Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 308: AN ACT REQUIRING BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO POST CURRICULUM ONLINE.

SB 308 requires all local and regional school boards to post their approved curriculum online by July 1, 2026. Specifically, boards must make available the objectives and scope/sequence of all approved curriculum on their public websites each school year. This applies to every school district in the state and directly affects parents, students, and educators seeking transparency about course content. The law amends existing statute to mandate this annual online posting, building on existing requirements for curriculum materials under federal law.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5255: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AUDITORS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS CONCERNING OVERSIGHT OF STATE AGENCY GRANTS.

HB 5255 requires state agencies to implement standardized oversight for legislatively earmarked grants (funds specifically authorized by law). It mandates the Secretary of Policy and Management to create a standard contract template, establish training for agency staff on grant management, and require annual reporting of all grant awards and subawards by state agencies. The bill directly affects state agencies distributing grants and their subrecipients, requiring them to use the new template by January 1, 2027, and submit detailed reports by December 1 annually. Key provisions include standardized contract terms, verification of subrecipient eligibility, and annual reporting to legislative committees for transparency. (Effective October 1, 2026 for development, January 1, 2027 for implementation)

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5376: AN ACT CONCERNING AFFORDABLE HOUSING APPLICATIONS.

HB 5376 creates a task force to study whether a faster appeals process is needed for people who disagree with decisions made by historic district commissions. It also adds a new requirement for affordable housing applications using nonstandard, prefabricated, or proprietary construction: applicants must submit a preliminary life safety report certified by a licensed engineer, or the commission may deny the application. The task force, made up of legislative leaders and officials, must report by January 2027 on its findings. This bill directly affects homeowners challenging historic district decisions and developers applying for affordable housing with alternative construction methods. The changes aim to clarify application standards without altering existing building codes.

Topics ✗ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 328: AN ACT REQUIRING NURSING HOMES TO SPEND EIGHTY PER CENT OF REVENUE ON DIRECT PATIENT CARE.

SB 328 requires Connecticut nursing homes to allocate revenue so that administrative and general costs (e.g., management salaries, facility maintenance) do not exceed the state-wide median allowable cost for such expenses. This policy directly affects nursing home facilities receiving Medicaid reimbursement by limiting how much they can spend on non-patient care operations, thereby directing more funds toward direct patient care. The bill establishes specific cost categories (including direct care, indirect care, and administrative costs) and sets maximum allowable levels for administrative spending. It aims to ensure nursing homes prioritize resident care through structured cost reporting and Medicaid rate adjustments tied to quality metrics. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, with annual reporting requirements for facilities.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5252: AN ACT REQUIRING THE AUDITORS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND OFFICE OF POLICY AND MANAGEMENT TO REVIEW THE COSTS OF PROVIDING CERTAIN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.

HB 5252 requires Connecticut's Auditors of Public Accounts and the Office of Policy and Management to review the costs of residential and day programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities who receive 24-hour care through the Department of Developmental Services. The review must compare public versus private provider costs, analyze cost differences based on individual care needs, and assess service quality in a sample of residential settings. The agencies must submit a report by February 15, 2027, with recommendations for the most cost-effective, quality-driven system. This bill directly affects individuals with intellectual disabilities receiving such services, their current providers, and state funding decisions.

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5384: AN ACT CONCERNING HAZARD PENSIONS FOR CERTAIN JUDICIAL EMPLOYEES.

HB 5384 expands Connecticut's hazardous duty pension eligibility to include specific judicial employees. It adds investigators in the Division of Criminal Justice, investigators in the Division of Public Defender Services, and support service investigators in Superior Court's Support Enforcement Services to the definition of "hazardous duty member." This change allows these employees to qualify for pension benefits under the State Employee Retirement Act after 25 years of service in these roles, with credited service starting October 1, 2026. The bill directly affects these judicial support staff by extending existing pension protections to their high-risk positions.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 327: AN ACT EXPANDING EMERGENCY MEDICAID COVERAGE.

SB 327 expands emergency Medicaid coverage to include specific medical conditions requiring immediate care, such as high-risk pregnancies, severe diabetes complications, diabetic ketoacidosis, renal failure needing dialysis, certain fractures, hypertensive emergencies, unstable seizure disorders, active cancer treatment, ventilator dependency, labor/delivery, and acute psychiatric care. It directly affects low-income residents who need emergency medical treatment but may not qualify for regular Medicaid. The bill requires the state Commissioner to implement this expanded coverage starting July 1, 2026, and establish an online advance application system by July 1, 2027, for outpatient emergency care. This system will include clear information on covered conditions on the Department of Social Services website and in department materials. The law aims to ensure timely access to critical emergency care without requiring hospital emergency department visits for qualifying conditions.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5040: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

HB 5040 updates cash assistance rates for the state's general assistance program, setting monthly payments at $269 for unemployable individuals, $200 for transitional people paying shelter costs, and $50 for others not paying shelter. It creates a new "working persons with disabilities" Medicaid program allowing disabled workers earning under $85,000 annually to qualify for medical assistance, with asset limits of $20,000 for singles and $30,000 for couples, plus specific income disregards. The bill also modifies drug formulary rules to require prior authorization for nonpreferred drugs (except mental health drugs filled recently) and excludes antiretroviral drugs from preferred lists. These changes directly affect low-income residents, disabled workers seeking Medicaid, and Medicaid patients using prescription drugs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5341: AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ELECTRONIC PORTAL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR STATE GRANT PROGRAMS.

HB 5341 requires Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management to create a single online portal by July 1, 2027, for all state-funded municipal grant applications and reimbursement forms. The portal, called the Municipal State Grant Portal, will host searchable listings of all state grant programs, application forms, and related information on the agency’s website. This change directly affects municipalities and other applicants seeking state grants by replacing paper-based or fragmented application processes with a centralized digital system. The bill mandates the portal’s development within available funding and aims to streamline access to grant opportunities.

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5356: AN ACT CONCERNING NONEMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS.

HB 5356 requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Social Services to identify geographic areas where competitive bidding for nonemergency medical transportation (NEMT) services for Medicaid recipients could save state costs. It mandates that providers meeting state licensure/certification standards must compete for contracts to offer these services, with payment only made for actual transport provided. The bill also requires annual review of reimbursement rates to ensure they maintain an adequate driver pool and includes provisions for pilot programs before statewide implementation. This directly affects Medicaid recipients needing nonemergency medical transport and transportation providers contracted to serve them.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5301: AN ACT EXCLUDING SPOUSAL INCOME FROM CERTAIN RENT, FEE AND COST-SHARING CALCULATIONS RELATING TO HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES.

HB 5301 excludes income earned by a spouse who provides over 25% of daily care for their partner from income calculations when determining eligibility for home and community-based Medicaid services. It directly affects spouses caring for a partner receiving such services under Medicaid waiver programs. The bill requires the Social Services Commissioner to seek a federal Medicaid waiver or amend the state plan to disregard this spousal income, effective October 1, 2026. This change modifies how income is assessed for Medicaid eligibility under specific home and community-based service programs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5302: AN ACT CONCERNING ASSET LIMITS FOR HUSKY C BENEFICIARIES.

This bill increases the asset limits for Connecticut's HUSKY C health program, which provides coverage to low-income residents. It raises the maximum allowable assets from $1,600 to $5,000 for unmarried individuals and from $2,400 to $7,500 for married couples. The change, effective July 1, 2026, directly affects current and future HUSKY C beneficiaries who previously exceeded the lower thresholds. The Commissioner of Social Services must also report by July 2027 on eligibility changes and any increased state costs resulting from the new limits.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results