PROUDLY SERVING THE 16TH DISTRICT
State Senator Rob Sampson
Senior Deputy Republican Leader
Rob Sampson, re-elected to a fourth term in 2024, represents Connecticut’s 16th District. He is the Ranking Member on the Government Administration & Elections Committee, the Housing Committee, and the Labor & Public Employees Committee. Rob is widely known as an advocate for America’s core principles, restoring our system of limited, representative, constitutional government, protecting private contracts and defending the natural rights of his constituents.
“I am honored to be chosen by the people of the 16th District as their voice at the State Capitol. I remain committed to defending our American principles of freedom, representation, limited constitutional self-government, and the rule of law. I believe that with hard work and our collective voices, Connecticut can become a safer and more affordable state with a bright future for all. As always, I will put in the hard work to make it happen.”
LATEST COLUMN
'Distraction and Power: A Troubling Start to the 2026 Session' (March 2026)
The 2026 legislative session is underway, and Connecticut residents are already seeing a familiar pattern: distraction at the microphone and consolidation of power in the fine print.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Senator Rob Sampson invites you to attend a Pre-Session Legislative Discussion in the 16th district!
Want to watch a conservative senator completely dismantle a Democrat bill designed to grow their political machine?
That’s exactly what happened during the March 5 Housing Committee meeting.
Democrats claim their bill creates “Tenant Organizers” to help renters.
But when you actually read the bill, it does something very different.
It forces landlords to allow outside political activists into residential buildings where they can:
• Knock on tenants’ doors
• Distribute leaflets and propaganda
• Conduct door-to-door surveys
• Hold meetings and organizing events
• Even host political caucuses and campaign forums inside apartment buildings
This has nothing to do with helping tenants.
It is about giving activist groups access to tenants so they can organize them politically. And in Connecticut we all know what comes next: taxpayer money flowing to politically connected NGOs to run these operations.
Tenants are being sold a story about “tenant rights.”
What this bill actually creates is a new taxpayer-funded organizing network for the same political machine that already dominates Hartford.
I spent 45 minutes exposing exactly how this scheme works and why it does nothing to solve Connecticut’s housing problems.
Watch the clip. Then decide for yourself.
Bill language:
www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/H/PDF/2026HB-05258-R00-HB.PDF
Here is an email I received in response to my Friday email alert on upcoming important public hearings on bills - and my reply. Enjoy!
From a constituent:
"You tell me —-I oppose but where is the legislation? That’s not included ! Are you a Trumper who doesn’t trust me with the infromation in the bill?"
and my reply:
Dear XXXXX,
First, if the links in the email did not work properly on your end, I apologize for that. Normally the bill titles in my updates link directly to the official page for each bill. If that did not function for you, the easiest way to find them is to go to www.cga.ct.gov and type the bill number into the search field at the bottom of the page. That will take you directly to the full text, analysis, and legislative history for any bill being considered.
As for the rest of your message, the purpose of that email was exactly what you seem to be demanding: making sure the public knows what is happening at the Capitol.
I do not have to send those alerts. I choose to do it because many people in Connecticut have no idea what legislation is moving until it is already passed. In fact, I often end up putting those emails together somewhat frantically on Friday afternoons because the majority Democrats frequently wait until the last lawful moment to release hearing agendas and bill information. That timing makes it harder for the public to notice what is coming and harder for citizens to participate.
So when you receive one of those alerts from me, it is because I am trying to counteract that lack of transparency, not create it.
Despite holding overwhelming supermajorities in both chambers, Democratic leadership routinely uses procedural tactics that make it harder for the public to follow what is happening. Bills are emergency certified to bypass public hearings and committee debate entirely. Other times legislation moves through committee with placeholder or incomplete language, only to be substantially rewritten by amendment at the last minute. Substitute bill language is sometimes handed out minutes before a vote, leaving legislators and the public almost no time to review it.
Those are the kinds of tactics that actually hide what is going on in Hartford.
Meanwhile, many of the policies that affect residents the most are buried in complex legislation or passed with little public awareness. The massive “public benefits” charge now appearing on electric bills is a good example. People only learned about it after it showed up on their monthly statement.
That is precisely why I send updates like the one you received. People deserve to know what their government is doing before decisions are made.
Finally, it is worth noting that people can disagree without immediately resorting to insults. Having a little class in a conversation would not hurt anyone.
If you would like to review the legislation yourself, the General Assembly website I mentioned above contains everything. I encourage people to read bills directly and reach their own conclusions.
Sincerely,
Senator Rob Sampson
mailchi.mp/ctsenaterepublicans/pushing-for-energy-relief-9635184?e=b7fef4d42f
Action Alert! Public Hearings on Gun Laws, Vaccines, Home Schooling and More!
mailchi.mp
Your Voice is Needed! Public hearings are underway in Hartford, and several key proposals will be considered this week — measures that could significantly impact Connecticut residents, families, a...
Early today 3/5/26, Democrats in the Labor Committee voted to make it harder to charge people with a felony for stealing unemployment benefits.
They want to raise the threshold from $500 to $2,500.
Stealing from taxpayers is still stealing.
Accountability shouldn’t depend on the dollar amount.
Watch the vote.