Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 5422: AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENA.

HB 5422 requires the University of Connecticut to study unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) using available resources, consulting with state agencies like the Department of Emergency Services and the Office of Military Affairs, as well as a nonprofit organization focused on UAP investigations. The study must examine the benefits of creating a state UAP research center and the resources needed to establish and operate it. The university must submit its findings to the legislature by July 1, 2027. This bill mandates a research effort but does not create new regulations or funding.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 386: AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF RANKED-CHOICE VOTING IN PARTY CAUCUSES, CONVENTIONS AND PRIMARIES, INCLUDING PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARIES, AND IN CERTAIN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

SB 386 requires the use of ranked-choice voting in certain elections starting in 2028, including most primaries (except presidential preference primaries until April 2028), municipal elections, and presidential preference primaries. This system allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd) rather than voting for just one candidate. Ballots must be designed to let voters rank all candidates, and tabulation occurs in rounds: the least-preferred candidate is eliminated each round until one candidate achieves a majority of votes. The bill applies to elections for single-office positions and mandates that the Secretary of the State approves ballot formats and instructions.

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 5002: AN ACT CONCERNING EDUCATION FUNDING, SPECIAL EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS.

HB 5002 updates Connecticut's foundational education funding formula. It sets a base funding amount of $11,525 per student for fiscal years ending June 30, 2024-2026, then adjusts this amount annually based on the higher of personal income growth or inflation (as defined in state law) for all subsequent years. This change directly affects public school districts statewide by altering how state education funding is calculated and distributed. The bill does not modify specific programs for special education or early childhood services, as referenced in its title, but updates the core funding mechanism used to determine district allocations. The new formula takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 289: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING OF THE QUALITY METRICS PROGRAM FOR NURSING HOMES.

SB 289 establishes a state-funded quality metrics program for nursing homes, directly affecting facilities serving Medicaid beneficiaries. It creates two funding pools: a $10 million annual pool for performance-based payments tied to quality metrics (using CMS measures and consumer surveys), and a $2.5-$5 million pool for facilities with over 75% Medicaid residents. Nursing homes must report quality metrics annually, with payments determined by performance scores - excluding facilities flagged for serious quality issues. The program begins October 1, 2026, with payments phased in over time using existing Medicaid appropriations.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 377: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PERSONAL INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR MILITARY FUNERAL HONOR GUARD DETAIL COMPENSATION.

SB 377 creates a personal income tax deduction in Connecticut for military personnel who receive compensation for serving on funeral honor guard details. It directly affects active-duty and reserve military members who are paid for this duty, allowing them to deduct that specific compensation from their taxable income. The deduction applies to amounts already counted as federal taxable income, reducing Connecticut tax liability for this income. The change takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 316: AN ACT CONCERNING THE TESTING OF SOILS AT CERTAIN SOLAR FACILITIES.

SB 316 requires Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to implement a biennial soil testing program at utility-scale solar facilities starting October 2026. The program tests for contaminants like lead, cadmium, arsenic, and zinc, and mandates that results be disclosed to property owners, remediation costs recovered from responsible parties, and public notifications including land use restrictions. Solar facility owners or operators will pay a biennial testing fee to cover program costs. This law directly affects large solar installations by adding environmental monitoring and remediation requirements to their operations.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 502: AN ACT CONCERNING DISCRETIONARY TRANSFER FROM JUVENILE COURT TO ADULT COURT.

This bill modifies how certain juvenile cases are handled by establishing automatic transfer rules from juvenile court to adult criminal court for specific serious offenses. It directly affects children aged 15 and older charged with capital felonies, class A or B felonies, and certain other violent crimes, requiring them to be tried in adult Superior Court unless exceptions apply. The law creates two transfer pathways: automatic transfers for the most serious charges and discretionary hearings for other offenses where a prosecutor must request a transfer and a judge must determine it serves the best interests of the child and the public. The bill also allows cases transferred to adult court to be returned to juvenile court before a verdict or guilty plea if good cause is shown, and sets specific timeframes for hearings, particularly requiring faster hearings for serious firearm offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 504: AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAWS OF THIS STATE.

This bill establishes a working group to review and study the state's criminal procedure laws, specifically examining Title 54 of the general statutes. The group will be composed of six members appointed by various legislative leaders, including the Speaker, Senate president pro tempore, and both majority and minority leaders from each chamber. The working group must submit a report with its findings and recommendations to the judiciary committee by January 1, 2027, or when the group completes its work, whichever comes later. This measure creates a temporary committee tasked with analyzing existing laws rather than making immediate changes to criminal procedure.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 505: AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF THE LAWS OF THIS STATE CONCERNING ISSUES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

This bill establishes a working group to review state laws related to criminal justice, specifically examining titles 18, 53, 53a, and 54 of the general statutes. The group will be composed of six members appointed by various legislative leaders, including the Speaker, Senate president pro tempore, and both majority and minority leaders from each chamber. The working group must submit its findings and recommendations to the judiciary committee by January 1, 2027, after which it will dissolve. This measure creates a temporary committee tasked with analyzing existing criminal justice laws and proposing potential legislative changes, without specifying what those changes should be.

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 13, 2026

HB 5490: AN ACT CONCERNING REQUIREMENTS FOR SOBER LIVING HOMES OPERATING IN THE STATE.

This bill establishes new requirements for sober living homes operating in the state, which are defined as alcohol-free and drug-free residences for unrelated adults recovering from substance use disorders without formal treatment services. The law mandates that certified homes report their status and operational details to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, maintain opioid antagonists on-site, provide annual opioid antagonist training to residents when needed, and submit annual reports on staffing, capacity, and compliance history. Additionally, operators are prohibited from advertising their homes as treatment facilities or making specific outcome claims, and must clearly state on their websites that they provide supportive housing rather than licensed treatment services. These provisions aim to increase transparency and standardize operations while clarifying the distinction between sober living homes and formal substance use disorder treatment facilities.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Connecticut · House Apr 13, 2026

HB 5166: AN ACT CONCERNING SOCIAL WORK LICENSURE.

HB 5166 updates Connecticut's social work licensure rules, effective July 1, 2026. It requires master social workers to hold a master's degree from an accredited or candidate-status social work program (with specific timeline limits) and pass a national exam, while clinical social workers must have a master's or doctorate from an accredited program, 3,000 hours of post-master's experience (including 100 supervised hours), and pass a clinical exam. The bill also creates pathways for out-of-state license holders to practice via endorsement if their state's requirements match Connecticut's standards, and mandates exam accommodations for applicants with disabilities. These changes directly affect social workers seeking initial licensure or moving to Connecticut from other states.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 236: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CONNECTICUT AIRPORT AUTHORITY REGARDING THE LICENSURE AND REGISTRATION OF AIRPORTS AND OTHER AIR NAVIGATION FACILITIES.

SB 236 establishes a new licensing and registration system for airports and air navigation facilities in Connecticut. It requires facilities expecting more than 36 annual landings/takeoffs to obtain a license (costing $300, renewable every 3 years) and those with 36 or fewer to register (costing $100, renewable every 3 years), both requiring certification of compliance with laws. Municipalities operating their own airports are exempt from these fees. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and includes penalties for operating without proper licensing/registration (class C misdemeanor). This directly affects airport operators, particularly small facilities with lower traffic volumes.

Bill results