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.
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.
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.
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.
This bill requires the state Medicaid program to pay for peer support services, which are recovery-focused behavioral health services provided by individuals with lived experience in mental illness or substance use recovery. Starting July 1, 2026, the Commissioner of Social Services must update Medicaid rules to include these services in care teams and begin reimbursing certified peer support specialists for their work. The law also mandates a report by August 1, 2027, detailing how many specialists receive payment, how many Medicaid enrollees they serve, and any treatment outcome data collected from their services.
This bill requires municipal utility and public works employers to assess workplace violence risks for employees who interact directly with customers, such as those working in customer homes or during late hours. Employers must complete these risk assessments by January 2027 and implement prevention training by July 2027, covering topics like conflict resolution, minimizing cash on hand, and reporting aggressive behavior. The law also mandates that employers keep records of any workplace violence incidents and submit annual reports to the state Labor Department detailing the number and locations of such events. These requirements apply to electric, gas, and water utilities, regional water and sewer authorities, public service companies, and municipal public works departments.
This bill updates definitions for utility companies and related terms within Connecticut's energy and environmental protection laws. It clarifies which entities are considered public service companies, gas companies, water companies, and other utility providers while explicitly excluding municipalities, private power producers, and certain government-owned systems from these definitions. The changes affect how the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection classify and regulate various utility services across the state. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and primarily impacts regulatory oversight rather than creating new operational requirements for customers or suppliers.
This bill updates Connecticut's laws to require fish passage facilities at dams and artificial obstructions, affecting dam owners, municipalities, and property owners upstream of these structures. It establishes a process where ten or more property owners can petition the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to require a fishway, while also allowing any person to petition for safe and effective fish passage at hydroelectric dams not regulated by federal agencies. The commissioner must hold public hearings, publish draft orders, and consider public comments before issuing final decisions, with requirements to maintain water flows and remove harmful obstructions if necessary.
This bill creates a public reporting system for double utility poles, which are two poles located within six feet of each other due to incomplete replacement work. It requires the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to launch an online reporting platform by July 1, 2026, where any person can submit reports with location details and photographs. The commissioner will compile quarterly lists of these reports and share them with electric distribution companies, telephone companies, and municipal electric utilities starting October 31, 2027. The legislation defines specific utility pole types and establishes clear timelines for implementing the reporting infrastructure.
This bill creates a new advisory council to oversee wheelchair repairs and establish stricter timelines for dealers to fix complex rehabilitation technology wheelchairs. The council will include representatives from Medicaid recipients, private insurance users, disability advocates, dealers, and state agencies to monitor repair times and make recommendations. Dealers must now respond to repair requests within one business day, order parts within three days, and offer home repairs upon request, while a new complaint system tracks repair delays. The bill also requires regular reporting on repair performance to state committees to ensure accountability.
HB 5149, effective July 1, 2026, prohibits students in Connecticut public schools (grades K-12) from possessing or using personal mobile electronic devices (like cell phones, tablets, or laptops) during the regular school day, except for students requiring device use for an individualized education program (IEP) or a Section 504 plan. School boards must create policies covering device storage, discipline for violations, and exceptions for special needs accommodations. The bill also prohibits school districts from using social media as the sole method to communicate with families about school matters. This directly affects all K-12 public school students and school districts across Connecticut.
HB 5227 requires anyone performing paid mold remediation in Connecticut to hold a state-issued certification starting January 1, 2027. Certification must be obtained from approved organizations like the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) or the National Organization of Remediators and Microbial Inspectors (NORM), with existing licensed contractors exempt from this requirement. The law also mandates a public awareness campaign about mold health risks and annual reports from the Department of Consumer Protection on mold science, remediation standards, and recommended policy changes. These provisions directly affect mold remediation service providers, aiming to standardize practices and improve public safety information.
