New London Lawmakers Introduce Bills for City Programs and Attractions

Proposed legislation would fund the city's Smart Ride program, increase a U.S. Coast Guard Academy tax stipend, and provide roof replacement grants for a local museum.

Feb. 26, 2026 at 12:39pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Three bills introduced by New London state legislators would directly impact the city's programs and attractions if approved. The bills call for $1 million in annual funding to keep the city's Smart Ride door-to-destination ride service running, $4 million in increased annual reimbursements from the state to make up for lost property tax revenue from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and up to $600,000 in grants to replace the roofs at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum.

Why it matters

The proposed legislation aims to address long-standing funding challenges for New London's public transit system, make up for the city's tax revenue losses from the tax-exempt Coast Guard Academy, and preserve a key cultural institution. The bills demonstrate the city's efforts to secure state support for critical local programs and infrastructure.

The details

The first bill, House Bill 5099, would allocate $1 million to the state Department of Transportation to help fund New London's Smart Ride program, which provides roughly 4,000 rides per month to residents. The Smart Ride system was introduced in 2021 with American Rescue Plan Act funding, but that funding ran out in 2025. The second bill, House Bill 5174, would increase the city's annual reimbursement from the state for the tax-exempt U.S. Coast Guard Academy from $1 million to $4 million. The third bill, House Bill 5119, would authorize up to $600,000 in grants to replace the aging roofs at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum.

  • House Bill 5099 was referred to the Joint Committee on Appropriations in February 2026.
  • House Bill 5174 was recently referred to the Joint Committee on Appropriations.
  • House Bill 5119 is currently in the hands of the Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding.

The players

Martha Marx

State Senator, 20th District

Anthony Nolan

State Representative, 39th District

Dan Gaiewski

State Representative, 40th District

Michael Passero

Mayor of New London

Sam Quigley

Executive Director of the Lyman Allyn Art Museum

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The issue has always been that DOT says it does not have the money to fund this program. This (appropriation) would take care of that.”

— Michael Passero, Mayor of New London

“They gave us a $500,000 annual stipend in recognition of the city's special relationship to the academy. That was later bumped up to $1 million. And that's the amount we've been getting for decades, without any cost-of-living adjustment.”

— Michael Passero, Mayor of New London

“They're still serviceable, but do have a number of leaks — we know where to put the buckets when it rains.”

— Sam Quigley, Executive Director of the Lyman Allyn Art Museum

What’s next

The bills will now proceed through the legislative process, with the Joint Committee on Appropriations and the Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding set to consider the proposals in the coming months.

The takeaway

The proposed legislation demonstrates New London's efforts to secure state funding for critical local programs and infrastructure, addressing long-standing challenges around public transit, tax revenue losses, and historic preservation. If approved, the bills would provide a significant boost to the city's ability to maintain key services and attractions for residents and visitors.