Connecticut Bills

passed · Connecticut · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 5035: AN ACT REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO BAN CELLULAR PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM.

HB 5035 requires all public K-12 school districts in the state to ban students from using wireless communication devices (like cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches) during the school day, except for instructional purposes or specific exceptions. The law mandates devices be powered off and stored securely, with exceptions for students needing them under individualized education plans (IEPs) or for medical reasons approved by healthcare providers. It also prohibits access to social media during school hours unless for classroom instruction. School districts must create and share policies with parents about these rules, including emergency communication procedures and disciplinary steps for violations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Education ✗ Technology

Dave Rutigliano (R) Savet Constantine (D) Nick Gauthier (D) Julie Kushner (D) Jimmy Sánchez (D)

passed · Connecticut · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 5226: AN ACT CONCERNING MOBILE MANUFACTURED HOMES AND MOBILE MANUFACTURED HOME PARKS.

HB 5226 requires Connecticut municipalities with populations over 15,000 to establish fair rent commissions by January 1, 2028, and all municipalities containing mobile manufactured home parks must join a regional fair rent commission. These commissions will handle rent complaints for non-seasonal mobile home spaces, investigate excessive charges, and hold public hearings to address issues affecting mobile home residents and park owners. The bill creates a framework for regional commissions (managed through regional councils) and mandates specific member requirements, including resident representation. It directly affects mobile home park residents, landlords, and local governments responsible for implementing the new commission structure. The changes take effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Housing

passed · Connecticut · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 5324: AN ACT CONCERNING EDUCATION MANDATE RELIEF.

HB 5324 repeals several existing education-related mandates in Connecticut. It removes requirements for schools to implement human trafficking training for staff (previously mandated for educators, law enforcement, and healthcare workers), mandates for school composting of organic waste, and a rule allowing school districts to exclude certain insurance losses from budget calculations. The bill directly affects public and nonpublic schools, district administrators, and school personnel who previously had to comply with these specific requirements. This legislation aims to reduce administrative burdens by eliminating these statutory obligations, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Education

passed · Connecticut · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 5522: AN ACT CONCERNING THE SEWAGE RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT AND REQUIRING A REPORT CONCERNING WELL CONTAMINATION PROTOCOLS.

This bill strengthens Connecticut's Sewage Right-to-Know Act by requiring faster reporting and public notification of sewage spills and bypasses. It mandates that sewage treatment plant operators submit electronic reports to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection within two hours of an incident, with details including location, volume, and public health concerns. The bill also requires operators to notify local officials and the public within two hours when a spill may impact people or waterways, and establishes a real-time alert system for residents to receive notifications via text or email. Additionally, the Department must publish annual summaries of sewage spills and enforcement actions on its website.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · Connecticut · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 5508: AN ACT CONCERNING HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

This bill updates Connecticut's historic preservation laws to require public hearings with live web broadcasts for all historic district commission review applications, ensuring greater transparency in the approval process. It also clarifies appeal procedures, allowing aggrieved parties to challenge commission decisions in superior court within 15 days using established zoning board appeal processes. Additionally, the bill exempts property owned by state agencies, municipalities, and nonprofit higher education institutions from certain preservation requirements while requiring municipalities to submit renovation plans for non-exempt properties to receive nonbinding commission opinions. Finally, the legislation defines specific terms related to historic structures and rehabilitation to clarify eligibility for tax incentives and other preservation-related benefits.

passed · Connecticut · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 5501: AN ACT EXPANDING PERMISSIBLE USES FOR TOWN AID ROAD GRANT FUNDS.

This bill expands how Connecticut towns can use Town Aid Road grant money, allowing them to purchase and maintain equipment like snow plows, street sweepers, and vegetation management tools in addition to building and repairing roads. The legislation directs $12.5 million annually from the Department of Transportation to these road-related projects, including new provisions for climate resilience measures such as flood protection and extreme heat mitigation. Towns that receive these funds must submit annual reports on how they spend the money, or face a ten percent reduction in future grants. The Office of Policy and Management retains the ability to approve alternative uses of the funds beyond those explicitly listed in the bill.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

passed · Connecticut · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 347: AN ACT INCREASING THE THRESHOLD AMOUNT FOR FELONY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FRAUD.

SB 347 increases the felony threshold for unemployment fraud from $500 to $2,000. Individuals who fraudulently obtain unemployment benefits totaling more than $2,000 will now face a class D felony charge, while amounts up to $2,000 will result in a class A misdemeanor. This change, effective October 1, 2026, directly affects people committing unemployment benefit fraud by altering the severity of penalties based on the amount fraudulently obtained. The bill modifies Section 31-273(f) of the general statutes to reflect this higher threshold.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 27, 2026

SJ 72: RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE CLAIMS COMMISSIONER'S COMPENSATION AWARD TO MACEO STREATER WITH RESPECT TO HIS CLAIM AGAINST THE STATE FOR WRONGFUL INCARCERATION.

This bill confirms a compensation award of $5,752,798.00 to Maceo Streater for his claim against the state regarding wrongful incarceration. The legislation validates a decision made by the Claims Commissioner, directing that the payment be drawn from the General Fund's adjudicated claims account. By passing this resolution, the General Assembly formally approves the financial settlement without altering the underlying facts of the case.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 27, 2026

SB 476: AN ACT CONCERNING VISITATION POLICIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION AND THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS HELD IN TRUST BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION TO PERSONS WHO WERE FORMERLY INCARCERATED.

This bill requires the Department of Correction to allow incarcerated individuals housed with the general population to have at least three in-person visits per week and mandates that all communication services, including voice, video, and email, be provided free of charge to inmates. It also prohibits the department from using communication services to replace authorized in-person visits and ensures that the state cannot profit from providing these communication services. Additionally, the bill establishes a process for releasing any remaining funds from an inmate's trust account upon their release, allowing the money to be disbursed via cash, check, or electronic card without any fees. These changes aim to improve visitation access and ensure formerly incarcerated individuals receive their held funds without cost.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 27, 2026

SB 462: AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT.

This bill creates a new Office of Government Oversight to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in state agencies and their contractors. The office will evaluate how government agencies manage personnel, property, and funds while also assessing the efficiency of private entities that provide government services. An executive director will lead the office and be appointed through a bipartisan committee process requiring legislative confirmation, with the role lasting five years. The director will have broad powers to conduct inspections, access records, issue subpoenas, and make recommendations to improve government operations. The office will coordinate with existing internal auditors within agencies while maintaining their current assignments to those agencies.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 27, 2026

SB 343: AN ACT CONCERNING FEES CHARGED FOR CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS CHECKS.

SB 343 sets new fees for criminal history record checks in Connecticut, primarily affecting individuals applying for pardons and certain professionals. It establishes specific charges (e.g., $36 for a name search, $75 for a criminal history check) while requiring the state to waive the $75 criminal history check fee for pardon applicants until July 1, 2029, and allowing fee waivers after that date for applicants demonstrating financial need. The bill also prohibits third-party contractors from charging convenience fees for pardon-related checks during these waiver periods. Volunteer fire departments, ambulance services, and government agencies are exempt from these fees. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 27, 2026

HB 5036: AN ACT STREAMLINING RESIDENTIAL SOLAR PERMITTING AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE.

HB 5036 creates a standardized, automated online system (the "smart solar permitting platform") to streamline building permits for residential solar installations under 12 kilowatts. The bill requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Administrative Services to develop or implement this platform by July 2028, enabling instant permit issuance for compliant rooftop solar systems after automated review against building codes. Municipalities must adopt this platform or an equivalent alternative by January 2029, update fee schedules to reflect reduced administrative costs, and submit compliance reports. This directly affects homeowners installing small solar systems and local governments handling solar permitting, reducing approval times from days or weeks to near-instantaneous for eligible projects.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Technology

Bill results