Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 14, 2025

HB 6227: AN ACT AUTHORIZING SUNDAY HUNTING.

This bill would amend state hunting laws to permit hunting on Sundays. Currently, Sunday hunting is prohibited under general statutes. The change would directly affect hunters who wish to hunt on Sundays, allowing them to do so legally without violating existing bans. It removes the current prohibition without adding new restrictions or requirements.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 14, 2025

HB 7180: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE OPERATIONS OF THE SOCIAL EQUITY COUNCIL.

HB 7180 establishes a 9-member task force to study the operations of Connecticut's Social Equity Council. The task force, appointed by legislative leaders, the Comptroller, and the Governor, must submit a report by January 1, 2026, to the relevant legislative committee. This bill does not change existing laws or policies but creates a formal process to examine how the Social Equity Council functions. It directly affects the Social Equity Council by requiring it to be reviewed, though the council itself is not altered by this bill.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 14, 2025

HB 7080: AN ACT CONCERNING NEUROMODULATION TREATMENTS FOR VETERANS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT HEALTH CENTER.

HB 7080 establishes a Center of Excellence for Neuromodulation Treatments for Veterans at the University of Connecticut Health Center. The bill directly affects Connecticut veterans by creating access to targeted nerve stimulation treatments (like electrical or chemical therapies for neurological conditions) through this new center. It appropriates $2 million from the General Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, to establish the center and provide these treatments. The center may also collaborate with other state hospitals to deliver these services to veterans.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 14, 2025

HB 5112: AN ACT PROHIBITING PET STORES FROM PURCHASING OR PROCURING DOGS, CATS AND RABBITS.

HB 5112 prohibits pet stores from buying or obtaining dogs, cats, or rabbits for sale starting October 1, 2025. This directly affects pet store owners who must stop purchasing these animals, though they may still host licensed animal shelters for adoption events under strict conditions. The law allows pet stores to provide space for 501(c)(3) shelters to showcase animals for adoption without compensation, but bans any sale or transfer of these animals by stores. Violations carry a maximum $500 fine. The bill does not restrict private breeders or pet owners.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 13, 2025

HB 6722: AN ACT CONCERNING REIMBURSEMENT OF CERTAIN FEES FOR VETERANS OR SPONSORS OF VETERANS IN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.

HB 6722 creates a state grant program to reimburse veterans and their apprenticeship program sponsors for specific fees. It covers licensure/certification fees paid to the Consumer Protection Department, sponsor fees for veteran apprentices paid to the Labor Department, and up to $1,000 in tuition fees paid to the Technical Education System. The program, effective July 1, 2025, is funded by a $100,000 appropriation from the General Fund for fiscal year 2026. Veterans residing in Connecticut and their program sponsors directly benefit by receiving financial assistance for qualifying fees incurred after July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 13, 2025

HB 6976: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT DIVERSION.

HB 6976 requires Connecticut's Department of Public Health (DPH) to establish rules for when hospitals reroute ambulances due to emergency department overcrowding ("saturation") or lack of medical capacity. It mandates hospitals to adopt specific diversion policies, notify DPH before declaring a diversion, and follow defined procedures for both declaring and ending diversions. The bill also sets requirements for hospitals receiving diverted patients and obligates emergency medical services (EMS) organizations to comply with DPH rules, subjecting noncompliant EMS groups to disciplinary action like license suspension. This law directly affects hospitals, EMS providers, and ambulance services by standardizing emergency department diversion protocols. It takes effect July 1, 2025, with no anticipated fiscal impact.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 13, 2025

SB 1327: AN ACT CONCERNING THE REDUCTION OF A SENTENCE BY THE SENTENCING COURT OR A JUDGE.

SB 1327 allows judges to reduce sentences for certain defendants while they are serving time, specifically those sentenced to over seven years via a plea agreement after October 1, 2021. It requires courts to hold hearings for good cause, consider victim input (either in person or via written statement), and sets a two-year waiting period before a defendant can reapply for sentence reduction after a denial or partial grant. The bill also explicitly permits judges to modify sentences below mandatory minimums for eligible cases, while requiring defendants to submit applications with supporting documents and giving the state 90 days to respond. This changes existing law by expanding access to sentence reviews and streamlining the process for eligible individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 13, 2025

SB 1369: AN ACT CONCERNING CHILD CARE SUPPORT FOR CONNECTICUT'S WORKFORCE.

SB 1369 creates Connecticut's Workforce Child Care Program to help working families with children under 13 afford child care. The program caps child care costs at 7% of a family's annual income and provides financial support to licensed child care providers for operational costs, staff training, and facility upgrades. It excludes families already receiving assistance through programs like Head Start, state subsidies, or foster care. The Early Childhood Care and Education Fund administers the program, with providers eligible for grants to support workforce needs and accessibility.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 13, 2025

SB 1394: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO INMATES IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

SB 1394 requires the state's Department of Public Health and Department of Correction to annually evaluate healthcare services for inmates in correctional facilities, comparing practices against national standards. It mandates two key reports by January 1, 2026: one from the Correction Ombuds detailing staffing needs and communication procedures for inmates' families, and another from the Commissioner of Correction on policies for medical records sharing and post-release care. The bill also establishes a task force to study healthcare staffing challenges in prisons, with members appointed from legislative leaders, corrections staff unions, and relevant state agencies. This legislation focuses on oversight and data collection to assess current practices, rather than directly changing healthcare delivery or funding.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 13, 2025

HB 7140: AN ACT CONCERNING FAIR RENT COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS.

HB 7140 requires municipalities with populations of 25,000 or more (as of the latest census) to establish a fair rent commission by July 1, 2023. These commissions will investigate rental charges for non-seasonal housing (including mobile homes), hold formal hearings following contested case procedures, and issue orders to address excessive rents. The bill mandates that all hearing records - including notices, evidence, and decisions - be properly documented to ensure parties can meaningfully appeal commission orders under existing law. This directly affects landlords, tenants, and local governments in qualifying communities by creating a standardized process for rent-related disputes.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 13, 2025

HB 7211: AN ACT CONCERNING CIVIL IMMIGRATION DETAINERS FOR PERSONS WHO ARE CHARGED WITH THE COMMISSION OF A CLASS A, B OR C FELONY OR A FAMILY VIOLENCE CRIME.

HB 7211 prohibits Connecticut law enforcement officers from detaining individuals based solely on a federal immigration detainer (a request from ICE or DHS to hold someone for immigration enforcement). It requires a judicial warrant, a class A or B felony conviction, or a federal terror database match for detention to be permitted. This applies to police departments, correctional facilities, bail commissioners, and school security personnel. The law, effective October 1, 2025, aims to limit state resources from being used for federal immigration enforcement without court oversight.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 13, 2025

SB 1509: AN ACT CONCERNING PATIENT PROTECTIONS AND STANDARDS OF CARE AT CONNECTICUT VALLEY HOSPITAL.

SB 1509 requires Connecticut Valley Hospital to separate patients undergoing psychiatric evaluation by biological sex at all times, directly affecting individuals receiving such evaluations at the facility. It repeals an existing statute and establishes new policies for discharge standards, particularly for forensic patients, while mandating the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to develop these standards in consultation with a new advisory council. The advisory council, composed of appointed members including those with lived behavioral health experience, will review implementation of these policies. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, with the sex-separation requirement being the primary policy change.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

Bill results