Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 5486: AN ACT CONCERNING A DIAPER PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM.

This bill establishes a state grant program to provide diapers at no cost to children three years old or younger from households with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. The program would be administered by the Department of Social Services and funded through a one million dollar appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. Funds would support partnerships between hospital organizations and nonprofit diaper distributors to deliver diapers statewide. The bill also requires recipients to submit reports on distribution numbers, unmet need estimates, health impacts, and future funding recommendations by September 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 5150: AN ACT CONCERNING AUTHORIZATION OF STATE GRANT COMMITMENTS FOR SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS AND REVISIONS TO THE SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT STATUTES.

HB 5150 authorizes the state to commit $220 million in grants for six specific school building projects in Milford, Norwich, Seymour, Stamford, Waterbury, and Westport, based on a priority list approved by a legislative committee. The bill also revises school construction statutes to increase reimbursement percentages for districts with enrollment growing 20% or more over 10 years, capping the increase at 100% of project costs. These changes affect eligible school districts by providing direct funding for building projects and adjusting reimbursement rules based on enrollment trends. The grants are effective from passage, while the enrollment-based reimbursement change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 5164: AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF FUNDS IN THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT FUND.

HB 5164 changes how Connecticut allocates funds from its Tobacco Settlement Fund. Starting July 1, 2026, it requires $12 million annually (until 2025) and $32 million annually (from 2027 onward) to be directed to the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund for tobacco prevention and control programs. The remaining funds from the settlement are allocated to the state’s General Fund. This aligns with CDC-recommended funding levels for tobacco control initiatives, directly affecting public health programs aimed at reducing tobacco use.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 238: AN ACT CONCERNING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES RESPONSE TIME TRANSPARENCY.

SB 238 requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Public Health to create a public online dashboard tracking emergency medical services (EMS) response times. The dashboard will display data broken down by location, call type (like heart attacks or injuries), and time of day, while protecting patient privacy. This data will be used to help direct federal grant funding toward communities needing the most improvement in EMS response times. The law affects EMS providers (who must report data), the public (who can access the transparency tool), and state agencies (which will use the data for grant applications). It takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 5092: AN ACT PROTECTING RENTERS FROM RENT INCREASES UPON THE TRANSFER OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.

HB 5092 prevents landlords from imposing sudden rent hikes when a rental property is sold to a new owner. It directly affects renters in properties transferred within the previous 12 months and landlords who purchase such properties. The bill caps rent increases for these properties at either 5% or the annual consumer price index (CPI) rise - whichever is higher - unless the new owner completed major renovations costing over $50,000 per unit. If renovations were done, the new owner must justify a higher increase through a fair rent commission review; otherwise, the standard cap applies. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 154: AN ACT REQUIRING CERTAIN AGENCIES TO REPORT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROGRAMS SERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

SB 154 requires Connecticut's Department of Social Services and Department of Developmental Services to report on costs for programs serving children and families. The reports, due by January 1, 2027, must detail current program costs, projected costs if eligibility expanded to include families above the federal poverty level but below the ALICE Threshold (a United Way-defined financial survival standard), and the number of additional people who would qualify. The bill does not change current eligibility rules but mandates analysis to inform future policy decisions about program expansion. It directly affects state agencies managing family and child services and the legislative committees overseeing these programs.

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 5357: AN ACT CONCERNING RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME RATES, FAIR RENT AND ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES.

HB 5357 revises Connecticut's reimbursement rules for residential care homes receiving state funding. It sets a new $75,000 annual base salary for facility administrators (effective October 2025), establishes a minimum daily reimbursement rate of $3.10, and adjusts how property additions are compensated. These changes apply to all residential care homes participating in the state's funding program. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 5423: AN ACT CONCERNING JUVENILE JUSTICE INITIATIVES.

HB 5423 requires the executive director of the Court Support Services Division to submit a report by July 1, 2026, to judicial and appropriations committees on the previous year's usage of court support services and recommendations for expanding these services. The bill does not create new programs or change existing laws but mandates this annual report to inform future decisions about juvenile justice support resources. It directly affects the Judicial Branch's Court Support Services Division and the relevant legislative committees. This procedural bill focuses solely on requiring transparency and planning, not on implementing new policies.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 387: AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTION ADMINISTRATION OVERSIGHT.

SB 387 establishes a Municipal Election Accountability Board within the Secretary of State's office to review election administration in Connecticut municipalities. The board will examine procedures for early voting, absentee voting, same-day registration, and election official duties when irregularities are suspected, based on referrals from the Secretary of State or State Elections Enforcement Commission. It consists of 12 members, including the Secretary of State as chair, election law experts, certified election officials from different political parties, and appointed representatives from town clerks and municipal leaders. The board must hold monthly meetings starting in 2027 to conduct these reviews, without altering existing election laws or the Secretary of State’s core responsibilities.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 329: AN ACT EXPANDING MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY FOR OLDER ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.

SB 329 expands Medicaid eligibility for older adults with disabilities by raising the income limit to 159% of the benefit amount for people with no income under the temporary family assistance program. The bill specifically excludes VA Aid and Attendance pensions for veterans and their spouses, and Social Security benefits for disabled adult children, from being counted as income when determining eligibility. This change, effective July 1, 2026, will make Medicaid coverage available to more older adults with disabilities who previously faced income barriers. The bill does not alter asset requirements for this group.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 380: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK FORCE TO SUPPORT PROMISE PROGRAMS IN THE STATE.

SB 380 establishes the Office of Postsecondary Success within the Department of Education to support scholarship programs for students pursuing higher education. The office will fund existing "promise programs" (scholarships paired with mentoring and career support) at $3,000 per enrolled student, require annual reporting on student outcomes like graduation and job placement, and work to create eight new promise programs by 2031, prioritizing students in designated alliance districts. It also mandates tracking student data - including net cost of attendance, demographics, and academic progress - to improve program effectiveness. The bill directly affects students in Connecticut’s public colleges and universities, particularly those from low-to-moderate income backgrounds.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 350: AN ACT INCREASING THE PER DIEM RATE FOR MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF LABOR RELATIONS AND COMPENSATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION.

SB 350 increases compensation for members of two Connecticut state boards. It raises the per diem rate for State Board of Labor Relations members from $150 to $300 per day and increases payments for Board of Mediation and Arbitration members from $325 to $500 per day, plus an additional $500 for preparing written decisions. The bill also increases payments for panel session attendance from $200 to $300 per member. These changes take effect October 1, 2026, directly affecting the state board members who serve on these labor dispute resolution bodies.

Bill results