Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5556: AN ACT CONCERNING COMPLEX CARE SERVICE DELIVERY FOR YOUNG PERSONS WITH CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY OR AUTISM DIAGNOSES.

This bill directs state agencies responsible for children, developmental services, education, social services, and mental health to create a coordinated system for young adults aged 17 to 22 with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including autism, who also have behavioral health needs. The system requires agencies to sign agreements to identify eligible individuals, calculate necessary resources, inventory residential behavioral health options, and explore psychiatric residential treatment facilities through requests for proposals or state property. Agencies must submit a joint report by October 1, 2026, detailing funding needs, progress made, and recommendations for closing service gaps to the General Assembly committees.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 441: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY LABOR LAW VIOLATIONS BY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES AND OTHER BUSINESS ENTITIES.

This bill requires the Labor Commissioner to conduct a study on whether members of limited liability companies and other business entities can bypass labor laws by creating separate business structures. The study must be completed by January 1, 2027, and will involve collaboration with state officials including the Secretary of the State and the Commissioner of Revenue Services. The final report will be submitted to the General Assembly's labor committee and may include recommendations for new legislation. This measure focuses on gathering information about potential legal workarounds rather than changing current labor laws immediately.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 450: AN ACT CONCERNING THE STANDARD OF CARE FOR IMMUNIZATION.

This bill establishes a standardized immunization care protocol for Connecticut residents, requiring the state Public Health Commissioner to create and publish guidelines based on recommendations from national health organizations. It mandates that healthcare providers follow these established schedules when administering vaccines to children and adults, while also ensuring vaccines are provided at no cost to eliminate financial barriers to vaccination. The legislation creates an immunization program that will distribute vaccines to providers, offer educational materials to parents, track vaccination status for children in state programs, and utilize available federal and state funding to support these efforts. Additionally, the bill clarifies procurement rules for vaccines used under federal programs, ensuring they align with the newly established state standard of care.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5559: AN ACT CONCERNING A BASIC HEALTH PROGRAM.

This bill establishes a new Basic Health Program in Connecticut to provide health coverage to state residents aged under 65 who earn between 133% and 200% of the federal poverty level but do not currently qualify for state medical assistance programs. The program would be funded primarily through federal subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, with the state seeking federal approval to administer it starting October 1, 2026. A working group comprising state officials, legislative leaders, and health insurance experts would design the program, while the Commissioner of Social Services would coordinate its administration and submit regular reports to the legislature. Any excess federal funds received would be used to reduce premiums, lower cost-sharing, or provide additional benefits to eligible participants.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 494: AN ACT CONCERNING PRESCRIPTION DRUG SHORTAGES, PRESCRIPTION DRUG REBATES AND PROHIBITED MANUFACTURER PRACTICES CONCERNING CERTAIN PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

This bill establishes a bipartisan task force to study prescription drug shortages and develop strategies to prevent them. The task force will include representatives from healthcare providers, insurance companies, tribal leaders, and state agencies, who will meet annually to identify at-risk medications and recommend solutions. It also expands an existing state program to help local companies increase production capacity for essential drugs. Additionally, the bill maintains existing rebate requirements for pharmaceutical manufacturers selling drugs covered by state medical assistance programs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5487: AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION WORKING GROUP AND INCREASING STATE ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND DEAF.

This bill creates a three-year pilot program to train high school students as American Sign Language interpreters and increases funding for specialized services for individuals who are both blind or visually impaired and deaf. The program will provide up to $1 million to fund high school courses in ASL at select school districts, which must partner with colleges to offer college credit for the training. Additionally, the bill raises the annual state assistance limit for community inclusion services for dual-blind and deaf individuals from $10,000 to $14,000 per person. These changes aim to build a future workforce of interpreters and improve support for people with multiple disabilities.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5470: AN ACT CONCERNING HYBRID SCHOOL BUSES.

This bill updates Connecticut's school bus regulations to allow hybrid buses alongside zero-emission and alternative fuel vehicles, aiming to reduce emissions while providing flexibility for school districts. It defines hybrid school buses as vehicles that combine a combustion engine with an electric motor and battery system, and establishes a grant program to help municipalities, school districts, and operators purchase these buses and related charging infrastructure. The legislation creates a new state account to fund administrative costs and technical assistance for transitioning to cleaner school bus fleets, with priority given to projects serving environmental justice communities. Key deadlines require 100% of school buses to be zero-emission, alternative fuel, or hybrid by January 1, 2040, though the bill includes proposed deletions that would have required 100% zero-emission buses by 2030 in certain areas.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 499: AN ACT CONCERNING MEDICAID RATE INCREASES.

This bill requires the Department of Social Services to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for healthcare providers starting July 1, 2026, with the goal of reaching at least 75% of Medicare rates by June 30, 2029. The law establishes a five-state benchmark using average rates from Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Oregon to determine increases for services without corresponding Medicare rates. Additionally, the bill mandates annual rate adjustments after 2029 based on Medicare rate comparisons, the five-state benchmark, or changes in the Medicare Economic Index to account for inflation. A separate oversight council must review provider reimbursement rates annually and report to the legislature with recommendations on necessary funding to maintain adequate compensation for healthcare providers.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5483: AN ACT CONCERNING FERTILITY CARE UNDER THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.

This bill expands Medicaid coverage to include fertility diagnostic care, fertility preservation services, and infertility treatments for individuals enrolled in the program. Effective January 1, 2027, the state would cover diagnostic tests, medications for ovulation enhancement, and up to six cycles of intrauterine insemination, while also funding storage of frozen eggs or embryos until age 30 or for five years, whichever is longer. The legislation prohibits waiting periods, discrimination based on disability or prior treatment history, and restrictions related to donor gametes, ensuring equal access regardless of age, race, gender identity, or other protected characteristics. Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioner of Social Services to consult with federal officials about potential future coverage for in-vitro fertilization and submit a report by July 2027 outlining options and funding needs for that service.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5473: AN ACT CONCERNING THE SATISFACTION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS QUALITY OF SERVICE STANDARDS AND SETTLEMENTS IN CONTESTED PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY.

This bill updates definitions and procedures for how the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority monitors telecommunications service quality. It clarifies terms like "facilities-based carrier" and "competitive service" to ensure consistent language when regulating different types of telecom providers. The authority must adopt and enforce quality-of-service standards covering customer complaints, service outages, and installation timeliness for all telecom and VoIP providers using state infrastructure. The law also requires the authority to include input from telecom employees, including union members, when developing monitoring methods. These changes take effect on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5484: AN ACT EXPANDING TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR HOME CARE CLIENTS.

This bill expands transportation options for home care clients by requiring the Department of Social Services to reimburse home care providers who transport Medicaid beneficiaries to or from medical appointments, provided the providers have a state-issued driver's license and adequate liability insurance. Starting July 1, 2026, the commissioner must increase the fee schedule for these transportation services and establish annual maximum allowable rates for home care providers. The legislation applies to home care agencies serving elderly and disabled individuals who receive Medicaid benefits, ensuring they can access medical appointments through their existing home care arrangements without needing separate nonemergency medical transport services.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Transportation

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5494: AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION.

This bill directs the Labor Commissioner to conduct a study on youth employment classification, specifically examining current work-based learning programs for minors that require minimum wage payment. The study will analyze whether these programs could be reclassified to allow participants to receive stipends instead of wages, with results due by January 1, 2027. The legislation affects the Department of Labor and will cost up to $100,000 in the 2027 fiscal year to hire a consultant for the research. No changes to existing laws are made at this time, as the bill only mandates the study itself.

Bill results