Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 6194: AN ACT REQUIRING REPORTS CONCERNING THE TERMINATION OF CERTAIN FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS.

HB 6194 requires state agencies, departments, or officials managing certain state funds created by law for charitable purposes to submit electronic reports to the legislature before terminating those funds. The reports must state the intent to end the fund and estimate any remaining balance. This applies to funds established through public or special acts and administered by state entities, effective October 1, 2025. The bill has no fiscal impact on the state or municipalities, as confirmed by the fiscal analysis. It focuses solely on transparency requirements, not policy changes.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 6893: AN ACT APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR PROGRAMS TO ASSIST HOMELESS PERSONS.

HB 6893 appropriates $33.5 million from the General Fund for the Department of Housing to fund existing programs assisting homeless persons, effective July 1, 2025. The funds are specifically designated for services supporting homeless individuals during fiscal year 2026 (ending June 30, 2026). This bill does not create new programs but provides dedicated funding for current homelessness assistance efforts. The allocation has no impact on municipalities and is focused solely on state-level funding for housing-related support services.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 1342: AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL AGENCIES.

SB 1342 updates a municipal law by changing the deadline for appealing decisions made by certain local agencies. It modifies Section 7-148l to state that appeals must be filed "within thirty days of" the mailing of a written decision, clarifying the timeframe without altering the 30-day limit. This change directly affects individuals who disagree with rulings from municipal boards or commissions covered under Sections 7-148i to 7-148n. The bill makes a technical adjustment to the appeal process with no fiscal impact on state or municipal budgets, effective July 1, 2025.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 1264: AN ACT REQUIRING A NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS TO PARTIES BEFORE A FAIR RENT COMMISSION.

SB 1264 requires fair rent commissions (FRCs) to notify all parties (tenants and landlords) about their rights and the commission's authority before hearings. This must be done both in writing and verbally at the start of each hearing, using standardized models created by the Housing Commissioner and posted online. The law applies to all FRCs established under existing state law, which handle rent complaints and excessive charge disputes in housing. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not change FRC powers or create new commissions.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 13: AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ELDER JUSTICE UNIT AND ELDER ABUSE TASK FORCE TO TARGET CRIMES AGAINST ELDERLY PERSONS.

SB 13 establishes an Elder Abuse Task Force within the State Police and requires the Chief State's Attorney to create an Elder Justice Unit within the Division of Criminal Justice. The bill directly affects elderly residents in Connecticut who are victims of abuse by creating dedicated law enforcement units to investigate and prosecute such cases. Key provisions include authorizing the Task Force to investigate elder abuse statewide, coordinate with the Elder Justice Unit, request assistance from other agencies or states, and enter mutual cooperation agreements. The changes take effect October 1, 2025, and amend existing statutes (51-279 and 51-279b) to formalize these units and their responsibilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 6839: AN ACT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN PERMITTED IN FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES AND CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES AND GROUP CHILD CARE HOMES IN CONDOMINIUMS AND RENTAL UNITS.

HB 6839 increases the maximum number of children allowed in family child care homes from nine to twelve when an approved assistant is present. It also modifies rental agreements and condominium declarations to prohibit landlords or condo associations from banning or restricting licensed family child care operations after July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects childcare providers operating from homes or rentals and landlords/condo associations with such restrictions. Key provisions include raising capacity limits while ensuring childcare homes cannot be excluded from residential properties through lease or declaration terms.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 6939: AN ACT AUTHORIZING STATE FUNDING FOR THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM.

HB 6939 authorizes Connecticut to use state funds to support its existing Right to Counsel (RTC) program, which provides free legal representation to income-eligible tenants facing eviction or threats to housing subsidies. The bill requires the Judicial Branch to contract with an administering entity (currently the Connecticut Bar Foundation) to fund designated legal organizations meeting specific criteria, such as expertise in housing law and service to low-income communities. This program covers eviction cases and administrative proceedings to preserve housing subsidies, directly benefiting vulnerable tenants at risk of displacement. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, with estimated annual state costs of $1.7-3 million in fiscal year 2026 and $4.2-5.5 million in fiscal year 2027, supplementing federal funds that expire in 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 7031: AN ACT INCLUDING ACCESSORY APARTMENTS WITHOUT AFFORDABILITY RESTRICTIONS IN THE CALCULATION OF THE THRESHOLD FOR EXEMPTION FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING APPEALS PROCEDURE.

This bill changes Connecticut law to count all accessory apartments (secondary housing units on the same property as a main home) toward a municipality's 10% threshold for exemption from the affordable housing appeals process. Currently, only accessory apartments with long-term affordability restrictions (e.g., requiring rent to be affordable for low-income households) counted toward this threshold. The bill removes that requirement, meaning any accessory apartment - regardless of affordability rules - will now count toward the exemption. This change, effective July 1, 2025, may help more municipalities qualify for the exemption, potentially reducing legal costs associated with housing appeals.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 7030: AN ACT EXPANDING THE OPEN CHOICE VOUCHER PILOT PROGRAM.

HB 7030 expands Connecticut's Open Choice Voucher Pilot Program, which provides rental assistance to families participating in interdistrict school programs. It directly affects low-income families with children in Hartford-region interdistrict school programs who wish to move to the town where their child's school is located. The bill adds 10 new rental assistance certificates for the 2026-2027 school year (10 more in 2027-2028), requiring the Commissioner of Housing to develop recruitment procedures and provide housing counseling. The program mandates annual reports to the legislature on participation demographics and effectiveness, with no expected state or municipal fiscal impact.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 7100: AN ACT REQUIRING INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATE TO DISCLOSE CERTAIN INFORMATION TO VICTIMS IN TITLE IX PROCEEDINGS.

HB 7100 requires state colleges and universities to disclose specific information to victims of sexual assault, stalking, or intimate partner violence during campus Title IX investigations. The bill mandates that institutions include clear policies in their annual crime reports covering affirmative consent standards, reporting procedures, access to counseling and law enforcement, options for changing academic or living situations, and investigation processes (using a preponderance of evidence standard). It also requires institutions to honor protective orders and allow victims to have an advisor present during proceedings. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 5074: AN ACT CONCERNING A MOTOR VEHICLE NUMBER PLATE COMMEMORATING CONNECTICUT WOMEN VETERANS.

HB 5074 creates a special Connecticut motor vehicle license plate commemorating women veterans' military service. It allows any woman veteran or woman member of the armed forces (or their surviving spouses) to request these plates for vehicles they own or lease for at least one year, including farm vehicles used in agricultural business. The Department of Motor Vehicles will issue the plates upon request, with a $15 fee for replacements, and the plates expire/renew like standard plates. This is a commemorative measure only, not affecting eligibility for other veteran benefits.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 7033: AN ACT PROHIBITING A MUNICIPALITY FROM IMPOSING ANY PENALTY ON HOMELESS PERSONS FOR PERFORMING ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING ON PUBLIC LAND.

HB 7033 prohibits municipalities from fining or penalizing homeless individuals for performing daily activities like sleeping, eating, or seeking shelter on public land (e.g., sidewalks, parks, plazas), provided these activities don’t obstruct traffic or create hazards. It specifically protects rights to access hygiene facilities, receive donations, use vehicles legally parked in public spaces, and practice religion without discrimination based on housing status. The bill allows the Attorney General to pursue civil penalties of $50-$100 against municipalities or individuals violating these protections, but exempts cases where "adequate alternative indoor space" (like shelters) has been offered and accepted. This law applies to all public spaces except school grounds and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Housing

Bill results