Senator Pat Billie Miller has represented Stamford and parts of Darien in the state Senate since 2021. Prior to her election to the Senate, she served in the House of Representatives from 2009 to 2021, representing Stamford’s 145th Assembly District.
Senator Miller serves as the Senate chair of the legislature’s Banking Committee at the state Capitol. In 2025, she took on the additional responsibility of Senate chair of the General Obligation Bonding Subcommittee, drawing on her previous experience as House Chair of the subcommittee during her service in the Connecticut House of Representatives. In this role, she helps to guide strategic investments to strengthen communities across Connecticut.
Senator Miller served as chair of the legislature’s Black and Puerto Rican Caucus from 2023 through 2024. She has been a key advocate for civil rights and anti-discrimination legislation, playing a pivotal part in securing funding for Connecticut’s first-in-the-nation Baby Bonds initiative. In 2024, Senator Miller led passage of a new law which requires hair stylists to receive training on caring for a diverse range of hair types, including textured hair. This historic move has made Connecticut the fourth state in the nation to prioritize and promote inclusivity within the professional hair care industry.
Throughout her tenure in the legislature, Senator Miller has advocated for education reforms aimed at addressing Connecticut’s education opportunity gap. She has witnessed firsthand the disparities in student achievements and understands the critical importance of literacy. Senator Miller believes in equipping teachers with the right tools to address these disparities.
In 2021, Senator Miller championed a pivotal law requiring school districts to adopt a reading curriculum focused on the “science of reading.” This legislation, designed to improve literacy outcomes for students in grades K-3, established the Center for Literacy and Reading Success, and secured funding to hire reading coaches in struggling districts. The Center now oversees the reading curriculum for Connecticut students in grades PreK-3.
Other legislative accomplishments include consumer protections such as Senator Miller’s work to allow shoppers to receive cash refunds for unused gift cards with balances under $5. After several years of dedicated work on this legislation, she successfully championed a law in 2016 that allowed customers to redeem a gift card for cash if its balance was under $3. In 2023, Senator Miller’s advocacy bore fruit when the governor signed into law a bill that increased the threshold to $5, positioning Connecticut among the states with the most consumer-friendly gift card policies.
Senator Miller’s leadership extends to various community initiatives, and in April 2024, she was honored with the Catherine A. Klie Award from the Saint Joseph Parenting Center for her efforts to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect. This award, named for the parenting center’s original founder, is given to those who use their time, talent, or resources to make a significant impact on the community.
Senator Miller’s dedication to community service has been recognized by more than one local organization, including the Women’s Business Development Council, which presents the annual Patricia Billie Miller Award for Outstanding Community Service to a volunteer who inspires others and shows strong dedication to WBDC and the women it serves throughout Connecticut.
