Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 18, 2025

SB 1122: AN ACT REQUIRING ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AUDITS OF MEDICAID-FUNDED PROGRAMS BY THE AUDITORS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

SB 1122 requires the Auditors of Public Accounts to conduct annual performance audits of at least two Medicaid-funded programs starting January 1, 2026. The Human Services Committee chairpersons must provide a written list of eligible programs to the auditors by December 1, 2025 (and annually thereafter), and program administrators must supply requested information. Audit results must be reported to the Governor, State Comptroller, and relevant legislative committees, with the Department of Social Services required to post findings online within 30 days of completion. This bill directly affects Medicaid programs and the Auditors of Public Accounts agency, which will need to hire additional staff to implement the audits.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 6972: AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSFERS AND DISCHARGES IN RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES.

HB 6972 updates rules for transferring or discharging residents from Connecticut residential care homes. It requires facilities to provide residents with a 30-day written notice (with specific details) before involuntary transfers or discharges, except in emergencies, and mandates facilities to create a discharge plan addressing the resident's needs. Residents or their legal representatives can appeal transfers to the Commissioner of Public Health within 10 days, with the transfer paused during the appeal. The bill directly affects care home residents, their families, and facilities, ensuring clearer procedures and protections during moves. It becomes effective October 1, 2025.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 18, 2025

SB 1281: AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY ON THE NEED FOR EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOLAR PANELS AND WIND TURBINE BLADES.

SB 1281 requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to study whether extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs are needed for discarded solar panels and wind turbine blades. The study will assess current disposal methods, compare costs to municipalities and residents under existing systems versus potential EPR programs, and evaluate required infrastructure like collection facilities and financial structures. It will specifically examine the volume of panels and blades expected to reach end-of-life in the next five years and explore collaboration with neighboring states. The commissioner must submit a report with recommendations by February 1, 2026. This is a preparatory study, not a new law, with no anticipated fiscal impact on state or municipal budgets.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 6834: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES' RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING VARIOUS REVISIONS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES STATUTES.

HB 6834 modifies Connecticut's mental health and addiction services statutes, primarily affecting individuals in court-ordered substance use treatment programs who qualify as indigent (unable to pay fees). The bill clarifies that courts may waive treatment costs for these individuals, but insurance (private, Medicare, or Medicaid) must cover eligible costs first. Uncovered expenses like copays or deductibles - those not paid by insurance - will then be covered by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. This applies to sections 54-56q and 54-56r of the general statutes, effective July 1, 2025. The bill also reorganizes the department’s structure and designates it as the state’s methadone authority, but the fee waiver mechanism is the most direct policy change for affected individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 6936: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR INPATIENT ADDICTION TREATMENT PROVIDERS THAT COVERS ROOM AND BOARD COSTS FOR MEDICAID ENROLLEES.

HB 6936 requires Connecticut's Department of Social Services to provide state-funded Medicaid coverage for room and board costs for individuals enrolled in Medicaid who receive inpatient addiction treatment. It directly affects Medicaid enrollees in residential substance use disorder treatment programs by covering previously uncovered costs. The bill allows the commissioner to amend the state's Medicaid plan or waiver to make these room and board costs eligible for Medicaid reimbursement under federal law. This creates a permanent state-funded coverage mechanism for these expenses, building on existing Medicaid support for addiction treatment services.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 18, 2025

SB 1279: AN ACT CONCERNING NURSING HOME STAFFING RATIOS.

SB 1279 establishes new minimum staffing requirements for Connecticut nursing homes, effective July 1, 2026. It mandates a minimum of 3.6 hours of direct care (e.g., hands-on assistance with daily activities) per resident per day, requires one full-time social worker per 60 residents, and increases recreational staff requirements beyond prior standards. Nursing homes failing to meet these standards will face classified violations under state law, potentially leading to disciplinary actions or citations. The bill directly affects all licensed nursing homes in Connecticut by changing their staffing obligations and enforcement mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 18, 2025

SB 1301: AN ACT CONCERNING MEDICAID RATES FOR COMMUNITY HOSPITALS IN RURAL AREAS.

SB 1301 requires Connecticut to increase Medicaid payment rates for designated rural community hospitals to match Medicare rates for the same services, effective July 1, 2025. It directly affects nonfederal acute care hospitals designated as rural by Connecticut’s Office of Rural Health, located outside metropolitan areas. The bill mandates the Commissioner of Social Services to amend the Medicaid state plan to implement this rate adjustment. This change will impact specific hospitals like Charlotte Hungerford, Day Kimball, Sharon, and Windham, with costs borne by the General Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 7049: AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE REGARDING THE INFANT MORTALITY REVIEW PROGRAM.

HB 7049 amends Connecticut law to establish a confidential data-sharing process between the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Office of the Child Advocate regarding infant mortality. Specifically, it allows the DPH Commissioner to share Infant Mortality Review Program data with the Child Advocate when necessary for the Advocate’s duties, and permits the Child Advocate to share infant death data (for babies under one year) with DPH to support the review program. All shared information must remain confidential, cannot be used in court, and must be limited to medical/scientific research purposes. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and affects DPH and the Child Advocate’s offices directly.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 6986: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SENIOR CITIZENS' BILL OF RIGHTS.

HB 6986 establishes a "Senior Citizens' Bill of Rights" for all state residents aged 65 or older, affording them five specific rights: the right to live where they choose, maintain independence, participate in care decisions, live with dignity, and be treated respectfully as their authentic selves. The bill requires state-licensed nursing homes, managed residential communities, and elder care facilities to post these rights in 14-point type at their entrances, while municipalities may choose to display them publicly. It clarifies that these rights must be implemented within existing state, federal, and constitutional frameworks, with no new costs or programs required. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and has no fiscal impact on state or local governments per the analysis.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 6915: AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF SECOND-GENERATION ANTICOAGULANT RODENTICIDES.

HB 6915 bans the use of certain second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (containing brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, or difethialone) statewide starting October 1, 2025, affecting most residential, commercial, and general pest control uses. Key exceptions allow continued use for public health activities (e.g., water infrastructure protection, mosquito control), emergency rodent infestations requiring public health approval, specific facilities like medical waste sites and food production facilities, and agricultural operations in designated locations (warehouses, slaughterhouses, etc.). The bill also requires the Environmental Protection Commissioner to develop wildlife protection regulations and submit a 2027 report analyzing impacts on public health, agriculture, and federal compliance. This policy change directly affects pest control businesses, property managers, and agricultural operations while permitting limited uses for public health and critical infrastructure needs.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 17, 2025

SB 955: AN ACT REQUIRING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE CONTRACTORS TO ENSURE INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY ARE ABLE TO ACCESS PUBLIC SERVICES.

SB 955 requires state agencies, local governments, and state contractors to provide language assistance services to individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP), ensuring equitable access to public services. It mandates conducting language needs assessments using census data, offering translation and interpretation services in identified community languages (like Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic), and using plain language for all public communications. Health care facilities receiving state funding must also provide language services for medical appointments and health-related materials. The bill aims to remove language barriers in government services and health care without advocating for or against the policy.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Immigration

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 17, 2025

SB 1118: AN ACT PROHIBITING REQUIRING THE PAYMENT OF FEES FOR DEBIT OR CHARGE CARD PAYMENTS TO A STATE OR MUNICIPAL AGENCY.

SB 1118 prohibits state and municipal agencies from charging service fees when taxpayers pay fees, taxes, or fines using debit or credit cards. This affects individuals paying for services like driver’s licenses, property taxes, or municipal permits through card payments, as agencies can no longer add extra charges for card processing. The bill amends multiple statutes to require agencies to accept cash or checks without fees and bans all service fees for card transactions, effective July 1, 2025. It removes previous allowances for agencies to pass on card processor costs to payors.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results