Bill Limiting ICE Actions In CT Heads To Lamont’s Desk

by Donald Eng CTNewsJunkie

HARTFORD, CT — A bill that would allow residents to sue federal officials that violate their civil rights passed the state House of Representatives Friday on a mostly party-line vote.

Senate Bill 397, An Act Concerning Democracy And Government Accountability, is on its way to Gov. Ned Lamont’s desk after passing the House 91-53. Every Republican voted against it as did Democratic representatives Jill Barry of Glastonbury, Michael DiGiovancarlo of Waterbury, William Heffernan of West Haven and Christopher Poulos of Southington.

Debate on the bill began Thursday, but the lengthy deliberations, including 10 failed Republican amendments, meant the vote did not happen until Friday afternoon.

“This is a very difficult time of year,” House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said Friday before the session convened. “Everybodys very tired. There’s a lot of emotions. There’s internal disagreements in caucuses, there are external disagreements.”

Ritter and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas of East Hartford said emotions ran high during the debate and the two had to “pull everybody back from the brink.”

Ritter characterized Friday’s session as “a very careful day,” saying “everything is very delicate right now.”

“We’re dealing with sensitive issues that have been on the minds of lots of people, particularly with 397,” Rojas said.”What we have seen over the past six month, I think has really shaken people. And there are people who feel passionately about that being the right policy for that federal agency in terms of how they do their jobs. We’ve seen people hurt. We’ve seen loss of life.”

Republican leaders address the media outside the House chamber on April 30, 2026. Credit: Donald Eng / CTNewsJunkie

Republican leaders characterized the bill as press release material, and argued that the supremacy clause prohibited the state from passing legislation on the actions of federal officers.

“My concern is it’s sending the wrong message to law enforcement in the state of Connecticut,” said Minority Leader Vincent Candelora of North Branford on Thursday before the debate began. “Ultimately I think Connecticut is going to be worse off for it.”

Among other things, the bill prohibits law enforcement officials from carrying out their duties while concealing their identities with masks, bands warrantless arrests in places like schools, hospitals and places of worship, and makes federal agencies liable when their officers interfere with a person taking a photo or video of another officer carrying out their duty. This was an issue in Connecticut this week as ICE agents attempting to arrest a man holding a baby in New Haven left without apprehending him after numerous residents recorded their actions.

Lamont said he was looking forward to signing the bill.

“The people of Connecticut should not fear for their safety when visiting hospitals, schools, and religious and government buildings,” he said. “The provisions included in this bill include commonsense measures to protect peoples’ constitutional rights from federal overreach.”

Attorney General William Tong also issued a statement that the bill made all public officials accountable for civil rights violations.

“It is the policy of the State of Connecticut to respect, honor and protect immigrants and immigrant families in compliance with state and federal law,” Tong said. “This legislation reflects the unremarkable and uncontroversial proposition that no one is above the law. Not here in Connecticut and not anywhere else in this country.”