Connecticut Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · Connecticut · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 1565: AN ACT CONVEYING CERTAIN PARCELS OF STATE LAND IN THE TOWN OF SPRAGUE.

SB 1565 transfers specific parcels of state-owned land in the Town of Sprague to the town government. This procedural bill directly affects the Town of Sprague by conveying ownership of designated state land parcels, with no additional policy provisions or impacts beyond the land transfer. The bill became law after the governor signed it on July 1, 2025.

signed · Connecticut · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 4: AN ACT CONCERNING ENERGY AFFORDABILITY, ACCESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

This bill authorizes Connecticut to issue up to $125 million in state bonds (for fiscal years 2026-2027) to reduce energy cost protections for low-income households to pre-pandemic levels (2016-2020). It also allocates $50 million in bonds ($30M for 2026, $20M for 2027) to fund electric vehicle charging infrastructure and customer wiring upgrades. The funds will support programs administered by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, including residential EV charging for households at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. These provisions aim to lower energy costs for vulnerable residents and expand clean energy access through specific infrastructure investments.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

signed · Connecticut · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 7160: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND CONCERNING PENALTIES FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE AND VESSEL WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR OR ANY DRUG, TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE STATUTES, VIDEO PRESENTATION UPON LICENSE RENEWAL, THE HIGHWAY WORK ZONE AND ROADSIDE VEHICLE SAFETY AWARENESS PROGRAM, YELLOW AND BLUE ENVELOPES, ELECTRIC SCOOTERS, ELECTRIC BICYCLES, MOTOR-DRIVEN CYCLES, INSTALLMENT PAYMENT PLANS, LOW-SPEED VEHICLE DEALERS AND FINES FOR VIOLATIONS OF "MOVE OVER" LAW AND AGGRAVATED ENDANGERMENT OF A HIGHWAY WORKER.

HB 7160, now Public Act 25-159, updates vehicle safety laws and penalties. It increases penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, adds new rules for electric scooters and bicycles, and creates a safety program for highway work zones. The law also requires video presentations during license renewals, clarifies rules for low-speed vehicle dealers, and increases fines for failing to "Move Over" for highway workers. Additionally, it makes technical corrections to motor vehicle statutes and standardizes the use of yellow and blue envelopes for vehicle-related mail.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Connecticut · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 1564: AN ACT AMENDING A PRIOR CONVEYANCE OF A PARCEL OF STATE LAND TO THE CATHERINE VIOLET HUBBARD FOUNDATION, INC.

This bill amends a prior agreement transferring a parcel of state land to the Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation, Inc., updating the terms of the property conveyance. It directly affects the foundation's ownership rights to the specific parcel of land previously conveyed by the state. The bill was enacted after passing both legislative chambers and receiving the governor's signature on July 1, 2025.

signed · Connecticut · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 1312: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LABOR DEPARTMENT.

SB 1312 implements Labor Department recommendations by creating an Unemployed Workers' Advocate position to support claimants, requiring healthcare providers to report suspected occupational diseases (like lead exposure) within 48 hours with a $10 penalty for late reporting, and modifying unemployment benefit charging rules. It prohibits using occupational disease reports in court, exempts employers from paying benefits for natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes), and clarifies when benefits aren't charged to employers (e.g., for small wage payments under $500 or separation due to employer drug policies). This bill directly affects employers (through benefit charging changes), healthcare providers (via reporting duties), and unemployed workers (via the new advocate and benefit protections). Key provisions include the advocate’s role in managing unemployment claims and the new occupational disease reporting system for workplace health surveillance.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Connecticut · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 1311: AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

SB 1311 revises Connecticut's foster care and adoption placement rules by requiring criminal history and child abuse registry checks for all prospective foster and adoptive parents and any adult in their household before placement and license renewal. It establishes specific procedures for emergency placements with relatives or "fictive kin" (non-relatives with a family-like bond), mandating immediate checks and a full criminal history review within 10 days, with child removal if fingerprints are refused. The bill allows a 12-month exemption from repeated checks if a recent check was completed and applies to the Department of Children and Families and all individuals seeking foster care or adoption, effective July 1, 2025.

signed · Connecticut · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 1525: AN ACT CONCERNING THE TEACHERS' RETIREMENT BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES TO THE TEACHERS' RETIREMENT SYSTEM STATUTES.

SB 1525, now Public Act 25-120, implements specific recommendations from Connecticut's Teachers' Retirement Board regarding changes to the state's teachers' retirement system statutes. The bill directly affects public school teachers enrolled in Connecticut's state retirement system by authorizing statutory updates based on the Board's proposed modifications. Key provisions include modifying eligibility rules, benefit calculations, and contribution structures within the retirement system as outlined in the Board's recommendations. This law formalizes the Board's suggested changes into binding state statute, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Connecticut · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 5064: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A GRANT PROGRAM FOR AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION AND FARMLAND ACCESS PURPOSES.

HB 5064 establishes a state grant program to fund agricultural preservation and improve farmland access. The program provides financial assistance to farmers and agricultural entities for projects that protect working farmland from development and help new or existing farmers access land. Key provisions include grant funding for conservation easements, farmland acquisition, and initiatives supporting beginning farmers. This law, now Public Act 25-141 after being signed by the governor on July 1, 2025, directly benefits agricultural landowners and operators seeking to preserve farmland or expand farming operations.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Connecticut · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 6777: AN ACT CONCERNING WATER UTILITY SYSTEMS AND WATER QUALITY AND TREATMENT SURCHARGES.

This bill establishes a new surcharge on water utility systems to fund upgrades for water quality and treatment infrastructure. It directly affects municipal and regional water providers, requiring them to collect these surcharges from customers. The revenue must be used specifically for system improvements to meet state water quality standards, including treatment facility upgrades and infrastructure maintenance. The law, now Public Act 25-142, was signed by the governor on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

signed · Connecticut · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 6932: AN ACT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STATE INTERPRETING STANDARDS BOARD.

HB 6932 (now Public Act 25-144) creates a State Interpreting Standards Board to establish certification and training requirements for interpreters providing services in state agencies. The board will set rules for language access, ensuring interpreters meet specific qualifications when working with limited English proficiency individuals. This law directly affects professional interpreters and state agencies that rely on interpretation services. The bill became effective upon the governor's signature on July 1, 2025.

signed · Connecticut · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 7107: AN ACT CONCERNING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY EXPANDING GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, UPDATES TO ABLE ACCOUNT STATUTES AND OVERSIGHT OF DRIVING PROGRAMS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

HB 7107 creates a task force to study ways to increase government job opportunities for people with disabilities, directly affecting state employers and job seekers with disabilities. It updates ABLE account rules to make it easier for people with disabilities to save money for qualified expenses like housing or education. The bill also adds safety oversight requirements for driving programs serving people with disabilities, ensuring better access to transportation. Signed into law as Public Act 25-148 on July 1, 2025, these changes are now effective policy.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Connecticut · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 1497: AN ACT CONCERNING PROGRAMMING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND OTHER FARMING AND AGRICULTURE RELATED PROVISIONS.

SB 1497 establishes a State Veterinarian position at the Department of Agriculture and updates registration requirements for fertilizers and soil amendments. It requires distributors to register fertilizer brands and soil amendments annually with the Department, including fees (up to $75) and specific labeling details, while exempting identical products already registered. The bill also creates a new tax provision for "eligible farmers" who meet income thresholds, allowing tax benefits for qualifying farm equipment, buildings, and structures used in agricultural production (like wine, Christmas trees, or apple juice operations) for at least five years. These changes directly affect agricultural businesses, distributors, and farmers in Connecticut.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes