Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 7, 2025

HB 7189: AN ACT CONCERNING MEDICAID COST SAVINGS.

HB 7189 requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Social Services to review and study potential cost savings from expanding nurse delegation of medication administration in Medicaid-funded programs, specifically under Section 19a-492e of state law. The bill directs the Commissioner to examine how allowing nurses to delegate medication tasks could reduce costs within Medicaid programs. The Commissioner must submit a report to the relevant legislative committees by October 1, 2025, detailing the costs and benefits of such expansion. This bill focuses solely on studying potential savings, not implementing new policies.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 7, 2025

SB 1460: AN ACT CONCERNING INTERCHANGE FEES ON ELECTRONIC PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS.

SB 1460 requires payment card networks (like Visa or Mastercard) to exclude sales tax from the amount used to calculate interchange fees charged to retailers. This means retailers will no longer pay fees on top of the sales tax collected for electronic payments (e.g., credit or debit card transactions). The bill mandates networks either deduct the tax amount from the fee calculation at settlement or provide a proportional refund to retailers. It directly affects retailers who pay interchange fees and payment card networks that set those fees, taking effect October 1, 2026.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 7, 2025

SB 1475: AN ACT CONCERNING FOOD DESERTS AND THE SNAP PROGRAM.

SB 1475 requires Connecticut to develop a plan by October 2025 to join the federal Restaurant Meals Program, allowing eligible SNAP users (seniors, disabled individuals, homeless people, and their spouses) to purchase healthy meals at participating restaurants statewide. It also defines "food desert" using USDA data and mandates annual reports from the Attorney General by October 1, 2025, on price discrimination investigations against grocery stores in food deserts, including federal investigations and recommendations for consumer protection legislation. The bill directly affects SNAP recipients in underserved areas and grocery stores in designated food deserts, with key mechanisms including the state’s application to the USDA for the restaurant program and mandatory legislative reporting on pricing practices.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 7, 2025

SB 1485: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE APPRENTICESHIP RATIO RELIEF APPLICATION PROCESS.

SB 1485 establishes a working group to study and recommend improvements to the apprenticeship ratio relief application process. The group, composed of labor committee leaders, trade union representatives, legislative leaders, and the Labor Commissioner, will examine delays and propose ways to speed up applications. It must submit a report to the labor committee by January 1, 2026, but does not change existing laws. This bill directly affects apprenticeship programs seeking ratio relief, which allows employers to hire more apprentices relative to journeyworkers. The working group's recommendations may inform future policy changes, but the bill itself creates no new regulations.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 7, 2025

SB 135: AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF PROHIBITING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVE STATE FUNDING FROM ENGAGING IN CERTAIN POLITICAL OR PARTISAN ACTIVITIES.

SB 135 establishes a working group to study how to prohibit nonprofits receiving state funding (directly or indirectly) from engaging in partisan political activities, such as supporting or opposing candidates or political parties. The bill affects state-funded nonprofits, including those receiving grants or contracts. The working group will examine effective prohibition methods, potential penalties (like funding loss or criminal liability), and review processes for violations, with a report due by January 1, 2026. This is a study bill only; it does not immediately ban such activities but seeks to develop a framework for future policy.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 7, 2025

HB 7176: AN ACT CONCERNING SALES AND USE TAXES RELATED TO CERTAIN VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY JOINT VENTURES, THE DEDICATION OF A PORTION OF THE MEALS TAX REVENUE AND THE DUES TAX THRESHOLD.

HB 7176 modifies Connecticut's sales tax rates for specific goods and services. It imposes a 7.75% tax on luxury items like vehicles over $75,000, jewelry over $5,000, and high-end clothing/accessories over $1,000. The bill also maintains a 4.5% tax rate for military members on vehicle purchases (with proof of active duty) and adds a 1% tax on restaurant meals and beverages. These changes affect retailers selling luxury goods, hotels, restaurants, and consumers purchasing these specific items or services.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 7, 2025

HB 7007: AN ACT PROVIDING AN INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR INDIVIDUALS CARING FOR ELDERLY PERSONS, CHILDREN OR DISABLED PERSONS.

This bill amends Connecticut's tax code to add a new deduction for interest on debt used to purchase tax-exempt securities (item (viii) in the revised section). It allows individuals to subtract interest expenses that aren't deductible under federal tax law, but only if the debt relates to business activities involving tax-exempt securities. The provision applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, and directly affects Connecticut taxpayers with business-related investments in state/local tax-exempt bonds. The bill does not include the caregiver deduction referenced in its title, as the text focuses solely on modifying existing interest deduction rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 7, 2025

HB 5749: AN ACT CONCERNING ADVANCED SEPTIC SYSTEMS WITH NITROGEN-REMOVAL FEATURES.

HB 5749 requires new residential and commercial developments, major renovations (increasing wastewater by 25%+), and replacements of failing systems in "environmentally sensitive areas" to install nitrogen-reducing septic systems. These systems must meet performance standards set by the Department of Public Health and undergo annual inspections. The bill applies to properties in designated zones at risk from nitrogen pollution, such as coastal areas, watersheds, and near drinking water sources. It takes effect October 1, 2025, with departments required to establish standards and designate sensitive areas by March 2026.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 6, 2025

SB 1152: AN ACT APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO THE MILITARY DEPARTMENT FOR THE JOINT ENLISTMENT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.

SB 1152 appropriates $169,000 from the General Fund to the Military Department for the Joint Enlistment Enhancement Program, effective July 1, 2025. This funding supports the program's operations during fiscal year 2026 (ending June 30, 2026). The bill directly affects the Military Department and its enlistment-related activities, with no municipal impact. It is a procedural appropriation bill with no policy changes beyond funding allocation.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 6, 2025

SB 1153: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE ADJUTANT GENERAL TO ESTABLISH AND REMOVE CERTAIN STATE MILITARY AWARDS.

SB 1153 authorizes the Adjutant General to establish new state military awards (such as medals or ribbons) and remove any such awards created on or after July 1, 2025. It does not affect existing awards established before that date or those created by the General Assembly. The bill amends Section 27-20 of state law to clarify this authority, effective July 1, 2025, with minimal fiscal impact. This is a procedural change to administrative powers, not a policy affecting citizens or specific groups.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 6, 2025

HJ 28: RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING CHIEF HAROLD TANTAQUIDGEON.

This resolution (HJ 28) formally recognizes the life and legacy of Chief Harold Tantaquidgeon, a Mohegan Tribe member and U.S. Coast Guard veteran. It highlights his service as the Coast Guard's first Native American chief petty officer (achieving the rank at age 23) and his World War II Army service, including survival after a plane crash in New Guinea. The resolution expresses the Connecticut General Assembly's "high esteem" for his contributions to Native American culture, veterans' history, and Connecticut. It directs clerks to deliver a copy to his family as a formal tribute. No policy changes or fiscal impacts are associated with this commemorative resolution.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 6, 2025

HB 5579: AN ACT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HISPANIC AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR NONPROFIT GROWTH AND STABILIZATION FUND.

HB 5579 establishes a state fund to provide grants for capacity-building support to nonprofit organizations serving Hispanic communities or communities of color. To qualify, organizations must be 50%+ Hispanic or communities of color, led by Hispanic, African-American, or Asian Pacific-American executives, have a $150,000+ annual budget, and provide culturally competent, language-accessible services. The fund will award grants for financial management training, board development, technology upgrades, and other operational improvements, with preference given to smaller organizations ($1 million budget cap) and those meeting cultural competence standards. Grants require progress reporting, staff training, and site visits to ensure accountability and measurable outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results