# Connecticut HB 05159: AN ACT FUNDING JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIPS FOR GRADUATES OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

Connecticut HB 05159, AN ACT FUNDING JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIPS FOR GRADUATES OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee; status failed, last action 2026-02-26 (Favorable Change of Reference, Senate to Committee on Appropriations) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB05159-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Connecticut HB 05159
- State: Connecticut
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT FUNDING JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIPS FOR GRADUATES OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-11
- Last action: 2026-02-26, Favorable Change of Reference, Senate to Committee on Appropriations
- Sponsor: Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: higher education and employment advancement
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

To require the Office of Higher Education to establish a journalism fellowship program to fund not fewer than twelve journalism fellowship positions at local news organizations.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee
- Cosponsor: Eilish Collins Main (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kate Farrar (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Nick Gauthier (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Saud Anwar (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-24 | House | HED Vote Tally Sheet-A | pass |   |   |   |
| 2026-02-24 | House | HED Vote Tally Sheet-A (Joint Favorable Substitute) | pass |   |   |   |
| 2026-02-24 | House | HED Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference) | pass |   |   |   |

## Actions (7)

- 2026-02-26: Favorable Change of Reference, Senate to Committee on Appropriations (legislature)
- 2026-02-25: Favorable Change of Reference, House to Committee on Appropriations (legislature)
- 2026-02-25: Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office (legislature)
- 2026-02-25: Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office (legislature)
- 2026-02-24: Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference Appropriations (legislature)
- 2026-02-13: Public Hearing 02/17 (legislature)
- 2026-02-11: Referred to Joint Committee on Higher Education and Employment Advancement (legislature)

## Bill text

- HED Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference, 2026-02-24: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/H/PDF/2026HB-05159-R01-HB.PDF)
- Raised Bill, 2026-02-11: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/H/PDF/2026HB-05159-R00-HB.PDF)
- HED Joint Fav. Rpt: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/JFR/H/PDF/2026HB-05159-R00HED-JFR.PDF)
- HED Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference): [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TS/H/PDF/2026HB-05159-R00HED-CV22-TS.PDF)
- HED Vote Tally Sheet-A: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TS/H/PDF/2026HB-05159-R00HEDA-CV38-TS.PDF)
- HED Vote Tally Sheet-A (Joint Favorable Substitute): [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TS/H/PDF/2026HB-05159-R00HEDA-CV23-TS.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB 05153: AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS TO DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION RELATED STATUTES. (signed)
- SB 00484: AN ACT CONCERNING DISTRACTED DRIVING AND THE SAFE OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE IN A HIGHWAY WORK ZONE. (signed)
- SB 00475: AN ACT CONCERNING JUDICIAL BRANCH OPERATIONS. (signed)
- SB 00488: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE TREASURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVISIONS TO THE UNCLAIMED PROPERTY PROGRAM AND SECOND INJURY FUND. (signed)
- SB 00444: AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES TO SERVE ON MUNICIPAL BOARDS OF FINANCE. (signed)
- SB 00370: AN ACT CONCERNING THE HOURLY COMPENSATION FOR ADJUNCT FIRE INSTRUCTORS. (signed)

## Sources
- [HED Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/H/PDF/2026HB-05159-R01-HB.PDF)
- [Raised Bill (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/H/PDF/2026HB-05159-R00-HB.PDF)
- [HED Joint Fav. Rpt (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/JFR/H/PDF/2026HB-05159-R00HED-JFR.PDF)
- [HED Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference) (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TS/H/PDF/2026HB-05159-R00HED-CV22-TS.PDF)
- [HED Vote Tally Sheet-A (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TS/H/PDF/2026HB-05159-R00HEDA-CV38-TS.PDF)
- [HED Vote Tally Sheet-A (Joint Favorable Substitute) (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TS/H/PDF/2026HB-05159-R00HEDA-CV23-TS.PDF)

## Related
- [HB 05153: AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS TO DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRO…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB05153-2026)
- [SB 00484: AN ACT CONCERNING DISTRACTED DRIVING AND THE SAFE OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00484-2026)
- [SB 00475: AN ACT CONCERNING JUDICIAL BRANCH OPERATIONS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00475-2026)
- [SB 00488: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE TREASURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVISIONS TO THE UNCLAI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00488-2026)
- [SB 00444: AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES TO SERVE ON MUNICIPAL BOARDS OF…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00444-2026)
- [SB 00370: AN ACT CONCERNING THE HOURLY COMPENSATION FOR ADJUNCT FIRE INSTRUCTORS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00370-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-HB05159-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).