Advocacy 2026

UPDATE: At this hearing, Senator Cathy Osten asked DECD if they will be using CIA dollars to fund administrative functions. DECD responded that they explored the idea but will not be seeking a proposal this fiscal year. Thanks for your support!

The Appropriations Committee will hold a public hearing on Friday, February 20, 2026 at 5:00 P.M. in Room 2C of the LOB and via Zoom. The Department of Economic & Community Development will be testifying before the Appropriations Committee to request that the department receive 50% of the Donald E. Williams, Jr. Community Investment Account (CIA) funds designated to historic preservation for administrative purposes. See page 58 of the DECD request here. You can submit testimony opposing this request. Please see instructions below for testifying in person or through the online form:

• Individuals who wish to testify must register using the On-line Testimony Registration Form.  The registration form must contain the name of the person who will be testifying.   A unique email address must be provided for each person registered to speak.  Registration will close on Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 3:00 P.M.  Speaker order of approved registrants will be listed in a randomized order and posted on the Appropriations Committee website on Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 6:00 P.M. under Public Hearing Testimony.  If you do not have internet access, you may provide testimony via telephone.  To register to testify by phone, call the Phone Registrant Line at (860) 240-0033 to leave your contact information.  
• Please submit written testimony using the On-line Testimony Submission Form.  
• The public hearing can be viewed via YouTube Live and on CT-N.com.

You can find a template to submit written testimony here.

Talking points:

We are totally supportive of our State Historic Preservation Office staff, however we oppose the diversion of 50% of the revenue in the Donald E. Williams, Jr. Community Investment Account (CIA) for historic preservation away from funding local grants for the following reasons: 

Community Investment Account 

• The Community Investment Account (Public Act 05-228) is Connecticut’s only dedicated fund for open space, farmland, historic preservation, affordable housing and dairy farmers. It provides funding across several state agencies and is essential for these activities. Funds for open space are administered by the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, for dairy farmers and for farmland preservation by the Department of Agriculture, for affordable housing by the Department of Housing, and for historic preservation, by the Department of Economic and Community Development and the State Historic Preservation Office. 

• This request to divert funds damages the integrity of the Community Investment Account. The statutory language is unambiguous in requiring that no more than 10% of the revenues collected for this fund are to be used for administration and salaries, the majority dedicated to community driven grants. By opening up a debate the mission of all the coalition partners becomes vulnerable, diminishing funds for all sectors. 

Historic Preservation Funds 

• DECD administers grant funds that come through the Community Investment Account, which are essential for historic preservation projects across the state. Since 2006, those funds from DECD alone have totaled more than $41 million. 

• Community grants awarded from the CIA fund are matching grants; therefore, this action will disrupt more than $2 million of local preservation work undertaken each year.  

Looking Ahead  

• There is no shortfall anticipated in FY 2026 from federal funding. The recent FY26 Interior Appropriations bill that was signed into law included a one-year authorization for the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). 

• At the federal level, advocates are actively working on the bipartisan Historic Preservation Fund Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3418) to reauthorize the HPF for 10 years and increase the program’s current authorization from $150 million to $250 million.  
• Any funding needed to make up any future shortfall from the Historic Preservation Fund at the federal level should come from Connecticut’s General Fund and not the CIA. 

If any of the members of Subcommittee #5: Conservation and Development are YOUR legislators, please reach out to them directly with your testimony as well: