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CT · Officeholder

Norm Needleman

DState Senator · District 33

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Connecticut Senate District 33

Biography

Norm Needleman won election in November 2018 to represent the 33rd State Senate District, which covers twelve towns.[1]

He has also been First Selectman of Essex since 2011, and earlier served on the Essex Board of Selectmen from 2003, the Zoning Board of Appeals from 1997 to 2003 and the Economic Development Commission from 1995 to 2003.[1] According to the Senate Democrats' biography, he founded a pharmaceutical manufacturing company about 40 years ago.[1]

  1. 1.Bio & Committees - Norm Needleman - Connecticut Senate Democrats · Connecticut Senate Democrats Official record

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-19.

Connecticut Senate District 33

Norm Needleman is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Connecticut Senate District 33 as DIndependent Party of Connecticut. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Other candidates for this seat

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

  • Rights & public safety93 with · 0 against93 votes

    Most contested

    All rights & public safety votes
  • Jobs & cost of living91 with · 0 against91 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      AN ACT ALLOWING BOARD MEMBERS OF QUASI-PUBLIC AGENCIES TO OBTAIN HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE UNDER THE STATE EMPLOYEE PLAN.

      To allow any board member of a quasi-public agency to obtain health insurance coverage under the state employee plan.

      May 1, 2025 · Passed 20–14 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      AN ACT CONCERNING CANNABIS, HEMP AND INFUSED BEVERAGE REGULATION.

      To (1) replace "marijuana" with "cannabis", (2) redefine "cannabis", (3) authorize qualifying out-of-state patients to access the state's palliative use cannabis market, (4) provide that no producer shall be required to staff any transport vehicle with more than one employee, (5) establish a cannabis regulatory working group, (6) prohibit a retailer, hybrid retailer or dispensary facility from borrowing money or receiving credit from a cultivator, micro-cultivator or producer for more than thirty days, (7) authorize the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to order a cultivator, micro-cultivator or producer to issue a written notice of delinquency for any delinquent retailer, hybrid retailer or dispensary facility, (8) require the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to adopt regulations to (A) establish additional licenses and endorsements, and (B) allow for sales of additional palliative use cannabis products to consumers at retailers and hybrid retailers, (9) require the Social Equity Council to review and approve certain sales or transfers involving cannabis establishment licenses issued to social equity applicants, (10) require the Commissioner of Consumer Protection and the Social Equity Council to submit policies and procedures to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to consumer protection, (11) provide that no retailer, hybrid retailer or dispensary facility shall retain any personal data obtained for purposes of age verification for longer than twenty-four hours, (12) eliminate provisions requiring a hybrid retailer to (A) maintain a pharmacist at its hybrid retailer location, (B) offer pharmacist consultations, and (C) maintain a private consultation space for pharmacists, (13) allow edible cannabis products to exceed five milligrams of THC in certain circumstances, (14) eliminate the dosage, potency and concentration limits for cannabis concentrates, cannabis flower and other cannabis plant material, (15) provide that cannabis flower or other cannabis plant material shall not be required to undergo stability testing once it is in its final packaging, (16) authorize remediation of cannabis flower and other cannabis plant material by exposure to ionizing radiation and require a disclosure label concerning such remediation, (17) authorize the inclusion of additional branding and colors on cannabis packaging, (18) provide that certain information and documents concerning a material change to a cannabis establishment shall be public records, (19) increase the permissible amount of THC in infused beverages and high-THC beverages, (20) authorize out-of-state laboratories to test infused beverages, (21) modify the labeling requirements applicable to infused beverages, (22) authorize infused beverage wholesalers to sell infused beverages to additional liquor permittees, (23) establish a commercial extractor license, (24) establish an infused beverage on premises consumption endorsement for cer

      Apr 30, 2026 · Passed 18–17 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      AN ACT CONCERNING EMERGENCY NONPROFIT ASSISTANCE.

      Moves $3 million from the General Fund to a new emergency nonprofit assistance account, if the April 2025 revenue statement shows a surplus, and awards grants of $62,500 to $800,000 to 24 named nonprofits plus $112,500 for administration.

      Mar 5, 2025 · Failed 11–23 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All jobs & cost of living votes
  • Education & families61 with · 0 against61 votes

    Most contested

    All education & families votes
  • Health & care36 with · 0 against36 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      AN ACT CONCERNING CANNABIS, HEMP AND INFUSED BEVERAGE REGULATION.

      To (1) replace "marijuana" with "cannabis", (2) redefine "cannabis", (3) authorize qualifying out-of-state patients to access the state's palliative use cannabis market, (4) provide that no producer shall be required to staff any transport vehicle with more than one employee, (5) establish a cannabis regulatory working group, (6) prohibit a retailer, hybrid retailer or dispensary facility from borrowing money or receiving credit from a cultivator, micro-cultivator or producer for more than thirty days, (7) authorize the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to order a cultivator, micro-cultivator or producer to issue a written notice of delinquency for any delinquent retailer, hybrid retailer or dispensary facility, (8) require the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to adopt regulations to (A) establish additional licenses and endorsements, and (B) allow for sales of additional palliative use cannabis products to consumers at retailers and hybrid retailers, (9) require the Social Equity Council to review and approve certain sales or transfers involving cannabis establishment licenses issued to social equity applicants, (10) require the Commissioner of Consumer Protection and the Social Equity Council to submit policies and procedures to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to consumer protection, (11) provide that no retailer, hybrid retailer or dispensary facility shall retain any personal data obtained for purposes of age verification for longer than twenty-four hours, (12) eliminate provisions requiring a hybrid retailer to (A) maintain a pharmacist at its hybrid retailer location, (B) offer pharmacist consultations, and (C) maintain a private consultation space for pharmacists, (13) allow edible cannabis products to exceed five milligrams of THC in certain circumstances, (14) eliminate the dosage, potency and concentration limits for cannabis concentrates, cannabis flower and other cannabis plant material, (15) provide that cannabis flower or other cannabis plant material shall not be required to undergo stability testing once it is in its final packaging, (16) authorize remediation of cannabis flower and other cannabis plant material by exposure to ionizing radiation and require a disclosure label concerning such remediation, (17) authorize the inclusion of additional branding and colors on cannabis packaging, (18) provide that certain information and documents concerning a material change to a cannabis establishment shall be public records, (19) increase the permissible amount of THC in infused beverages and high-THC beverages, (20) authorize out-of-state laboratories to test infused beverages, (21) modify the labeling requirements applicable to infused beverages, (22) authorize infused beverage wholesalers to sell infused beverages to additional liquor permittees, (23) establish a commercial extractor license, (24) establish an infused beverage on premises consumption endorsement for cer

      Apr 30, 2026 · Passed 18–17 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      AN ACT ESTABLISHING CONNECTICUT VACCINE STANDARDS.

      To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.

      Apr 23, 2026 · Failed 12–22 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      AN ACT CONCERNING THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT HEALTH CENTER JOINT VENTURE INITIATIVE.

      Raises UConn 2000 bond authorizations by $390 million over five years and lets the money fund UConn Health Center subsidiaries or joint ventures to acquire, operate, and sell hospital systems; sale proceeds go to the General Fund.

      Nov 13, 2025 · Failed 12–23 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All health & care votes
  • Climate & energy28 with · 0 against28 votes

    Most contested

    All climate & energy votes
  • Housing & rent21 with · 0 against21 votes

    Most contested

    All housing & rent votes
  • Technology & privacy20 with · 0 against20 votes

    Most contested

    All technology & privacy votes
  • Transportation10 with · 0 against10 votes

    Most contested

    All transportation votes

Where they stood out

Voted with most of their party on all 221 party-divided votes on file.

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

HB 5464 · CT SENATE

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND CONCERNING VEGETATION MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES, TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES AND RIDER SAFETY, TRAFFIC SIGNAL MODERNIZATION GRANT PROGRAM, ENCAMPMENTS, MARINE PILOT LICENSE FEES, MOTOR VEHICLE MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT, DISTRACTED DRIVING, A TASK FORCE TO STUDY ACCESS TO PARKING FOR HOME HEALTH AGENCIES AND A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND TECHNOLOGIES IN SCHOOL BUS FLEETS.

YesVOTED

To implement the recommendations of the Department of Transportation concerning (1) infrastructure and service connections located in the state's right-of-way, (2) diesel-fueled transit buses, (3) electric vehicle parking at state agencies, (4) the Port Eastside Infrastructure Improvement District, (5) dynamic part-time lanes and control systems, (6) the restricted use of highways during extreme weather conditions, and (7) the memorial naming of a certain bridge.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 32–4·Substantive·May 6, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 477 · CT SENATE

AN ACT CONCERNING THE FAILURE TO FILE FOR CERTAIN GRAND LIST EXEMPTIONS, A MUNICIPAL OPTION TO ABATE DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES ON CERTAIN PARCELS OF LAND, ALLOCATIONS OF CERTAIN STATE FUNDS AND ITEMS IMPLEMENTING THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2027.

YesVOTED

To allow certain persons to file for property tax exemptions, notwithstanding certain statutory deadlines.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 24–11·Substantive·May 6, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 477 · CT SENATE

AN ACT CONCERNING THE FAILURE TO FILE FOR CERTAIN GRAND LIST EXEMPTIONS, A MUNICIPAL OPTION TO ABATE DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES ON CERTAIN PARCELS OF LAND, ALLOCATIONS OF CERTAIN STATE FUNDS AND ITEMS IMPLEMENTING THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2027.

YesVOTED

To allow certain persons to file for property tax exemptions, notwithstanding certain statutory deadlines.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 26–9·Substantive·May 6, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 477 · CT SENATE

AN ACT CONCERNING THE FAILURE TO FILE FOR CERTAIN GRAND LIST EXEMPTIONS, A MUNICIPAL OPTION TO ABATE DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES ON CERTAIN PARCELS OF LAND, ALLOCATIONS OF CERTAIN STATE FUNDS AND ITEMS IMPLEMENTING THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2027.

NoVOTED

To allow certain persons to file for property tax exemptions, notwithstanding certain statutory deadlines.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Failed 11–25·Substantive·May 6, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 477 · CT SENATE

AN ACT CONCERNING THE FAILURE TO FILE FOR CERTAIN GRAND LIST EXEMPTIONS, A MUNICIPAL OPTION TO ABATE DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES ON CERTAIN PARCELS OF LAND, ALLOCATIONS OF CERTAIN STATE FUNDS AND ITEMS IMPLEMENTING THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2027.

YesVOTED

To allow certain persons to file for property tax exemptions, notwithstanding certain statutory deadlines.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 25–11·Substantive·May 6, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 342 · CT SENATE

AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH COVERAGE.

YesVOTED

To: (1) require certain health insurers, preferred provider networks and other entities to include certain provisions in contracts with health care providers regarding reimbursement for certain covered health benefits, (2) clarify the definition of "anti-steering clause" under section 38a-477i of the general statutes, (3) require the Insurance Commissioner to conduct a study concerning various revisions to the insurance statutes, (4) change the time period that a health carrier and participating provider shall continue to abide by the terms of a contract under section 38a-472f of the general statutes, (5) prohibit a health carrier from using a software tool to downcode or deny certain health insurance claims, (6) establish a rebuttable presumption for purposes of the review of an adverse determination under section 38a-591e of the general statutes, and (7) prohibit certain health carriers from requiring step therapy for prescription drugs used to treat a chronic, disabling or life-threatening condition.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 34–1·Substantive·May 6, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 5222 · CT SENATE

AN ACT CONCERNING CONSUMER PROTECTION, CANNABIS, DATA PRIVACY, FIRE INSPECTIONS, CRIMINAL MISCHIEF AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

YesVOTED

To implement the Department of Consumer Protection's recommendations regarding (1) the Board of Accountancy, (2) professional engineers and land surveyors, (3) real estate brokers and real estate salespersons, (4) plumbing and piping work, (5) businesses engaged in providing certain skilled trade work or services, (6) interior designers, (7) adulterated or misbranded foods, beverages and ingredients, (8) donation bins, (9) funeral service contracts, (10) apartment listing services, and (11) various minor, technical and conforming changes to statutes concerning consumer protection.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 35–1·Substantive·May 6, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 5043 · CT SENATE

AN ACT CONCERNING CONVERTIBLE PISTOLS, UNFINISHED FRAMES OR UNFINISHED LOWER RECEIVERS, VOLUNTARY RELINQUISHMENT OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION AND REFUNDABILITY OF PERMITS FOR SALE AT RETAIL OF FIREARMS AND FOR CARRYING OF PISTOLS AND REVOLVERS.

Not votingNO VOTE

To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Failed 11–22·Substantive·May 6, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 5043 · CT SENATE

AN ACT CONCERNING CONVERTIBLE PISTOLS, UNFINISHED FRAMES OR UNFINISHED LOWER RECEIVERS, VOLUNTARY RELINQUISHMENT OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION AND REFUNDABILITY OF PERMITS FOR SALE AT RETAIL OF FIREARMS AND FOR CARRYING OF PISTOLS AND REVOLVERS.

Not votingNO VOTE

To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Failed 11–21·Substantive·May 6, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 5043 · CT SENATE

AN ACT CONCERNING CONVERTIBLE PISTOLS, UNFINISHED FRAMES OR UNFINISHED LOWER RECEIVERS, VOLUNTARY RELINQUISHMENT OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION AND REFUNDABILITY OF PERMITS FOR SALE AT RETAIL OF FIREARMS AND FOR CARRYING OF PISTOLS AND REVOLVERS.

Not votingNO VOTE

To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Failed 11–20·Substantive·May 6, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 349 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.