Senate approves $3 million emergency nonprofit assistance account after sharp debate over recipients

The Connecticut Senate on Wednesday approved Senate Bill 1453, establishing an "Emergency Nonprofit Assistance Account" and transferring $3,000,000 from the general fund to seed grants for nonprofit service providers. The measure passed after a series of amendments and roll-call votes.

A strike-all amendment (LCO 5976), offered and explained on the floor, created the account and specified that expenditures would be administered by the Office of Policy and Management and generally be available on or about April 20, 2025. The amendment passed by roll call 24–10 (two absent), and the bill as amended later passed by a roll call of 25–10 (one absent).

Why it matters: supporters said the money will shore up community organizations facing immediate threats to operations; critics said some listed recipients were politically controversial and pressed for clearer accountability and technical safeguards to ensure taxpayer dollars meet demonstrable needs.

What the amendment does: the successful strike-all amendment establishes an Emergency Nonprofit Assistance Account, transfers $3,000,000 from the general fund into that account, and directs the secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to prepare expenditures. As Senator Austin summarized in debate, the amendment “segregates out the cost aspects of that last bill … and says exactly where the monies would come from and where they would be deposited into.”

Contested recipients and oversight: much of the debate focused on organizations named in earlier drafts and the perceived priority given to some groups. Senator Sampson raised the governor’s veto message from an earlier version and said the governor had specifically objected to an $800,000 payment to Planned Parenthood. “This amended bill still includes that same funding on line T25 for Planned Parenthood in the amount of $800,000,” Sampson said on the floor, asking whether the concern had been addressed.

Senator Austin and other supporters said the amendment adds administrative provisions and contract language to hold grantees accountable. As Austin told the chamber, the bill “does have a section in here that says that there are administrative costs for awarding such grants. Administrative costs would include but not be limited to the contract documents that would have to be developed on each one of these.” The chair also said award contracts and audits would be used to verify compliance.

An alternative amendment rejected: Senator Sampson later offered a strike-all amendment (LCO 5995) that would have redirected the $3 million to low-income heating assistance and elderly nutrition (Meals on Wheels), arguing that those priorities would be broadly nonpartisan and immediately useful to residents in need. He summarized his amendment as replacing the list of 24 organizations with funding directed to meal and heating assistance and an increased allocation for Jewish Family Services of Greenwich, Inc. That amendment failed by roll call 11–23 (two absent).

Votes and next steps: Senate amendment A (LCO 5976) passed 24–10 with two senators absent; the Sampson strike-all amendment (LCO 5995) failed 11–23. The bill as amended then passed the Senate by roll call, 25–10 (one absent). The Senate moved for immediate transmittal of the measure to the House.

Context: the debate reflected two recurring themes this session: urgency to provide immediate support to community organizations facing funding shortfalls, and caution from some senators about preserving the state’s budgetary guardrails and insisting on transparent criteria and contracting procedures for state grants.

Ending: The bill now moves to the House for its consideration. If adopted there and signed by the governor, OPM will be responsible for contracting and issuing the grants described in the amendment.