PROUDLY SERVING THE 34TH DISTRICT
State Senator Paul Cicarella
Senior Deputy Republican Leader
Paul Cicarella, elected in 2020, represents Connecticut’s 34th District. He is named the leading Republican on the legislature’s General Law and Public Safety and Security Committees, and returns on the Regulations Review, Veterans and Military Affairs, and Judiciary Committees. He also serves on the legislature’s newly formed Government Oversight Committee and the Joint Committee on Legislative Management.
Paul is a small business owner, retired corrections officer and youth sports coach with a record of championing important initiatives focused on families, law enforcement, safety and security.
“I will continue to advocate for commonsense solutions to address affordability, restore public safety, and tackle other quality-of-life issues for our seniors and Veterans of the 34th District.”
Debate on the “gun bill” H.B. 5043 began around 3:25AM. Around 6AM, I was on the Senate floor debating this bill.
I voted NO on H.B. 5043 because I do not believe this legislation will address violent crime or make Connecticut communities safer. Instead, it places additional burdens on law-abiding citizens while doing little to deter criminals.
If we are serious about reducing gun violence, we need to focus on holding offenders accountable and addressing the growing mental health crisis. I remain willing to have serious conversations about real solutions that will make a meaningful difference for public safety in Connecticut.
WFSB - Channel 3 Eyewitness News
Great news, the “Tow Truck Bill,” S.B. 367, has passed the Senate and is now on its way to the House!
S.B. 367 focuses on a real issue: roadside safety for tow truck operators and recovery professionals who put themselves at risk every day to keep our roads clear and safe.
I worked alongside State Representative Dave Yaccarino on this effort, and we heard directly from people in the industry, notably one of my constituents Salena Khan of Nelcon Towing, about the dangers they face on the job.
This legislation starts that conversation and moves us in the right direction, but there’s more work to be done.
I voted “no” for the homeschool bill (H.B. 5468), because parents should not be forced to co-parent with the government.
Parents, not the state, should be making decisions about their children’s education. For months, we heard directly from parents across Connecticut. Hundreds showed up, thousands sent testimony, those families made their voices clear.
They were not asking for special treatment, they were asking for respect, transparency, and the ability to make decisions for their own children.
We can support students and ensure accountability without undermining parental rights, but this bill failed to strike that balance.