Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SB 806: AN ACT EXPANDING MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR TREATMENT OF CERTAIN EMERGENCY MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

SB 806 expands Medicaid coverage to include specific emergency medical conditions, such as high-risk pregnancy, Type 1 diabetes emergencies in minors, severe hypertension, unstable seizures, and acute psychiatric treatment. It directly affects individuals with these qualifying conditions who previously might not have received emergency Medicaid coverage for outpatient care. The bill requires the state to create an online application system by July 2026 for advance eligibility for outpatient emergency treatment, replacing emergency room visits where possible. This change aligns with federal Medicaid rules and aims to improve access to timely care for these critical health issues.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Gary Winfield (D) Steven Winter (D) Pat Dillon (D) Jill Gilchrest (D) Maryam Khan (D)

signed · Connecticut · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 7163: AN ACT CONCERNING EMERGENCY GRANTS TO MUNICIPALITIES FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.

HB 7163 establishes a $40 million emergency grant program for municipalities to cover special education costs incurred during fiscal year 2025. The funds, drawn from the General Fund only if April 2025 revenue projections show a sufficient surplus, are distributed by the Commissioner of Education as grants to local governments. Municipalities must use the grants exclusively for special education and related services costs from the 2024-2025 fiscal year. This bill directly affects all Connecticut municipalities with special education programs by providing emergency financial assistance during a projected budget surplus. The grant mechanism is triggered by specific revenue reporting requirements and must be spent within the designated fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 31, 2025

HB 6858: AN ACT CONCERNING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING TICKETS, VETERAN OR MILITARY BENEFIT SERVICES, THE STATE CODE OF ETHICS, UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD, THE SOLICITATION OF CHARITABLE FUNDS ACT AND REAL ESTATE LISTING PROVIDERS.

HB 6858 primarily regulates ticket resellers and related practices. It requires ticket resellers to either possess the ticket, have a written contract with the original holder, or clearly disclose in writing if they cannot guarantee the ticket at the contracted price (Section 1). The bill also prohibits websites from using venue or event names in domain names for ticket resale, except for venue operators themselves (Section 2). These provisions apply to ticket resellers and consumers purchasing tickets for entertainment events, with the Attorney General empowered to enforce violations as unfair trade practices. The bill’s other sections (e.g., veteran benefits, ethics) are referenced but not detailed in the provided text.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 31, 2025

HB 6879: AN ACT CONCERNING MANUFACTURING.

HB 6879 requires the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to study manufacturers' needs in the state and submit a report to the legislature by February 1, 2026. This bill does not create new regulations, funding, or direct changes for manufacturers - it only mandates a study to identify potential needs. The study will be conducted using existing resources, with no additional state or municipal costs. The bill is procedural and focuses solely on gathering information, not implementing policy changes.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 1258: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

SB 1258 requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to conduct a study on economic development issues in the state. The commissioner must submit a report on the study's findings to the legislature's commerce committee by January 1, 2026. This bill directs the existing Department of Economic and Community Development to complete the study using current resources, with no new state or municipal funding required. The legislation does not create new programs or alter existing laws, only mandating a review of economic development challenges.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 31, 2025

HB 6997: AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOVERY OF ATTORNEY'S FEES IN ACTIONS FOR WRONGFUL PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT.

HB 6997 allows property owners who successfully challenge a wrongful property tax assessment in court to recover reasonable attorney's fees if the court reduces their tax bill. The bill amends state law to explicitly permit courts to award these fees as part of relief, which was not previously required under current law. It directly affects property owners appealing excessive or illegal tax assessments and municipalities that may have to pay these fees if they lose such cases. The change applies only when a court reduces the assessment, and it takes effect October 1, 2025. Currently, courts already require municipalities to reimburse overpaid taxes if an assessment is reduced, but this bill adds attorney's fees to that remedy.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 31, 2025

HB 7019: AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF INCENTIVES FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC RESISTANCE HEATING SYSTEMS.

HB 7019 requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to study potential incentives for homeowners to replace electric resistance heating systems (common in older homes) with energy-efficient alternatives like heat pumps. The study must assess how widespread these systems are, analyze existing incentive programs, evaluate costs/benefits including energy savings and emissions reductions, and propose new state incentives. The commissioner must submit a final report to the legislature by February 1, 2026, outlining findings and recommendations. This bill does not create new programs or funding - it only mandates a factual analysis to inform future policy decisions.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 953: AN ACT REDEFINING "STATE CONTRACTOR", "PROSPECTIVE STATE CONTRACTOR" AND "SUBCONTRACTOR" TO EXCLUDE STATUTORILY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBES OF THIS STATE FOR PURPOSES OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS.

SB 953 amends campaign finance laws to explicitly exclude statutorily recognized Indian tribes from being classified as "state contractors," "prospective state contractors," or "subcontractors" when entering state contracts. This means tribal governments and their officers will no longer be subject to campaign finance disclosure requirements or contribution limits that apply to other contractors. The bill redefines key terms in the law to remove these tribes from coverage, directly affecting tribes recognized under state law. The change takes effect October 1, 2025.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 1486: AN ACT CONCERNING TEMPORARY STATE EMPLOYEES AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

SB 1486 allows temporary state employees - who perform work similar to permanent staff but are hired for limited terms - to join existing collective bargaining units if requested by their union. This applies to roles like seasonal, per diem, or relief workers not currently covered under union contracts. The bill amends state law to require employers to include these temporary workers in bargaining units upon union request, ensuring they can negotiate wages and working conditions alongside permanent staff. It directly affects temporary state workers across agencies, colleges, and public authorities in Connecticut. The policy change clarifies that temporary employees may now participate in collective bargaining processes previously limited to permanent staff.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 31, 2025

HB 6927: AN ACT REQUIRING THE STUDY OF ENERGY SOURCES.

HB 6927 requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to study whether policy or procedural changes could improve the effectiveness of energy sources used by the state. The commissioner must complete this study and submit a report to the Energy and Technology committee by February 1, 2026. This bill does not mandate new energy policies or sources but focuses solely on assessing potential improvements within existing state operations. The state expects no additional costs, as the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection can conduct the study using existing staff and resources.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 1391: AN ACT CONCERNING THE TRANSPARENCY OF MULTILINGUAL LEARNER DATA.

SB 1391 requires Connecticut public schools to collect and report specific data about multilingual learners, including their home language, attendance, school enrollment, and teacher qualifications, starting January 2026. It also establishes a "bill of rights" for parents/guardians, guaranteeing enrollment without immigration documentation, translation services during school meetings, and access to bilingual education programs when 20+ eligible students are present. The bill directly affects public schools, teachers, multilingual learners, and their families by mandating transparent data collection and protecting parental rights. Key mechanisms include standardized data tracking in the state school information system and requiring schools to provide written notices and orientation sessions in families' dominant languages.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Immigration

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 1248: AN ACT EXPANDING CONSUMER PROTECTIONS.

SB 1248 requires businesses selling consumer goods or services (like event tickets, food, hotel stays, or short-term rentals) to clearly display all required fees - such as taxes, delivery costs, or mandatory gratuities - in their initial pricing. It prohibits hiding or obscuring these fees until after a customer begins a transaction. Exceptions include taxes, mandatory gratuities (if disclosed upfront), and fees dependent on customer choices (like shipping costs), as long as they’re clearly communicated before purchase. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and violations will be treated as unfair trade practices under existing consumer protection law.

Bill results