Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 5495: AN ACT CONCERNING REVIEW OF DECISIONS BY THE CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION BY THE SUPERIOR COURT AND AUTHORIZING APPEALS OF DECISIONS OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD.

This bill allows state employees to appeal decisions made by the Connecticut State Employees Retirement Commission and the Medical Examining Board regarding disability retirement eligibility to the Superior Court. It requires these boards to hold hearings before making such decisions and provides a clear timeline for filing appeals, including specific rules for serving legal documents. The legislation also permits appeals of preliminary agency actions if waiting for a final decision would cause inadequate remedies, and it clarifies that filing an appeal does not automatically stop the enforcement of the original decision. The changes take effect on October 1, 2026, but only after the State Employees' Bargaining Agent Coalition agrees to include them in its collective bargaining agreement.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 221: AN ACT CONCERNING ASPIRING EDUCATORS.

SB 221 establishes a state scholarship program to support aspiring educators in Connecticut. It provides up to $10,000 annually to diverse students who graduated from public high schools in designated "alliance districts" and are enrolled in teacher preparation programs at four-year colleges. Recipients must teach as certified educators in Connecticut, particularly in identified shortage areas (like specific subjects or geographic regions), or repay the scholarship. The program requires annual reporting on scholarship recipients' demographics and program data, with implementation effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 243: AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE DESIGN OF RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC CUSTOMER BILLS.

SB 243 requires the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to study how residential electric bills display the "public benefits charge" (funding programs like energy efficiency or low-income assistance). The study must determine if current bill designs adequately inform customers about this charge and recommend clearer bill formats or new cost categories to improve transparency. If needed, the Authority must provide detailed redesign suggestions, including input from electric companies, by January 1, 2027. The bill directly affects residential electricity customers by aiming to make bill costs more understandable.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 244: AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATE MARKET.

SB 244 requires the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to study the market for renewable energy certificates (RECs) issued by the New England Power Pool system. The study must examine how RECs support renewable energy development, current market trends in supply/demand/pricing, and whether RECs deliver environmental or grid benefits. The Commissioner must submit a report to the legislature by March 1, 2027, detailing findings on these aspects. This bill does not change existing law but mandates a review to inform future policy decisions.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 5248: AN ACT CONCERNING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND TRANSMISSION PLANNING.

HB 5248 updates Connecticut's appliance efficiency standards to promote energy conservation. It requires the Energy Commissioner to periodically review and raise efficiency standards for products like appliances and plumbing fixtures, ensuring they are cost-effective for consumers (with a 5-year payback period max) and may incorporate standards from other states or third parties. The bill also clarifies that these efficiency standards take precedence over conflicting building codes and allows for adopting standards from states like California without new state-specific testing. It directly affects appliance manufacturers, retailers, and consumers purchasing new energy-efficient products.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 5245: AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC AGGREGATION PROGRAMS.

HB 5245 establishes a legal framework for municipalities (towns, cities, or boroughs) to create "public aggregators" that group residential and business electricity customers to collectively purchase power. The bill requires municipal approval by both the legislative body and chief executive, sets rules for automatically enrolling eligible customers (who can opt out), and excludes specific protected customers like those with financial assistance or arrears. It defines key terms for the program, ensures public aggregators operate without being classified as utilities, and permits procurement of energy products including renewable options and community demand response incentives.

Topics ✓ Energy

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 5337: AN ACT CONCERNING DISTRICT HEATING SYSTEM INCENTIVES.

HB 5337 requires gas companies to create incentive programs for customers connecting to district heating systems that capture and distribute waste heat (minimum 30 million BTUs annually). These incentives, based on projected natural gas demand reductions using historical usage data, pay end-use customers for switching to district heating systems. The program must operate by March 2016 through June 2027, with the state Commissioner of Energy establishing a replacement program by July 2027. Funding is capped at $9 million total, collected through utility rates from gas customers in the system's service area, with payments limited to equivalent savings from existing conservation programs. This directly affects gas companies, district heating operators, and residential/commercial end-users who connect to qualifying systems.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 5338: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR PURPOSES OF THE FEDERAL LIFELINE SERVICE BENEFITS.

HB 5338 clarifies Connecticut's process for designating which telecommunications service providers can offer federal Lifeline benefits to eligible low-income households, individuals with disabilities (including those hard of hearing or speech impaired), and people in rural areas. It requires the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to determine which providers qualify to participate in the program and which customers meet eligibility criteria, based on factors like provider revenue in Connecticut. The bill ensures funding for Lifeline services - covering basic phone and internet access - comes from a fair share of telecommunications providers' gross revenues generated within the state. This change takes effect October 1, 2026, streamlining how Connecticut administers the federal program without altering benefit levels or eligibility rules.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 351: AN ACT ESTABLISHING STANDARD OF REVIEW FOR TEACHER TERMINATION DECISIONS AND REQUIRING TERMINATION HEARINGS TO BE BEFORE A NEUTRAL ARBITRATOR.

SB 351 establishes a "just cause" standard for terminating both tenured and non-tenured teachers' contracts in Connecticut, requiring school boards to provide specific, documented reasons for termination. It mandates that teachers who receive termination or nonrenewal notices may request a hearing before a neutral arbitrator (chosen by the teacher and superintendent) within 10 days, with the hearing starting within 15 days. The law also requires school boards to provide written reasons for termination upon request and ensures teachers can be represented by legal counsel during hearings. These changes, effective July 1, 2026, apply directly to public school teachers and school boards across the state.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 353: AN ACT CONCERNING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE FOR CONDITIONS RELATED TO MENOPAUSE.

SB 353 amends Connecticut law to require employers to provide reasonable accommodations for employees experiencing conditions related to menopause, directly affecting working women in the state. It expands existing anti-discrimination protections by adding menopause to the list of conditions requiring accommodations, such as allowing seated work, flexible breaks, modified schedules, or temporary light-duty assignments. The bill defines "reasonable accommodation" and clarifies that employers cannot claim "undue hardship" for minor, low-cost adjustments. This change takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies to all employers covered under Connecticut’s anti-discrimination law.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 5327: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DISCLOSURE OF AN OPEN INVESTIGATION OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT OR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, INJURY OR RISK OF INJURY TO OR IMPAIRING THE MORALS OF A MINOR DURING THE HIRING PROCESS OF A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE.

HB 5327 requires schools to verify if job applicants are under investigation for abuse, neglect, or sexual misconduct before hiring staff with direct student contact. It applies to all public and charter schools, as well as nonpublic school operators. The bill mandates applicants to provide written authorization allowing schools to contact prior employers about pending investigations and requires employers to respond within 5 business days. Schools must also check with the state education department about any open cases involving applicants.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 352: AN ACT CONCERNING THE MINIMUM FAIR WAGE AND PERSONS EMPLOYED AT CANNABIS ESTABLISHMENTS.

SB 352 requires cannabis businesses (including dispensaries and producers) to enter into "labor peace agreements" with approved labor unions as a condition for obtaining or renewing licenses. To qualify as a "bona fide labor organization," unions must apply to the state department, meet specific criteria (like representing cannabis workers or having active organizing efforts), and maintain compliance with reporting standards. The bill establishes a process for the department to maintain a list of eligible unions and mandates binding arbitration for disputes over agreements, with license suspension as a penalty for violations. It directly affects cannabis employers and unions seeking to represent workers in the state’s cannabis industry.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results