Connecticut Bills

signed · Connecticut · Senate Apr 16, 2025

SB 1553: AN ACT EXCLUDING APRIL 20, 2025, FROM THE PERIOD OF EARLY VOTING PRIOR TO THE DAY OF A SPECIAL ELECTION AND SUSPENDING THE MUNICIPAL REVENUE SHARING ACCOUNT SPENDING CAP.

SB 1553 modifies Connecticut's voting rules for special elections and municipal funding. It excludes April 20, 2025, from the early voting period before special elections (which normally runs five days prior, excluding holidays), affecting voters participating in those elections. The bill also suspends a spending cap on municipal revenue sharing funds, allowing towns and cities to use more of these state funds for general operations without the previous limit. This directly impacts Connecticut municipalities receiving revenue sharing grants and voters in upcoming special elections.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Connecticut · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SB 1453: AN ACT CONCERNING EMERGENCY NONPROFIT ASSISTANCE.

SB 1453 establishes a $3 million emergency nonprofit assistance account funded from the General Fund (if a fiscal surplus is projected for 2025). It allocates specific grants to 20 Connecticut-based nonprofits providing direct services to vulnerable populations, including refugee support, LGBTQ+ youth programs, healthcare access, and crisis intervention. The bill directs the Chief Court Administrator to distribute $62,500 to most recipients and larger sums to key organizations like Planned Parenthood ($800,000) and the Hartford Health Collective ($387,500). All funds must be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, with administrative costs capped at $112,500. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on authorizing specific grant disbursements without creating new policy.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Immigration

signed · Connecticut · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 7163: AN ACT CONCERNING EMERGENCY GRANTS TO MUNICIPALITIES FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.

HB 7163 establishes a $40 million emergency grant program for municipalities to cover special education costs incurred during fiscal year 2025. The funds, drawn from the General Fund only if April 2025 revenue projections show a sufficient surplus, are distributed by the Commissioner of Education as grants to local governments. Municipalities must use the grants exclusively for special education and related services costs from the 2024-2025 fiscal year. This bill directly affects all Connecticut municipalities with special education programs by providing emergency financial assistance during a projected budget surplus. The grant mechanism is triggered by specific revenue reporting requirements and must be spent within the designated fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

signed · Connecticut · House Mar 12, 2025

HB 7067: AN ACT CONCERNING AN EMERGENCY CERTIFICATE OF NEED APPLICATION PROCESS FOR TRANSFERS OF OWNERSHIP OF HOSPITALS THAT HAVE FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION, THE ASSESSMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES FOR PROPERTY TAXATION, A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR VETERANS WHO ARE PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED AND FUNDING OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION EXCESS COST GRANT.

HB 7067 creates an emergency process for hospitals in bankruptcy to transfer ownership more quickly. It allows potential buyers to apply for an "emergency certificate of need" through a streamlined process managed by the Health Strategy Commissioner, requiring review within 60 days to assess impacts on healthcare access, cost, and quality. This directly affects hospitals seeking bankruptcy-related ownership transfers and their potential purchasers. The bill also includes unrelated provisions about vehicle property tax assessments, veteran tax exemptions, and special education funding, but the primary focus is the hospital ownership process.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

signed · Connecticut · House Mar 12, 2025

HB 7066: AN ACT CONCERNING INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES, THE PURCHASE AND OPERATION OF CERTAIN DRONES, GRANTS TO CERTAIN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND STUDENT ATHLETE COMPENSATION THROUGH ENDORSEMENT CONTRACTS AND REVENUE SHARING AGREEMENTS.

HB 7066 requires all Connecticut public schools to establish clear protocols for interactions between school staff and federal immigration authorities. It mandates that each school designate at least one administrator to handle such interactions, based on new Department of Education guidance. Key provisions include requiring staff to request immigration officials' identification, verify warrants, review warrant details, and consult legal counsel before sharing information. The bill also prohibits schools from disciplining staff who follow these protocols during immigration-related requests.

Topics ✓ Immigration

signed · Connecticut · Senate Jul 11, 2024

SB 501: AN ACT CONCERNING MOTOR VEHICLE ASSESSMENTS FOR PROPERTY TAXATION, INNOVATION BANKS, THE INTEREST ON CERTAIN TAX UNDERPAYMENTS, THE ASSESSMENT ON INSURERS, SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS, THE SOUTH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY CHARTER AND CERTAIN STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER PROCEDURES.

This bill updates how Connecticut assesses property taxes on motor vehicles and establishes stricter penalties for unpaid taxes. It requires tax collectors to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles when vehicle taxes are delinquent, which will prevent the DMV from issuing new registrations or renewing existing ones until the debt is cleared. Additionally, the legislation creates a standardized schedule for valuing vehicles based on depreciation and clarifies how electronic equipment and leased items are classified for tax purposes. These changes aim to streamline the assessment process and ensure that owners pay their local property taxes before they can legally register or renew their vehicles.