AGP Executive Report

Connecticut Courts & Housing Finance: The state Supreme Court rejected claims that a 1996 foreclosure rule was silently overturned, letting a long-running Hartford foreclosure case move forward. AI Governance & Risk: A new Connecticut-focused guide urges businesses to build AI compliance around human review, active safeguards, and clear accountability—warning that unvetted AI output can trigger regulatory, legal, and IP losses. Media M&A Watch: A federal judge ordered Nexstar to remove its employees from Tegna’s board as part of an antitrust fight over the $6.2B deal. Consumer & Licensing Data: The CT Department of Consumer Protection released 2025 licensing trends showing big growth in cottage foods and health clubs since 2020. Banking & Fintech: Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition urging federal regulators to block OppFi’s bid for a national bank charter tied to very high-cost lending. Payments Innovation: Nayax applied for a Connecticut innovation bank charter to expand U.S. commercial lending and card-issuing. Construction & Real Estate: Toll Brothers opened Rivington Landing, a luxury condo community in Danbury. Tourism: Lamont’s office says 2025 tourism topped 72.2M visitors and $20.1B in economic impact.

Courts & Consumer Protection: Connecticut Children’s Medical Center agreed to stop gender-affirming care for minors after a DOJ investigation, with a penalty and extra funding for patients affected by the policy shift. Energy & Regulation: A Connecticut solar plant fire and shutdown at East Windsor Solar One is now spotlighting a post-construction oversight gap, after PURA found maintenance “reasonable” but ordered further studies and inspections. Transportation & Safety: A 16-year-old died after being struck while trespassing on Metro-North tracks on the Danbury Branch line; two trespassing suspects were arrested and service was temporarily disrupted. Industry & Jobs: Southington’s former Rex Forge facility sold for $1.275M, setting up refurbishment and a new chapter for advanced manufacturing in Plantsville. Agriculture & Food Supply: Egg producers Cal-Maine, Versova and Hickman’s will donate 53 million eggs to food banks as part of a price-fixing settlement. Local Business: Arhaus reported second-quarter 2026 results, while Coutu Bros. Moving & Storage was named a finalist for PBN’s fastest-growing companies in Rhode Island. Defense Contracting: Sikorsky won about a $107M contract tied to Marine One rotor blade work, with major work based in Stratford.

Workforce & Immigration: A federal judge cleared the way to end Temporary Protected Status for about 350,000 Haitians, a move that could leave thousands without jobs and facing deportation risk. Pharma & Antitrust: Acting AG Cori Mills joined a multi-state $400 million settlement with Sandoz over alleged generic drug price-fixing and market manipulation. Energy & Rates Watch: A CT watchdog is pushing for an ethics investigation into communications between PURA regulators and a utility executive tied to rate decisions that raised customer bills. Freight & Roads: CTDOT released a draft statewide freight plan for public comment and is planning 2027 pavement preservation work on Route 172 and Route 67 in Southbury. Manufacturing Real Estate: A former Rex Forge industrial site in Southington sold for about $1.28M, with plans for refurbishment to support advanced manufacturing. Consumer Costs & Policy: CT adopted new school guidance urging “bell-to-bell” limits on cellphones and personal tech, and the state also announced a minimum wage increase for 2027. Housing & Jobs: Electric Boat’s hiring surge is expected to bring thousands more workers to southeastern CT, but leaders warn housing shortages must be addressed fast.

SNAP Relief in Connecticut: The state has started taking applications for one-time $300 grocery cards for about 30,000 residents losing SNAP under new federal work rules, with more cuts expected later this month. Home Insurance Scrutiny: Insurers are facing fresh backlash over using credit scores to set homeowners rates, as lawmakers argue it can outweigh disaster risk. Crypto Crime in CT: Federal prosecutors charged three Missouri men in a planned Connecticut home invasion targeting stolen Bitcoin, tied to a larger ~$245M crypto theft. Music Industry Move: Connecticut just landed a permanent home for the Archive of Contemporary Music, buying a Ridgefield building to reopen as a public archive and cultural destination by 2028. Earnings & Logistics: Greenwich-based GXO Logistics reported strong Q2 results and new business momentum, including growth tied to aerospace, defense, tech and life sciences. Data Privacy Push: Vermont joined a multi-state privacy regulators consortium that includes Connecticut, aiming to coordinate enforcement as new state privacy laws roll out. Tariff Fight: Connecticut is among 25 states suing the Trump administration over new tariffs, arguing they’re unlawful and a pretext to replace earlier court-blocked taxes.

Banking & M&A: The Federal Reserve gave final approval for Banco Santander’s $12.3B acquisition of Webster Financial, clearing the last major U.S. hurdle and setting up a likely close in the second half of 2026. Logistics & Manufacturing: Greenwich-based GXO Logistics reported Q2 results with revenue up 4.3% to $3.4B and $410M in new business wins, its strongest quarterly performance in three years, as it leans on automation and its GXO IQ platform. Defense & Advanced Manufacturing: Leonardo DRS will consolidate and expand its Naval Power Systems operations in Brookfield, Connecticut, with a new 141,087-square-foot facility expected to be ready in early 2027. Consumer Data & Privacy: Vermont joined a multi-state Consortium of Privacy Regulators, joining Connecticut and others to coordinate enforcement as Act 145 takes effect in 2028. Retail Pricing Regulation: Connecticut joined other states moving to ban “surveillance pricing,” limiting how personal data can be used to set individualized grocery prices. Public Safety Infrastructure: CTDOT will hold a virtual meeting on installing centerline rumble strips on Route 63 in Morris, with construction targeted for 2027. Health & Food Safety: The cyclosporiasis outbreak continues to expand nationally, with new reports of deaths linked to iceberg lettuce. Policy & Courts: Connecticut and New York are again part of a 25-state lawsuit challenging Trump’s latest tariffs as illegal and price-inflating.

Defense & Shipbuilding: Electric Boat won a historic $76.6B Navy contract to build Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines, with 27,000 workers now on the job and thousands of new hires planned across Groton and New London. Trade & Tariffs: A coalition of 25 states, including Connecticut, sued the Trump administration over new forced-labor tariffs, arguing the measures are unlawful and will raise costs for families and businesses. Healthcare Markets: Humana confirmed it will exit additional Medicare Advantage markets for 2027, affecting about 600,000 members nationwide, with ripple effects for seniors in Texas and beyond. Connecticut Legal/Insurance: A federal judge ruled a homeowner’s insurer doesn’t have to cover a privacy-related dispute tied to alleged misuse of patient treatment information. Local Planning & Growth: Stonington’s zoning and planning meeting will weigh its conservation and development plan and a proposed tech park on Route 2—sparking concerns about property impacts and notice. EPR & Waste Policy: Reverse Logistics Group secured a Vermont Household Hazardous Product stewardship support contract, expanding help for manufacturers under the state’s EPR law. Aviation/Industry: Walgreens scaled back 2026 store closures to fewer than 100, while listing specific locations shuttering this year.

Tariff Fight: Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 25 states suing the Trump administration to block new sweeping tariffs, arguing they’re unlawful and will raise prices for families and businesses. State Legal Push: The same coalition action follows earlier court defeats over tariff authority, setting up another fight in federal court over how the administration can impose trade taxes. CT Courts & Compliance: Connecticut’s Supreme Court ordered a lawyer to complete education after errors in filings tied to ChatGPT use, underscoring tighter expectations for tech-assisted legal work. Healthcare Antitrust: Connecticut attorneys general are also tied to major drug-pricing enforcement, including a $400M settlement in principle with Sandoz over alleged generic drug price-fixing and competition limits. Corrections Reform: Connecticut Department of Correction agreed to end long-running in-cell restraints for people with mental illness under a settlement with civil rights groups. Housing Accessibility: A report highlights efforts to expand accessible housing via smaller, cheaper elevators—an approach that’s gaining traction but faces pushback from parts of the elevator industry. Agriculture Innovation: UConn is advancing controlled environment agriculture research to support year-round, more efficient food production.

Offshore Wind Finance: Eversource booked a $164 million impairment tied to stop-work orders affecting the Revolution Wind project, though the utility says the 704MW farm is still on track to finish by year-end. Solar vs. Local Control: A Simsbury solar fight is heating up as the town challenges a Connecticut Siting Council signal approving a controversial Nod Road array, with lawmakers and residents arguing the state’s siting authority is overriding community planning. Health Insurance in the Spotlight: Connecticut insurers are facing renewed scrutiny over chronic illness coverage denials, as patient advocates push back on how policies are applied. Medicaid Pressure (National, with CT relevance): Missouri’s Medicaid program is bracing for tougher federal rules and potential penalties tied to error rates, raising questions about how states manage costs and oversight when private insurers run large portions of care. Consumer Protection: A San Francisco lawsuit alleges fake hotel booking sites are steering travelers with misleading search ads—an issue that hits travel and local business trust. Farm Economy Push: Gov. Lamont is urging residents to shop Connecticut Grown during National Farmers’ Market Week, highlighting more than 120 markets statewide. Workforce/Industry Note: Electric Boat’s record-setting Navy submarine contracting continues to underscore Connecticut’s role in defense manufacturing.

Connecticut Economy & Jobs: Stanley Black & Decker is closing its New Britain manufacturing plant, ending about 300 jobs, and a new report highlights how midyear layoffs can unexpectedly affect Social Security earnings limits for workers near retirement. Energy & Grid: Massachusetts is looking to expand its EV “virtual power plant” approach, potentially letting more Connecticut-area drivers participate in vehicle-to-grid programs that pay for sending power back to the grid. Transportation Funding: Gov. Lamont and partners announced a $14.7 million BUILD grant for safety and congestion upgrades at Route 174 and East Street in New Britain, with construction targeted for 2029-2031. State Business & Trade: Connecticut officially established a Connecticut-India Trade Commission to deepen ties in trade, technology, higher education, infrastructure and the arts. Legal & Consumer Protection: Connecticut AG William Tong’s office is seeking outside help to sue gun companies, but a reported RFP includes a “diversity” staffing criterion that’s drawing scrutiny. Local Industry & Community: Foxwoods is rolling out a new interactive slot experience in its “innovation zone,” marking a notable shift in how players engage with casino games.

Connecticut-India Trade: Gov. Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 132, officially creating the Connecticut-India Trade Commission to boost collaboration in trade, technology, higher education, infrastructure and the arts. Port & Infrastructure: New Britain won a $14.7M federal BUILD grant to rework the Route 174/East Street intersection, aiming to cut congestion and improve pedestrian/bike access and CTfastrak connections, with construction slated for 2029-2031. Energy & Grid: Massachusetts is expanding its ConnectedSolutions virtual power plant toward vehicle-to-grid participation, potentially paying some EV owners to send power from home batteries back to the grid. Manufacturing & Restructuring: Alkegen filed for bankruptcy protection under a fast-track plan to cut $3.1B in debt, with Connecticut-linked operations in Lauscha Fiber in Summerville. Defense Industry: Sikorsky (Lockheed Martin) won a $107.3M Navy order to develop improved main rotor blades for the VH-92A “Marine One” helicopter, with work running through 2031. Business & Consumer Tech: New York sued Kalshi over prediction markets, arguing they’re an illegal gambling operation—an escalating fight over who regulates the fast-growing industry.

Connecticut-India Trade Boost: Gov. Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 132 to create the Connecticut-India Trade Commission, aiming to deepen ties in trade, technology, higher education, infrastructure and the arts. Clean Energy & Grid Flex: Connecticut’s Green Bank won a national clean-energy leadership award for Solar Marketplace Assistance Program Plus, which helps finance and develop solar and storage across municipalities, schools, state facilities and affordable housing. EVs as Power Assets: Massachusetts is pushing its virtual power plant program toward vehicle-to-grid participation, potentially letting more EV owners earn by sending power back to the grid. Port & Harbor Upgrades: The Connecticut Port Authority highlighted Small Harbor Improvement Projects in Old Lyme, including dock modernization and navigation safety work. Road Safety Funding: New Britain won a $14.7M federal BUILD grant to rework the Route 174/East Street intersection, improving safety, congestion and CTfastrak access. Home Solar Payback: A Connecticut homeowner reported a small plug-in solar setup producing about $400 in electricity value in a year, suggesting fast payback when rates are high. Sikorsky/Defense Contract: Sikorsky (Stratford) received a $107.3M Navy order to develop improved main rotor blades for Marine One’s VH-92A. Cuban Claims Lawsuit: A Greenwich-based firm filed a Helms-Burton Act lawsuit seeking about $802.7M in damages tied to Cuba Electric Company claims.

Defense & Aerospace: Sikorsky (Lockheed Martin) in Stratford won a $107.3M U.S. Navy order to design, build and test improved main rotor blades for Marine One’s VH-92A, with work running through March 2031. Clean Energy & Finance: The Connecticut Green Bank earned a national leadership award for Solar Marketplace Assistance Program Plus, backing solar and storage projects with end-to-end development and financing support. Agriculture Recovery: Connecticut’s Department of Agriculture opened a path for farmers to claim $52.9M in USDA recovery block grant funds for 2023-2024 weather losses, with payments up to 95% (capped by category). Ports & Local Infrastructure: The Connecticut Port Authority highlighted Old Lyme harbor upgrades funded through SHIPP grants, including safer navigation markers and a major modernization of the Old Lyme Town Dock. Transportation Safety: New Britain won a $14.7M BUILD grant to rework the Route 174/East Street intersection, improving safety, pedestrian access and CTfastrak connectivity. Legal/Policy Watch: Connecticut is among states pushing back on federal ACA changes that could raise costs and reduce coverage, with multiple attorney general lawsuits targeting the 2027 health plan rule. Tech & Compliance: A Westerly town council approved a one-year moratorium on new data centers while it updates zoning and weighs environmental and water impacts.

ACA Legal Push: CT Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition suing to block a 2027 HHS/CMS rule that would expand catastrophic plans, raise costs, and undercut Affordable Care Act protections. Merger Court Fight: A coalition challenging the Paramount-Warner Bros. deal asked for an April 2027 trial date after a temporary restraining order paused the $110B acquisition. Data Center Pressure: Westerly, R.I., approved a one-year moratorium on new data centers, citing power, water, and environmental concerns while it drafts zoning rules. Transit Updates: CTDOT released its 2026 Customer Experience Action Plan progress report, highlighting microtransit funding, station work, and bus stop upgrades. Defense Manufacturing: Electric Boat won a historic $76.6B Navy contract for 14 submarines, with economists pointing to major Groton and supply-chain job impacts. Health & Consumer Watch: J&J’s $25M talc appeal advanced in a Conn. court; a CT burn specialist warned NeeDoh heated toys can cause serious burns. Local Business/Community: Mathnasium signed 60 franchise agreements and opened 40 centers in the first half of 2026.

Defense & Manufacturing: Electric Boat and HII-Newport News won a historic $76.6B Navy submarine-construction package, with 18% of the work slated for Electric Boat’s Quonset Point facility in Rhode Island and major follow-on work tied to Columbia- and Virginia-class boats. Transportation Infrastructure: CTDOT is planning upgrades across Southwest Connecticut traffic signals (video detection, cellular modems, new controllers) and is also replacing/overlaying I-95 highway sign panels while shifting exit numbering to mileage-based numbering. Local Bridges: CTDOT will hold a virtual public meeting Aug. 20 on replacing a bridge over I-84 in Newtown, with construction targeted for spring 2029. Clean Energy Finance: The Connecticut Green Bank’s Solar MAP+ won a 2026 State Leadership in Clean Energy Award, highlighting support for solar and storage projects for municipalities, schools, and affordable multifamily housing. Workforce & Hiring: The Connecticut Department of Labor and Hartford Athletic announced a Sept. 16 Hiring Expo at Trinity Health Stadium, aiming to connect employers and job seekers across multiple industries. Public Safety: DEEP environmental police seized 49 reptiles, including 46 venomous snakes, from a Hamden warehouse; two men face dozens of charges. CT Tech/Health Research: A JAMA study found self-directed CBT for chronic pain with personalized feedback outperformed clinician-delivered therapy on pain interference, with benefits lasting up to a year.

Clean Energy Recognition: The Connecticut Green Bank’s Solar MAP+ won a 2026 national State Leadership in Clean Energy Award from the Clean Energy States Alliance, highlighting its end-to-end solar and storage support for municipalities, schools, state agencies, and affordable multifamily housing. Defense & Manufacturing: Electric Boat in Groton landed major U.S. Navy submarine contracts totaling nearly $77 billion, a boost supporters say will sustain thousands of Connecticut jobs. Workforce Development: The CT Department of Labor and Hartford Athletic set the 6th annual Hiring Expo for Sept. 16 at Trinity Health Stadium, with free admission and employer tables across multiple industries. Utilities & Rates: Eversource reported second-quarter results and continues to face scrutiny over storm-cost recovery and rate impacts, as state regulators weigh changes. Healthcare Costs: Connecticut Insurance Department scheduled a public hearing Aug. 26 on proposed 2027 rate hikes for individual and small-group health plans. Food & Community: CT Foodshare broke ground on a new warehouse to meet rising demand, while ReFED received a James Beard Impact Award for tackling food waste. Public Safety: DEEP and EnCon police seized nearly 50 reptiles in Hamden, charging the warehouse owner and a related suspect.

Defense & Manufacturing: Electric Boat in Groton just landed a record $76.6B Navy package—$42.1B for nine Virginia-class subs, $29.5B for five Columbia-class subs, plus $5B for shipyard upgrades—keeping Connecticut’s submarine supply chain busy for years. Utilities & Regulation: Connecticut’s PURA approved Eversource’s storm-cost recovery at $861M, cutting more than $500M from the request and setting up long-term low-interest bond recovery. Housing Policy: A new federal housing law adds incentives and penalties tied to local production speed, giving cities more flexibility to use grants for affordable construction. Energy & Solar: “Plug-in” balcony solar is gaining momentum in New York, with NYC officials pushing a bill that could bypass utility approval for apartment residents. Infrastructure Grants: Gov. Lamont announced $16.8M in state grants for 13 bridge reconstructions on local roads. Public Safety & Telecom: A report warns copper theft is now a $1.4B problem, driven by outdated rules and weak enforcement. Local Agriculture: Connecticut Farmers Market Week spotlights how markets support family farms and local economies. Wildlife Logistics: Mystic Aquarium is helping relocate 30 beluga whales from a shuttered Canadian facility using cranes, planes, and specialized transport.