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Connecticut Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 25,009 Active 13 In committee 20,814 Passed 2,253 Signed 1,925 Failed 111

signed · Connecticut · Senate Jun 5, 2024

SB 461: AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONVEYANCE OF A PARCEL OF STATE LAND IN THE TOWN OF SOMERS.

This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Correction to transfer a three-acre state-owned parcel in the town of Somers to the local government for public safety purposes. The transfer will only occur after the State Properties Review Board approves the deal, and the town must agree to keep the land for safety uses or risk having it returned to the state. Additionally, the state will retain a specific easement on the property to allow the fire department to use it as a staging area.

signed · Connecticut · Senate Jun 5, 2024

SB 457: AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECONVEYANCE OF A PARCEL OF STATE LAND IN THE CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.

This bill directs the state to return a ten-acre parcel of land in Middletown to the Shiloh Baptist Community Development Corporation, which must then use the property for moderate-income housing and public recreational or community facilities. The land cannot be used for religious teaching or practices, and the transfer requires approval from the State Properties Review Board. If the organization fails to develop the housing and facilities by June 30, 2029, or if the project does not meet nondiscrimination requirements, the land will revert back to the state.

signed · Connecticut · Senate Jun 5, 2024

SB 217: AN ACT CONCERNING A UNIVERSAL PATIENT INTAKE FORM FOR RECIPIENTS OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN.

This bill requires providers of behavioral health services for children to use a standardized intake form when starting treatment for a patient or their parent. The law mandates that the Connecticut Department of Public Health create this form by July 1, 2025, after a working group of health officials, providers, and parents recommends its content. The form will ask about the child's medical history, current diagnoses, and family background to help providers better understand the patient's needs. Once the form is finalized, all relevant providers must use it, though they are allowed to add extra questions if necessary.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 5, 2024

HB 5237: AN ACT REQUIRING STUDENT SURVEYS DURING EVALUATION OF A PRIVATE CAREER SCHOOL TO RENEW A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZATION.

This bill requires private career schools to include student surveys when applying to renew their operating licenses. Starting in January 2025, an evaluation team must ask students to rate the quality of the courses they took and how well the school prepared them for the job or license they advertised. The survey results will become a mandatory part of the state's review process for these schools, aiming to gather direct feedback from students on their educational experience.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 5, 2024

HB 5338: AN ACT CONCERNING THE KIRKLYN M. KERR PROGRAM.

This bill requires the president of the University of Connecticut to secure spots at accredited out-of-state veterinary schools for up to five state residents each year. To support this initiative, the legislation appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to the university for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and are designed to expand educational opportunities for Connecticut residents in veterinary medicine.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 5, 2024

HB 5363: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

This bill establishes a new Planning Commission for Higher Education in Connecticut to develop and oversee a strategic master plan for the state's colleges and universities. The commission will be composed of voting members representing public and private institutions, faculty, and various local industries, along with nonvoting ex-officio members from state agencies. Its primary task is to update the existing 2015 strategic plan by analyzing current demographic and workforce trends to guide future higher education policy. The commission will operate without compensation, use available state funds to hire consultants if needed, and rely on legislative committee staff for administrative support. Initial appointments are scheduled to begin by June 1, 2024, with the first meeting expected by July 1, 2024.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 5, 2024

HB 5350: AN ACT CONCERNING THE ENFORCEMENT OF BOATING LAWS ON BODIES OF WATER NEAR THE RHODE ISLAND, MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW YORK BORDERS.

This bill authorizes law enforcement officers from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York to arrest individuals for boating or fishing violations that occur on the waters bordering these states. It allows officers from any of the three states to make arrests in the bordering waters and transfer the arrested person to the state where the violation took place for prosecution. The law specifically applies to interior bodies of fresh water located between Rhode Island and its neighboring states.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 5, 2024

HB 5418: AN ACT CONCERNING ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN A PRETRIAL FAMILY VIOLENCE EDUCATION PROGRAM.

This bill expands eligibility for a pretrial family violence education program to include individuals charged with certain crimes involving risks to children, provided the court finds good cause to allow their participation. Under the new provisions, defendants must agree to have their trial timeline paused and waive their right to a speedy trial while attending the program and complying with court-ordered conditions for up to two years. If a participant successfully completes the education program and meets all requirements, the court may dismiss the charges and erase the associated criminal records. The legislation also requires courts to notify victims when a defendant requests placement in the program and gives them a chance to be heard before the decision is made.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 5, 2024

HB 5407: AN ACT DEFINING "DEPENDENT CHILD" FOR PURPOSES OF THE STATE CODE OF ETHICS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND CONCERNING THE EXERCISE OF JURISDICTION OVER NONRESIDENTS BY THE OFFICE OF STATE ETHICS.

This bill updates the State Code of Ethics for public officials by defining a "dependent child" as a son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter who qualifies as a dependent under federal tax laws. It also clarifies the authority of the Office of State Ethics to investigate nonresidents, limiting such jurisdiction to cases where the nonresident or their agent makes an illegal payment to a public official or seeks prequalification as a lobbyist. These changes aim to standardize how family relationships are counted for ethical reporting and to specify when out-of-state individuals can be held accountable under state ethics rules.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 5, 2024

HB 5466: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PERIOD OF TIME DURING WHICH ELECTIONS-RELATED CRIMES MAY BE PROSECUTED.

This bill extends the time limit for prosecuting election-related crimes by allowing authorities to pursue cases for six months after the State Elections Enforcement Commission refers evidence to prosecutors, whichever deadline is later. It applies to offenses involving violations of election laws and takes effect on October 1, 2024, covering both future crimes and certain past cases where the original prosecution window had not yet closed. The change ensures that referrals made after April 1, 2024, do not expire prematurely, giving law enforcement a defined period to act on new information.

signed · Connecticut · House Jun 5, 2024

HB 5239: AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PATH PROGRAM AND AMENDING THE CONNECTICUT COLLEGIATE AWARENESS AND PREPARATION PROGRAM.

This bill creates the Path Program to help middle and high school students from low-income families and first-generation college students prepare for higher education. It allows nonprofit organizations to compete for state grants alongside colleges to provide skills development and motivation to these students. The program uses a competitive application process with a March deadline, and funds are awarded for one-year periods starting in August. Additionally, the bill appropriates $4.8 million to the Office of Higher Education to support this initiative for the 2025 fiscal year.

signed · Connecticut · Senate Jun 5, 2024

SB 292: AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF PFAS IN CERTAIN PRODUCTS.

This bill restricts the intentional addition of PFAS chemicals to a wide range of consumer products, including mattresses, clothing, cosmetics, and cleaning supplies, effective October 1, 2024. It defines specific categories such as children's products, outdoor apparel, and cookware to clarify which items are subject to the new limits while excluding certain uses deemed essential for health and safety. Manufacturers must ensure that PFAS are not deliberately included in these goods unless they are unavoidable for the product's function and no safer alternative exists. The legislation also establishes clear definitions for terms like "intentionally added" and "currently unavoidable use" to guide regulatory enforcement.