Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 5274: AN ACT CONCERNING STATE MARSHALS ELIGIBILITY FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION WHILE PERFORMING DUTIES ON BEHALF OF THE STATE AND ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE WHILE OUT ON CERTAIN LEAVE.

HB 5274 requires the Workers' Compensation Commission to study the state's workers' compensation system and submit a report with findings and potential recommendations to the legislature by January 1, 2027. The bill does not change existing workers' compensation laws but mandates this review process. The study will directly involve the Workers' Compensation Commission, and its findings may inform future legislative action affecting workers covered by the system. This is a procedural bill focused solely on initiating a review, not implementing policy changes.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 261: AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSFER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION UPON THE DEATH OF THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE.

SB 261 simplifies transferring a vehicle registration after an owner's death. It allows the owner to designate a beneficiary on their registration certificate, who can then apply to take ownership within 60 days of the owner's death by submitting a death certificate, proof of identity, and a $20 fee. The bill also lets close relatives (spouse, child, parent, sibling) continue the registration for the remaining term by paying a $20 fee, instead of requiring immediate transfer. These provisions apply to registrations that would otherwise expire upon the owner's death, without affecting existing liens on the vehicle.

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 5031: AN ACT MAKING DEFICIENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2026.

HB 5031 allocates $70,010,000 from the General Fund to cover budget shortfalls for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, directly affecting state agencies. Key provisions include $14.5 million for the Department of Housing’s homeless services, $5.5 million for mental health personal services, $5.775 million for emergency services, and $6 million for inmate medical services under Corrections. The bill funds ongoing operations and critical programs rather than creating new policies. It is a routine budget adjustment to address existing fiscal gaps, not a new legislative initiative.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 5033: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EDUCATION.

HB 5033 implements the Governor's education budget recommendations by setting new rules for tuition charged to local school districts for students attending interdistrict magnet schools. It establishes a 58% cap on tuition rates for fiscal years 2025-2027 (based on 2024 rates) and requires annual adjustments for future years using the consumer price index (excluding food/energy), with changes published by the Department of Education. The bill directly affects interdistrict magnet schools, local school districts paying tuition, and the Commissioner of Education, who must verify tuition rates and withhold funds if districts fail to pay. These changes aim to standardize funding for magnet schools while linking tuition increases to inflation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 5412: AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE MILITARY DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACCOUNT.

HB 5412 establishes a new "Military Department Emergency Response Account" to cover immediate costs when federal emergency funds aren't available. The bill transfers $500,000 from the existing Military Relief Fund to this account, which will roll over year to year without expiring. The account funds state military and emergency response efforts during natural disasters or civil emergencies, requiring Governor approval after consulting with the Emergency Services Commissioner. This directly affects the Military Department and state emergency response resources by creating a dedicated, sustainable funding source for urgent situations.

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 5415: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A VETERANS' AND MILITARY HEALTHCARE OMBUDSMAN FOR THE COORDINATION AND OVERSIGHT OF STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES IN NAVIGATING FEDERAL HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR VETERANS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

HB 5415 establishes a Veterans' Health Care Ombudsman within the Office of Governmental Accountability to help veterans and their caregivers navigate the federal VA health care system. The ombudsman will resolve complaints about access to VA benefits, compile data on barriers, provide education about VA resources, and make recommendations to improve coordination. The Governor must appoint an expert in veterans' health care to lead the office, which will develop an educational course and submit annual reports starting in 2028. This bill directly affects veterans eligible for VA health care and their caregivers who face challenges accessing federal benefits through state and local support systems.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 388: AN ACT CONCERNING THE MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT AND MOHEGAN FUND.

SB 388 establishes the "Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Fund" as a permanent state fund to manage payments received from Connecticut's Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and Mohegan Tribe. The bill requires transferring $152.38 million annually from Connecticut's General Fund to this new fund starting July 1, 2026, using revenue from tribal agreements. Funds will be distributed to Connecticut towns through the Office of Policy and Management following existing grant guidelines (Section 3-55j), with payments made in three installments each year. This directly affects Connecticut towns receiving these grants, which were previously managed under a different funding mechanism.

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 5353: AN ACT REQUIRING DATA TRANSPARENCY FOR SELF-DIRECTED HOME CARE PROGRAMS.

HB 5353 requires the Department of Social Services to submit quarterly reports starting July 1, 2026, on self-directed home care programs funded through Medicaid. The reports must include detailed data on fiscal intermediaries managing these programs, such as timesheet processing error rates, penalties for payroll delays, customer service response times, and communication logs with consumers and personal care attendants. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries, personal care attendants, and the organizations administering payroll for these programs. The bill aims to increase transparency by mandating specific, measurable data points that were previously not systematically reported to oversight committees.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 390: AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF MICROTRANSIT.

SB 390 requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Transportation to study microtransit services by January 1, 2027. The study must examine suitable service areas, expected usage, implementation timing, and funding options for this technology-enabled, on-demand transportation model using multipassenger vehicles. This procedural bill does not create new policy but mandates a factual analysis to inform future transportation decisions. (Bill text: Section 1, effective October 1, 2026; Statement of Purpose.)

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 5389: AN ACT CONCERNING A PROVIDER TOOLKIT FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF MENOPAUSE, PERIMENOPAUSE AND POSTMENOPAUSE.

HB 5389 requires Connecticut's Department of Public Health to create a practical, evidence-based toolkit for healthcare providers treating menopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause symptoms. The toolkit, developed with UConn Health Center's input, will cover symptom identification, treatment options (including hormone therapies), insurance coverage details, and continuing education modules. It directly affects providers in fields like obstetrics, primary care, mental health, and dentistry who diagnose or treat these conditions. The toolkit must be distributed to all relevant providers by January 1, 2027, with development beginning by October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 5425: AN ACT CONCERNING EXPENDITURES OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS OTHER THAN THE GENERAL FUND.

HB 5425 requires Connecticut's Office of Fiscal Analysis to review state budget appropriations from funds other than the General Fund for the 2026-2027 biennium. The office must identify spending areas with 10% or greater increases compared to the prior biennium and submit findings to the Appropriations committee by February 1, 2027. This procedural bill directly affects state agencies by mandating a review of non-General Fund spending patterns, with no changes to actual funding levels or policy. The review process is scheduled to begin July 1, 2026, and focuses solely on identifying spending trends.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 389: AN ACT CONCERNING YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING FUNDS.

SB 389 updates Connecticut's youth employment funding system by requiring the Labor Department to distribute state funds to five regional workforce development boards based on each region's percentage of disadvantaged youth, as defined by federal standards and measured using U.S. Department of Labor census data. The bill allocates specific percentages of funds (e.g., 32.5% to Capitol Workforce Partners, 22.5% to The Workforce Alliance) to these regional boards. It also includes a safeguard preventing any single board from losing more than 15% of its annual allocation if census data changes, with other boards' funds adjusted proportionally to maintain this cap. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting regional workforce boards serving Connecticut youth.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results