Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information
Minutes, Feb. 20, 2026
The regular monthly meeting was via Zoom.
Present: Michele Jacklin, Tom Scheffey, Jacqueline Smith, Mary Connolly, Mitch Pearlman, Chris Powell, Karen Florin, Mike Savino, Jeff Daniels, Jodie Gil, Clare Dignan, Steve Nevas, Katherine Revello, Paul Bass, David DesRoches, Liz Gemski, Russell Blair, Colleen Murphy, Paula Pearlman.
The minutes for the Jan. 16, 2026 meeting were accepted.
Legislative update: Gemski said legislators will vote the week of Feb. 23 on two bills certified as an emergency by Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney and House Speaker Matt Ritter. This provides a shortcut to a vote on the bills. They include some proposals that have been previously debated but not adopted. Republicans say there is no emergency and declaring an emergency has bypassed the committee process.
Gemski said one provision related to the Freedom of Information Act exempts full disclosure of voter birthdates. The date will be released as the month and year, but not the day. The full date will be accessible for a state government purpose. Another provision will exempt ballots under FOI that are cast in elections, primaries and referendums. The provision will not prevent a recanvass or audit. This change adds referendum ballots to the exemption for election and primary ballots.
Gemski said “positive” FOI-related bills are scheduled for hearings the week of Feb. 23. CCFOI supports these bills. SB 250 would require the Office of Policy and Management to study the response times of state agencies to requests for public records under the FOI Act. Too often, state agencies drag their feet in producing the requested documents and fail to even respond to inquiries about the status of the request for documents. HB 5250 is a noncontroversial bill proposed by the Freedom of Information Commission. It would clarify and update existing language. For example, it would redefine the definition of hand-held scanner to include mobile phones. This would allow the public to easily copy public records.
Treasurer’s report: Smith reported a balance of $11,832.63. She said the current fundraising strategy should be reviewed in the months ahead and adjusted to meet future needs. Jacklin suggested we have these discussions once we get through the legislature’s public hearings.
Looking ahead: The next CCFOI monthly meeting will be Friday, March 20, at 9 a.m. via Zoom.