SB 1361 establishes a $50 million annual Housing Growth Fund to provide grants to municipalities based on their housing development activity. Municipalities earn points for approved dwelling units: 1 point for standard units, 1.5 for mixed-use or mixed-income developments, 2 for transit-oriented or multifamily housing, and 3 for affordable units (at or below 30% of state median income) or set-aside developments. Grant amounts are determined by each municipality's housing growth score (total points) relative to the statewide total. This program directly affects local governments by linking funding to the type and location of housing they approve, aiming to increase affordable housing availability and promote transit-oriented development.
HB 6975 requires the Commissioner of Health Strategy to conduct a biennial study comparing payment rates for mental health services versus general health care services under specific private health insurance policies and Connecticut's HUSKY Health program. The study will examine whether mental health providers receive equal payment rates compared to other health providers under these plans, with reports due to legislative committees starting January 1, 2026. This bill does not change current payment rates but mandates ongoing analysis to inform future policy decisions.
SB 1214 requires Connecticut's Department of Social Services and Department of Developmental Services to submit detailed reports by January 1, 2026, to specific legislative committees. The reports must document costs for all programs serving children/families with income-based eligibility (compared to federal poverty level), including projected costs and potential enrollment if eligibility expanded to the ALICE Threshold (defined by United Way CT as the income level needed for basic needs). Key provisions mandate analyzing how many additional families would qualify under the new threshold and assessing feasibility of adopting it for eligibility decisions. The bill focuses on data collection to inform future policy choices, not on changing current program rules.
HB 7059 directs Connecticut's Commissioner of Transportation to study two specific actions: (1) operating hybrid trains on the Danbury Branch Line of Metro-North, and (2) extending the Danbury Branch Line to New Milford. The study must be completed by February 1, 2026, and reported to the legislature. Separately, the bill establishes the Connecticut Public Transportation Council - a 15-member body representing residents who use various rail lines (New Haven, Shore Line East, Hartford) and state-funded transit. Council members are appointed by legislative leaders and the governor, with terms of four years. This bill focuses solely on initiating studies and creating a council, not implementing immediate policy changes.
HB 7038 requires the Insurance Commissioner, in collaboration with the Commissioner of Agriculture, to conduct a feasibility study on creating a captive insurance company or using parametric insurance to provide financial assistance to farmers in the state affected by severe weather. The study must evaluate both options and report findings to the legislature by February 1, 2026. This bill does not create new insurance programs but only mandates an analysis to determine if such programs could be implemented. It directly affects farmers facing weather-related losses and focuses solely on assessing potential solutions through a formal study.
HB 7047 requires state departments to automatically post certain job vacancies within 10 days of opening. It applies to positions in the Departments of Public Health, Children and Families, Mental Health, Revenue Services, Correction, and Labor, as well as teaching roles in the Technical Education and Career System. The law does not affect existing union contracts or positions appointed by the Governor or General Assembly members. The requirement takes effect on July 1, 2025.
SB 1374 requires Connecticut public school security personnel - both armed and unarmed - to receive specific training by October 1, 2025. Armed security staff must complete training covering use of force, active assailant response, firearm safety, and de-escalation techniques for individuals with disabilities. Unarmed staff must receive training in drug detection and gang identification. The law mandates this training be provided by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council or approved instructors, with local school boards able to add supplemental sessions. This directly affects all public school security personnel in Connecticut.
HB 7091 requires electric and gas distribution companies in Connecticut to submit combined energy conservation plans to the Energy Conservation Management Board every three years, beginning November 1, 2025. The bill mandates annual audits by the Auditors of Public Accounts to verify that conservation programs meet cost-effectiveness standards - ensuring program benefits exceed costs. If programs fail this test, they must be modified or terminated, unless integral to cost-effective combined initiatives. This directly affects utility companies, the Energy Conservation Management Board, and the Connecticut Green Bank, with funding mechanisms including fixed rates (6 mills/kWh for electricity, $0.046 per CCF for gas). The law ensures ongoing oversight of energy efficiency spending to maximize savings for ratepayers.
HB 7117 modifies how health insurance fees are allocated in Connecticut. It requires domestic insurers and health care centers providing specific health insurance types to pay an annual public health fee, but gradually shifts more of this fee from the Insurance Fund to the General Fund - reducing the Insurance Fund portion by one-fifth each year until 2029, when all funds go to the General Fund. The bill also mandates annual reporting of enrolled lives (excluding Medicare/Medicaid) by insurers, with penalties for late filings ($100/day) or reporting discrepancies ($15,000 max civil penalty). These changes directly affect health insurance providers operating in Connecticut and redirect funds to support the Office of Health Strategy over a five-year period.
SB 1415 requires nursing homes to raise direct care workers' wages to $22.50 hourly by January 2026 and $25 by January 2027. It exempts Medicaid-funded nursing homes if state payment rates don’t cover the increase, and mandates rate adjustments if homes receive funding but don’t implement the wage hikes. The bill also adds new licensing requirements for nursing homes, including detailed financial disclosures, ownership information (like private equity ties), and proof of wage compliance. While the bill defines "group homes" for people with disabilities, it does not directly apply the wage rules to them - only to nursing homes.
HB 7193 amends Connecticut's statute governing the Board of Pardons and Paroles, directly affecting its 15 members. The bill replaces the existing pay structure by requiring ten members to serve full-time with salaries set by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, while other members receive a daily payment (replacing a fixed $110/day rate) plus expense reimbursements. It also mandates that the chairperson or a designated member attend all board meetings and participate in decisions. The changes take effect October 1, 2025, and apply to all members' compensation under Section 54-124a.
SB 807 gradually eliminates asset limits for Connecticut's HUSKY C health program beneficiaries (low-income adults) over five years. Starting July 1, 2025, the asset limit for single adults increases from $1,600 to $10,000 in 2026, then to $25,000 in 2027, $75,000 in 2028, $100,000 in 2029, and removes the limit entirely after 2030. Married couples see similar stepwise increases, rising from $2,400 to $150,000 by 2029. The bill also allows applicants with income slightly above limits to qualify by spending excess income on medical bills, and requires annual reports on enrollment and costs.
