget adjustments preserve much-needed funding increases that the General Assembly approved last year. Recent increases, including this one, have begun to address long term underfunding.  We also appreciate the proposal to create a new advisory committee to help nonprofits and the executive branch work on system improvements.”

“However, our programs continue to struggle after falling behind for nearly two decades. Now we face added pressure, with the federal government’s chaotic retreat from its traditional responsibilities. Community nonprofits provide services that are vital to tens of thousands of Connecticut residents, and make our state safer and healthier.”

“In the coming weeks, we will work with lawmakers and the governor to fill in the gaps created by the loss of federal funding that could cause significant harm to families and individuals across Connecticut.  Our state finances are strong; we have the resources to support much-needed human service programs so that no critical service is shortchanged.”

The CT Community Nonprofit Alliance was legally created on February 1, 2016 – and this month is celebrating The Alliance’s tenth anniversary.

During the past ten years, President and CEO Gian-Carl Casa points out “we’ve held workshops serving more than 20,000 people. Through our advocacy work we’ve fought for and helped get some $626,550,000 in increased funding. Our annual conferences, including those during COVID, had 5,300 people attending.”  He adds “The Alliance is more than just what numbers show. Over the past decade we have created not just an organization for community nonprofits – but a community of nonprofits.”