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Opening remarks frame State of the State as both budget address and call for inclusion

Office of the Governor · February 13, 2026

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Summary

An unidentified speaker opened a State of the State–style address to "187 legislators" and Connecticut residents, saying the speech would set budget priorities, raise concerns about immigration enforcement and community safety, and highlight diversity in Norwich.

Unidentified Speaker opened the remarks to "187 legislators" and Connecticut residents, saying the address was both a State of the State and a budget speech and that it should lay out "how you get through the next year" and "what are your priorities."

The speaker acknowledged the ordinary dryness of budget talks — "a budget address is, you know, a little dull, frankly" — but said the remarks needed to connect budget choices to people’s lives. "You also have to address the times you live in and make it a real for people," the speaker said, signaling an intention to discuss policy through the lens of public experience.

The speaker raised public concern about immigration enforcement, saying "some of that is related to ICE and the people feeling just incredibly disrespected and unsafe," bringing community safety and the treatment of immigrants into the address as matters for policymakers to consider. The statement in the transcript attributes the linkage to the speaker; the transcript does not record a response or supporting data in this excerpt.

Shifting to a commemoration, the speaker noted an anniversary of the country's founding (transcript text reads "tort and fiftieth anniversary," which is ambiguous in this excerpt) and urged remembering founding principles in Norwich. The speaker painted a scene in Norwich under historical portraits — "old white guys looking down" — and contrasted that image with a diverse modern crowd, saying there were "lots of people with turbans and colorful dress" and noting Native American representation.

The speaker closed the excerpt by invoking Thomas Paine and saying their aim was to give people "something to believe in as well during these tough times," framing the remarks as both practical (budget priorities) and rhetorical (appeals to unity and principle).

No formal motions, votes, or decisions are recorded in this excerpt; the content is opening remarks and thematic framing rather than an actionable agenda item.