Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 1522: AN ACT RENAMING THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT ACCOUNT THE DONALD E. WILLIAMS, JR. COMMUNITY INVESTMENT ACCOUNT AND INCREASING FUNDING FOR SAID ACCOUNT.

SB 1522 renames Connecticut's "Community Investment Account" to the "Donald E. Williams, Jr. Community Investment Account" and increases its funding. The bill directs $45 from each $50 document recording fee collected by town clerks (after retaining $2) to the account, effective July 2025. Funds are distributed as follows: 12% to agricultural sustainability, 25% each to the Departments of Economic Development (for historic preservation), Housing (affordable housing), Environmental Protection (open space grants), and Agriculture (for farm programs, food sales, and farmland preservation). This policy change directly affects municipalities (through fee collection) and state agencies (through funding allocations for specific programs).

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 1515: AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTION ADMINISTRATION OVERSIGHT.

SB 1515 establishes a new Municipal Election Accountability Board to review election administration in Connecticut municipalities, focusing on early voting, absentee voting, same-day registration, and election official duties when referred by the Secretary of the State or State Elections Enforcement Commission. The board, composed of 13 members including the Secretary of the State (as chair), State Elections Enforcement Commission leadership, and nine politically balanced appointees (with specific representation from election officials, town clerks, and municipal leaders), will conduct monthly reviews starting in 2026. It requires referrals to include supporting evidence like affidavits or investigation findings and operates without replacing existing election oversight bodies under state law. The bill directly affects municipalities under review and ensures procedural safeguards for election conduct.

in committee · Connecticut · House May 7, 2025

HB 7241: AN ACT CONCERNING ABSENTEE VOTING FOR ALL.

HB 7241 removes the requirement for Connecticut voters to provide a specific reason (such as military service, illness, or religious observance) when applying for an absentee ballot. Instead, voters will simply need to state they will not be able to vote in person at their polling place on election day. The bill updates the absentee ballot application form to reflect this change and adds rules for distributing applications to prevent misuse. This applies to all voters seeking absentee ballots for primary elections, general elections, or referendums.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 1514: AN ACT CONCERNING CURBSIDE VOTING ACCESSIBILITY FOR ELECTORS WITH DISABILITIES OR OTHER INCAPACITIES.

SB 1514 creates a formal curbside voting process for voters with disabilities or temporary incapacities who cannot enter polling places. It requires registrars to bring ballots to a designated curbside area, where voters mark ballots privately in the presence of officials (without officials seeing their choices), place ballots in privacy sleeves, and have their names marked as having voted. The bill also establishes a 20-foot buffer zone around curbside areas to prevent solicitation or interference while voters cast ballots, and restricts vehicle occupants during this process. This directly affects voters who cannot access polling places physically but wish to vote in person. The changes take effect January 1, 2026.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 1518: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STATE DISPARITY STUDY.

SB 1518 requires contractors on state-funded construction and service projects exceeding $150,000 to include explicit anti-discrimination clauses in their contracts. It prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and other protected characteristics, while mandating affirmative action to ensure equal employment opportunities. Contractors must also state they are "affirmative action-equal opportunity employers" and provide notices to labor unions and workers about these commitments. The law applies to all public works contracts and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · House May 7, 2025

HB 7228: AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REFORMS TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS IN THIS STATE.

HB 7228 revises Connecticut's absentee ballot procedures to standardize handling and record-keeping. Municipal clerks must record the receipt method (mail, secure drop box, in-person, or by family member), time, and date on each envelope, and report total absentee ballots by method. The bill sets specific deadlines for sorting and checking ballots (by the fourth, third, and second days before an election) and requires clerks to reject ballots if the voter's name isn't on the official list, with a stated reason. These changes apply directly to local election officials managing absentee ballots.

in committee · Connecticut · House May 7, 2025

HB 7250: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE POLICY AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

HB 7250 restructures the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee to include 28 diverse members, such as agency heads, judges, youth advocates, parents of youth in the system, and two young people with lived experience. It also establishes a new State Advisory Council to comply with federal juvenile justice requirements, develop state plans, and review grant applications. The council must include at least one-fifth of members under 24 years old and at least three individuals with direct experience in the juvenile justice system. This bill focuses on governance and coordination, not direct policy changes to juvenile justice procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Connecticut · House May 7, 2025

HB 7060: AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSPORTATION WORKER SAFETY.

This bill requires Connecticut's Department of Motor Vehicles to mandate a highway work zone safety awareness program for two groups: new driver's license applicants and drivers convicted of specific traffic violations (like unsafe work zone driving or failing to yield to emergency vehicles). The program must cover safe driving practices, work zone dangers, risks of shoulder driving, and proper interaction with emergency vehicles, including testimonials from workers and families. Providers must meet strict certification standards, including background checks, curriculum approval, and maintaining records, with fees and surety bonds required for certification. The law aims to improve safety for transportation workers by educating drivers about risks in work zones.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

in committee · Connecticut · House May 7, 2025

HB 7235: AN ACT CONCERNING EXPENDITURES OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS OTHER THAN THE GENERAL FUND.

HB 7235 requires Connecticut's Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA) to review spending from non-General Fund state appropriations for fiscal year 2026 (ending June 30, 2026). The OFA must identify spending areas that increased by 10% or more compared to the previous fiscal year and submit a report to the Appropriations Committee by February 1, 2026. This procedural bill directly affects the OFA and legislative committees, not state agencies or the public. It does not change spending levels but creates a review mechanism to highlight significant budget shifts. The bill has no fiscal impact as the OFA already has the capacity to conduct this analysis.

in committee · Connecticut · House May 7, 2025

HB 7008: AN ACT CONCERNING A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES TAX CREDIT FOR PASS-THROUGH ENTITIES.

HB 7008 establishes a 6% tax credit for research and development (R&D) expenses paid by businesses structured as S corporations, partnerships, or single-member LLCs (pass-through entities) in Connecticut. Owners, shareholders, or partners of these businesses can claim the credit on their personal income taxes, based on qualifying R&D costs that meet federal criteria and are conducted within Connecticut. The credit is capped at $5 million annually to limit state revenue impact, and applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2026. This credit does not apply against withholding tax and aligns with existing state R&D expense definitions.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 641: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PILOT PROGRAM FOR A BOAT WASHING STATION AT GARDNER LAKE IN THE TOWN OF SALEM.

SB 641 establishes a two-year pilot program (starting July 1, 2025) for a boat washing station at Gardner Lake in Salem, to be managed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The station must include clear signage instructing boat users on how to remove plant material from boat propellers, hulls, and motors to prevent spreading invasive species. After two years, the department will assess the program's viability and may relocate it to a nearby site if needed. This directly affects boat owners using Gardner Lake, with the state covering all costs ($51,000 initial setup and $5,000 annual maintenance).

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 1418: AN ACT REDUCING BARRIERS TO FOOD SECURITY.

SB 1418 requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Social Services to seek a Medicaid waiver covering "food as medicine" (prescribed healthy foods for medical conditions) by July 2025, with a report due by January 2026 on its impact. It also increases the minimum monthly supplemental nutrition benefit to $95 and creates a farmers' market incentive program: SNAP recipients get a $1 credit for every $1 spent on fresh produce at certified markets (capped at $50 monthly). The bill directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries and SNAP recipients by expanding access to healthy food through healthcare and nutrition programs. Key provisions take effect July 1, 2025, with the incentive program launching by September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results