Connecticut Bills

passed · Connecticut · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 411: AN ACT CONCERNING STATE POLICE ASSIGNED TO HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

This bill requires state police officers assigned to highway construction projects run by the Department of Transportation to be paid according to an agreement between the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and the Department of Transportation. It replaces the existing rule that sets state police salaries through the Department of Administrative Services for these specific assignments. The law takes effect immediately upon passage and applies only to sworn state police personnel working on transportation department construction sites.

passed · Connecticut · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 523: AN ACT CONVEYING A PARCEL OF STATE LAND TO THE TOWN OF NORTH CANAAN.

This bill authorizes the Connecticut Department of Transportation to transfer a 9.45-acre state-owned parcel of land to the Town of North Canaan at no cost to the town, except for administrative expenses. The land must be used for open space, low-impact recreation, or a nonprofit fire and emergency services facility, with specific conditions requiring the town to retain ownership and preventing commercial leases that would not benefit public purposes. If the town fails to meet these use requirements or leases the land commercially without nonprofit involvement, the property will revert to state ownership. The transfer is subject to approval by the State Properties Review Board and includes an easement for the Housatonic Railroad Company to maintain a railroad spur on the property.

passed · Connecticut · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 447: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION.

This bill establishes a new property tax exemption that reduces the assessed value of primary residences by $50,000 for qualifying homeowners. It directly affects owners of single-family homes, condominiums, and common interest community units who live in the property as their main home. To claim the exemption, homeowners must file an application with their local assessor by November 1 each year, declaring that the dwelling is their primary residence, they own no other primary residence, and they have not claimed this exemption for another property in the same year. The Office of Policy and Management will create and publish the required application form online and may request additional documentation to verify eligibility. This change replaces an existing optional exemption that allowed some municipalities to offer a percentage-based tax reduction on primary residences.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 445: AN ACT CONCERNING THE ADVISORY COMMISSION ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND REPORTS CONCERNING STATE MANDATES.

This bill updates how the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations tracks and reports on state mandates that affect local governments and school districts. Instead of submitting a comprehensive report every four years, the commission must maintain an online record of all existing mandates and categorize them by type and potential impact. Additionally, the bill requires the commission to produce a focused analysis every two years on at least three specific mandates, detailing their costs, operational effects, and possible recommendations for modification or repeal. These changes aim to improve transparency and accessibility of information regarding state requirements on local entities without altering the underlying mandates themselves.

passed · Connecticut · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 381: AN ACT REQUIRING PROGRAMS CONCERNING PROBLEM GAMBLING AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

SB 381 requires all public colleges and universities in the state to offer at least one annual on-campus program addressing problem gambling starting July 1, 2026. These programs must provide information about campus and community resources for treatment and rehabilitation of problem gambling, defined as compulsive or uncontrollable gambling causing life disruption. Institutions may partner with nonprofits to deliver the programs, but must prioritize nonprofit organizations already receiving state funding under section 17a-713 of the general statutes. The bill directly affects public higher education institutions and students by mandating accessible resources for gambling-related issues.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Connecticut · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 325: AN ACT PROHIBITING THE DISCLOSURE OF THE RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT AND ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE CONCERNING MASS REQUESTS UNDER THE ACT.

SB 325 prohibits public agencies from disclosing the residential address of public school teachers (those holding a professional educator certificate) under the Freedom of Information Act, effective October 1, 2026. It also establishes a task force to study how public agencies handle mass information requests generated using artificial intelligence and to recommend legal changes if needed. The task force, composed of appointed members including government officials, open government experts, and AI specialists, must submit a report by January 1, 2027. This bill directly affects public school teachers by adding their home addresses to a list of protected personal information under FOIA, while the task force focuses on addressing AI-driven request patterns.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Connecticut · House Apr 23, 2026

HB 5289: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PUBLICATION OF MUNICIPAL LEGAL NOTICES.

HB 5289 changes how municipalities must publish legal notices currently required by law. It replaces the requirement for daily newspaper publication with an option to use weekly newspapers, while mandating that all notices must also be published on the municipality’s official website. Municipalities must retain a physical copy of each online notice for one year. This affects all towns, cities, and boroughs (municipalities) that require legal notice publication in newspapers under existing statutes, ordinances, or charters. The bill does not change the required notice timing or the rule for selecting newspapers based on local circulation.

passed · Connecticut · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 373: AN ACT ALLOWING A PERSONAL INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR STIPENDS PAID TO VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, VOLUNTEER FIRE POLICE OFFICERS AND VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE MEMBERS.

SB 373 would allow volunteer firefighters, volunteer fire police officers, and volunteer ambulance members in Connecticut to deduct stipends they receive for their service from their state personal income tax. The bill amends the state tax code to add these stipends as a deductible expense, effective January 1, 2027. This change directly affects individuals who serve on volunteer emergency response teams and receive monetary stipends for their work. The provision aligns with existing tax deductions for certain income types but specifically targets volunteer emergency service compensation. It does not change federal tax treatment of these stipends.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Connecticut · Senate Apr 22, 2026

SB 401: AN ACT CONCERNING A BRIDGE PROGRAM TO ALLOW ACCESS TO FOOD, HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE BENEFITS.

This bill establishes a state-funded bridge program designed to help vulnerable individuals maintain access to food, housing, and healthcare benefits while they transition through changes in federal work requirements. The program would target veterans, homeless persons, adults with autism, foster care aging out, and older adults at risk of losing Medicaid or nutrition assistance, requiring state agencies to develop a plan by October 2026. Key provisions include supplementing existing job support programs, providing temporary state-funded assistance equivalent to current benefits, recommending long-term housing solutions, and documenting employability for potential federal waivers. The plan must be submitted to legislative committees by January 2027 along with funding estimates and implementation timelines.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 22, 2026

HB 5510: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING UNLICENSED INSTITUTIONS AND PRACTICES.

This bill strengthens enforcement against unlicensed health care institutions and practices by increasing penalties and expanding the Department of Public Health's authority. It raises fines for operating unlicensed facilities from $100 to a class D felony with up to $5,000 per day in fines, and allows the department to seek court injunctions to stop unlicensed operations. The law also gives state boards the power to issue immediate summary orders to halt violations posing imminent public health risks and to impose civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day. These changes apply to anyone running unlicensed nursing homes, residential care facilities, or medical practices, while exempting financial institutions that take over property through foreclosure and grace periods for license renewals.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Connecticut · House Apr 22, 2026

HB 5225: AN ACT PROHIBITING CERTAIN LICENSEES AND REGISTRANTS FROM SELLING, DISPENSING, TRANSFERRING OR DELIVERING ANY DRUG OR DEVICE TO EXECUTE A COURT-IMPOSED SENTENCE OF DEATH.

HB 5225 prohibits pharmacies, drug distributors, and manufacturers from selling, dispensing, transferring, or delivering drugs or devices intended for lethal injection executions. It directly affects licensed healthcare entities (like hospitals, pharmacies, and medical suppliers) that might otherwise provide these items to correctional facilities. The law specifically bans such transactions unless the correctional facility has no knowledge the drugs will be used for execution. Exemptions cover routine pharmacy operations (e.g., emergency stock for nursing homes) but exclude any supply for execution purposes. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Connecticut · Senate Apr 22, 2026

SB 260: AN ACT CONCERNING ROAMING DOGS.

SB 260 prohibits dog owners from allowing dogs to roam freely on others' property or public highways without control (except during hunting season), directly affecting dog owners and keepers. It imposes escalating penalties: $350 for a first violation, $500 for subsequent violations, and a class C misdemeanor for a third violation within a year. The bill also specifies that owners who knowingly let a dangerous dog roam and cause injury face fines up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail. Key mechanisms include requiring owner control, establishing prima facie evidence for violations, and enabling animal control officers to seek court injunctions.

Bill results