Connecticut Bills

passed · Connecticut · House May 6, 2026

HB 5281: AN ACT CONCERNING PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

HB 5281 (2026) requires planning commissions to publish notices of all official actions or decisions - including approvals or denials of subdivision plans - in a local newspaper with substantial circulation within 15 days. This applies to all commission decisions, not just subdivision plans, and takes effect October 1, 2026. The bill clarifies existing notice requirements, replacing Section 8-28 of the general statutes. It directly affects planning commissions and municipalities by mandating standardized public notice procedures for their decisions.

passed · Connecticut · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 292: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEFINITION OF "CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL".

SB 292 amends Connecticut law to clarify and expand the definition of "child sexual abuse material" for legal enforcement. It defines this material as any visual depiction (including digital content) showing a person under 16 years old, or someone appearing under 16, engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Key provisions specify that "sexually explicit conduct" includes acts like intercourse, masturbation, sadomasochistic abuse, and lascivious exhibition of genitals. This definition directly affects law enforcement, prosecutors, and individuals or platforms distributing such content, effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Connecticut · House May 6, 2026

HB 5426: AN ACT REQUIRING THE AVAILABILITY OF AN ADVISOR DURING DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

HB 5426 requires all state institutions of higher education to allow students to bring an advisor or support person of their choice to disciplinary meetings starting July 1, 2026. This directly affects students facing disciplinary actions at public colleges and universities, ensuring they can have support during these proceedings. The policy must be adopted by August 1, 2026, with two key conditions: the advisor cannot delay the meeting, and for sexual assault, stalking, or intimate partner violence cases, existing state policies (Section 10a-55m) override this rule if they differ. The bill does not change disciplinary outcomes but mandates institutional policy changes to provide student support.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Connecticut · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 310: AN ACT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PILOT PROGRAM TO TRAIN CERTIFIED WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY OPERATORS.

SB 310 (2026) requires the Technical Education and Career System to study expanding vocational education to K-8 students, with a report due January 1, 2027. It also establishes a pilot program offering wastewater treatment operator training courses at technical schools for the 2026-2027 school year, requiring a report by January 1, 2027, on enrollment, certification timelines, and expansion recommendations. The bill directly affects K-8 students (via the study) and technical school students (via the pilot program). Key provisions mandate specific studies and reporting deadlines to assess program feasibility and effectiveness before potential expansion.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Connecticut · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 342: AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH COVERAGE.

SB 342 requires health insurers and health care providers to use consistent reimbursement rates for outpatient services, regardless of where care is delivered (e.g., office, hospital, or telehealth) or the provider's affiliation. It prohibits insurers from automatically downcoding claims using algorithms without clinical review by a qualified peer. The bill mandates equal reimbursement rates for similar services within the same geographic area and includes a requirement for contracts to clearly state compliance with these rules. These changes directly affect insurers, hospitals, and clinics by standardizing payment practices for covered outpatient benefits starting July 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Connecticut · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 319: AN ACT CONCERNING BATTERY-POWERED LAWN EQUIPMENT FUNDING FOR MUNICIPALITIES, REGIONAL SCHOOLS AND COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPERS.

SB 319 requires Connecticut state agencies and municipalities to transition from gas-powered to electric landscaping equipment by 2030. Starting in 2027, state departments must replace gas equipment with electric models as existing tools wear out, and by 2029, contractors bidding on state property maintenance must use electric equipment. The bill bans gas-powered leaf blowers on state-owned properties by 2030, with exceptions for emergencies, fire hazard reduction, and specific land management activities. To support the transition, the bill reactivates a fund for municipalities, mandates equipment demonstrations, and creates a loan program for commercial landscapers to purchase electric tools.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

passed · Connecticut · House May 6, 2026

HB 5140: AN ACT ALLOWING DENTAL HYGIENISTS TO PROVIDE DENTAL HYGIENE SERVICES IN PATIENTS' PRIVATE RESIDENCES.

HB 5140 mandates a study of senior citizens' needs in the state, focusing on long-term care, transportation, housing assistance, nutritional support, and socialization opportunities. The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity must complete this study in consultation with the Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services and report findings to the legislature by January 1, 2027. This bill does not create new programs or allocate funds but aims to inform future resource allocation based on identified senior needs.

passed · Connecticut · House May 6, 2026

HB 5283: AN ACT AUTHORIZING MUNICIPALITIES TO PROHIBIT THE SALE OF DOGS, CATS AND RABBITS IN PET SHOPS.

HB 5283 authorizes Connecticut municipalities to ban pet shops from selling dogs, cats, and rabbits. The bill amends state law to allow local governments to prohibit these sales in pet shops (defined under section 22-327) without requiring them to do so. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and directly affects pet shops currently selling these animals and local governments choosing to adopt such restrictions. The policy change provides municipalities with a specific legal mechanism to regulate pet shop sales, focusing on dogs, cats, and rabbits.

passed · Connecticut · House May 6, 2026

HB 5211: AN ACT CONCERNING COMMERCIAL FINANCING.

HB 5211 requires providers offering sales-based commercial financing (repayments tied to a business's sales/revenue) to disclose four specific details to recipients: the total financing amount, disbursement amount (excluding finance charges), finance charge, and an estimated annual percentage rate (APR) based on projected sales. This applies to financing under $250,000 not intended for personal use, directly affecting small businesses and the providers (like brokers or non-bank lenders) offering this financing. The APR must be calculated using either historical sales data or an opt-in method, with providers notifying the Banking Commissioner of their chosen method. Banks, credit unions, and certain large lenders are exempt from these requirements. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

passed · Connecticut · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 469: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STATE CONTRACTING STANDARDS BOARD.

This bill implements recommendations from the State Contracting Standards Board by establishing new funding procedures and staffing requirements for the board. It mandates that the board receive its budget estimates directly from its executive director and prevents the Governor from reducing existing allotments for the board. The legislation also requires state agencies to create more detailed business cases when proposing privatization contracts, including risk assessments, transition plans for employees, and analyses of potential impacts on workers. Additionally, the bill strengthens procurement oversight by requiring agencies to ensure bidders are informed of their rights, screen contractors properly, and submit performance evaluations to a central data repository.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed both · Connecticut · Senate May 5, 2026

SJ 48: RESOLUTION VACATING THE DECISION OF THE CLAIMS COMMISSIONER TO DENY THE CLAIM AGAINST THE STATE OF MILAGROS POLLOCK HESS, ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF JHECARI HESS AND GRANTING THE CLAIMANT PERMISSION TO SUE THE STATE.

This bill confirms a previous decision by the Claims Commissioner to deny a financial claim against the state of Milagros Pollock Hess, who is acting as the administrator of the estate of Jhecari Hess. The resolution makes the commissioner's ruling official, preventing the state from being held liable for the disputed claim. It directly affects the estate's representative and the state's financial obligations by upholding the denial of the claim. This is a procedural measure that validates an existing administrative decision rather than creating new policy.

passed · Connecticut · House May 5, 2026

HJ 40: RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE DECISION OF THE CLAIMS COMMISSIONER TO DENY CERTAIN CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE.

This bill confirms the Claims Commissioner's decision to deny a financial claim filed by Nerissa Terry against the state. It does not create new laws or policies but formally upholds an existing administrative ruling regarding a specific individual's request for state funds. The resolution is procedural in nature, as it validates a prior determination rather than establishing new rules for future claims.

Bill results