Representative Al Paolillo will continue advocating for you in Hartford.
Al looks forward to spending time across the district, working with residents, educators, small businesses, labor leaders, first responders, and community organizations, and ensuring we have a strong voice in the State Senate.
Whether you live in New Haven or Hamden, Al believes your State Senator should know your neighborhood, understand the challenges your family faces, and be willing to do the work needed to deliver results.
Investing in Our Schools and Our Kids
Al believes every child deserves a great public education, regardless of their ZIP code, and that cities like New Haven should not have to choose between adequately funding their schools and raising property taxes on working families.
During the 2026 legislative session, Al helped deliver a historic increase in state support for local education and municipal budgets. New Haven received millions in additional education and municipal aid, helping protect classroom investments while easing pressure on local taxpayers.
Al also supported investments in universal free school breakfast, early childhood education, special education, teachers, and paraeducators.
His record earned him an A from the Connecticut Education Association for the 2026 legislative session for his voting record, advocacy, and commitment to public education.
In the State Senate, Al will keep fighting to make sure Connecticut meets its responsibility to our public schools so our children receive the education they deserve and local homeowners are not left footing the entire bill.
Safe Neighborhoods.
Strong First Responders.
Al has spent years working directly with New Haven police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, and neighborhood leaders on practical ways to improve public safety and quality of life.
He helped advance legislation strengthening recruitment and retention incentives for first responders, including expanded tuition and mortgage assistance for police officers, firefighters, correction officers, EMS personnel, and members of the National Guard.
Al has also worked on legislation addressing problems New Haven residents see in their own neighborhoods—from dangerous drivers illegally passing stopped school buses and illegally modified exhaust systems to nuisance establishments, illegal dirt bikes and ATVs, abandoned boats and other quality-of-life concerns.
For Al, public safety isn't about slogans. It's about listening to residents, supporting the people who keep us safe, and giving communities the tools they need to solve problems.
Protecting Seniors and Holding Property Owners Accountable
When residents at Bella Vista raised concerns about broken elevators and the impact prolonged outages had on seniors and residents with disabilities, Al went to work.
Together with Senator Martin Looney, Al pursued stronger elevator requirements and protections intended to improve accountability when elevators in residential buildings break down.
Al has also supported protections allowing residents of residential care homes to use cameras to stay connected with loved ones and monitor their care, as well as additional training designed to protect seniors who are afraid to speak up about the quality of their care.
Al believes government works best when elected officials listen to a problem in the neighborhood and then take that problem to Hartford to find a solution.
Protecting Our Quality of Life
Some of Al's most important work begins with a phone call, email, or conversation with someone in the neighborhood.
When Morris Cove residents raised concerns about gunfire from waterfowl hunting near homes and the shoreline, Al worked with Senator Looney on legislation to address those concerns.
When New Haven struggled with unsafe "juice bars" and establishments generating repeated calls for police service, Al backed stronger state enforcement tools.
When residents complained about dangerous vehicles, illegal dirt bikes and ATVs, Al supported stronger enforcement.
And when communities needed investments in parks, youth programs, recreation, childcare and neighborhood organizations, Al worked with the New Haven delegation to bring state resources home.
Al's approach is simple: listen, show up, and get to work.
Standing Up for Working People
He has consistently supported organized labor, collective bargaining, good wages, workplace protections and retirement security. He has fought for teachers and paraeducators, health care workers, first responders and the public employees who provide essential services every day.
Al believes a strong economy should create opportunity for everyone—not just those at the top.
That means protecting workers' rights, supporting small businesses, expanding workforce development, making health care and childcare more affordable, and ensuring that someone who works hard can build a good life here.
A Record of Delivering
in Hartford
Al Paolillo has never viewed elected office as a title. He views it as a responsibility.
Whether securing millions of dollars for New Haven schools and neighborhoods, protecting seniors, supporting first responders, addressing public-safety concerns or simply helping a constituent navigate state government, Al has built his career around being accessible and getting results.
As a State Senator, Al will bring that same work ethic to New Haven and Hamden—building on the progress we've made while taking on the challenges ahead.
Defending Our Democracy
Al believes voting should be secure, accessible, and straightforward.
He supported Connecticut's expansion of absentee voting so eligible voters can cast an absentee ballot without meeting outdated excuse requirements.
Throughout his public service, Al has supported policies that strengthen participation in our democracy and make government more responsive and accountable to the people it serves.
Making New Haven and Hamden More Affordable
Families are feeling squeezed by the rising cost of nearly everything. Al believes state government has a responsibility to make life a little easier and ensure taxpayers see a return on what they send to Hartford.
Al supported a 2026 budget that increased aid to New Haven and communities across Connecticut, helping reduce pressure on local property taxes.
He also supported measures to:
Make basic school supplies tax-free.
Expand Connecticut's sales-tax-free week to cover clothing, shoes, and backpacks costing less than $300.
Create a tax credit for families caring for loved ones.
Protect access to affordable health coverage.
Invest in affordable childcare and early childhood education.
Al will continue fighting for policies that lower costs, strengthen household finances, and help families afford to stay in the communities they call home.