Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 135: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND CAREER SYSTEM.

SB 135 requires the Technical Education and Career System to submit annual reports to state legislative committees by November 15, detailing curriculum updates for future workforce needs, graduate employment data (including demographics, wages, and program completion), resource assessments, and staffing needs. It mandates the development of a long-term strategic plan (starting January 1, 2030) for the system, updated every five years, to coordinate with other education providers and address capital improvements. The bill also establishes a process for evaluating existing vocational programs every five years based on job demand, technological changes, and instructor availability, and for adding new programs considering workforce needs, cost, and underrepresented populations. This directly affects technical education schools, state legislators, and workforce development planning.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 5152: AN ACT CONCERNING CERTAIN AUTHORITIES RELATED TO THE PREVENTION OF WILDFIRES.

HB 5152 modifies rules for open burning to prevent wildfires. It allows residential brush burning on private property with a local permit, but prohibits it during high fire danger, poor air quality, or near forests within 100 feet. Municipal landfills, transfer stations, and recycling centers can burn brush up to six times yearly with fire marshal approval and commissioner review, but must ban burning leaves, demolition waste, or other solid waste. The bill also adds new permitted uses like agricultural cleanup after disasters and wildlife habitat management, while requiring local officials to be certified and setting fees for permits. These changes directly affect homeowners, municipalities, and fire officials managing burn permits.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 93: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM TO EXPAND HEALTH CARE ACCESS.

SB 93 implements Connecticut's Rural Health Transformation Program to improve healthcare access in rural areas. The bill updates nurse aide regulations (effective 2027), clarifying definitions and strengthening complaint procedures for misconduct in nursing facilities. It also establishes an interstate compact (effective 2026) to streamline emergency medical services (EMS) personnel licensure across state lines, facilitating quicker deployment during emergencies. The program directly affects rural healthcare facilities, nurse aides, EMS personnel, and tribal health programs receiving federal funds under 42 USC 1397ee(h).

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 5169: AN ACT REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ALERT IN THE STATE-WIDE HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE REGARDING PATIENTS WITH A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE OR COMBATIVE BEHAVIOR TOWARD A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

HB 5169 requires Connecticut's Department of Public Health to create a system that alerts healthcare providers about patients with a documented history of violence or combative behavior toward medical staff. It affects all healthcare providers using the state's electronic health records system (capable of connecting to the State-wide Health Information Exchange) by mandating they report such incidents and receive alerts when scheduling new or existing patients with these histories. Key provisions include developing the alert system by January 1, 2027, and requiring providers to document incidents in their digital records. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, aiming to improve provider safety through shared patient history data.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 5277: AN ACT CONCERNING THE POSTING OF VETERANS' INFORMATION AND SERVICES FOR DISPLAY IN THE WORKPLACE.

HB 5277 requires Connecticut's Labor Department and Office of Manufacturing to post downloadable information about veterans' benefits and services on their websites by October 1, 2026. This information, defined under Connecticut law for veterans, is intended for employers to display in their workplaces. The bill does not mandate that employers display the information but makes it readily available for those who choose to do so. It directly affects employers seeking to showcase resources for veteran employees or veterans in their community. The provision is effective October 1, 2026, and is administered by the Labor Commissioner and Chief Manufacturing Officer with input from the Veterans Affairs Commissioner.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 344: AN ACT PROTECTING CHILDREN'S SAFETY BY REQUIRING AFFIRMATIVE CONSENT BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN FOR THE USE OF A CHILD'S LIKENESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

SB 344 requires written parental or guardian consent before using a child's photo, video, or likeness for marketing or advertising on social media. It directly affects parents/guardians (who must provide consent), social media users (who must obtain consent), and schools (which cannot deny school activities if consent is not given). The bill prohibits using a child's image for promotion without written permission and bans denying school participation due to lack of consent. It takes effect for general social media use on October 1, 2026, and for schools on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 5417: AN ACT ALLOWING CHILDREN OF VETERANS TO USE SUCH VETERAN'S UNUSED TUITION WAIVERS AND REQUIRING STATE FUNDING FOR TUITION WAIVERS.

HB 5417 allows children of veterans to use their parent's unused tuition waivers at Connecticut State Community Colleges, expanding eligibility beyond the veterans themselves. It directly affects dependent children of veterans who served in wartime (as defined in state law) but never claimed the waiver. The bill requires the state to fund these waived tuition costs through the Connecticut State Community College Operating Fund, ensuring colleges receive state appropriations instead of absorbing the cost. This policy change removes the previous barrier where veterans had to personally claim the waiver before it could extend to their children.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 144: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR LOCAL REPRESENTATION ON THE CONNECTICUT SITING COUNCIL.

SB 144 requires Connecticut's Siting Council to include local representation during reviews of proposed facilities like waste plants or utilities. For each project, the council must add four members appointed by the affected municipality (three local residents and one from a neighboring area) plus one additional local elector appointed by the municipality. These members serve as nonvoting participants to provide community perspective during siting decisions. The bill directly affects municipalities where new facilities are proposed, ensuring local voices are heard in the review process. It becomes effective October 1, 2026.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 286: AN ACT INCREASING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR GRANDPARENTS AND OTHER NONPARENT RELATIVES RAISING CERTAIN CHILDREN.

SB 286 increases financial assistance for grandparents and other nonparent relatives legally responsible for raising children. It requires the state to pay these caregivers the same monthly rate as foster care payments per child, based on the child's age and medical needs. This change applies to families where a nonparent relative (like a grandparent) is the legal guardian. The policy takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects relatives raising children in foster-like care. The bill aligns state benefits for these relatives with foster care rates, ensuring equal financial support compared to unrelated caregivers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 16, 2026

HB 5440: AN ACT CONCERNING THE AWARD OF REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES BY THE COURT IN ENTRY AND DETAINER CASES.

This bill allows courts to order the losing party in forcible entry and detainer cases to pay reasonable attorney's fees to the winning party. It directly affects landlords and tenants involved in eviction proceedings where property was forcibly entered, detained, or damaged. The key provision requires judges to award attorney's fees when they find that forcible entry occurred, damage was caused, or regaining possession would require breaking the peace. The law also permits courts to award double damages along with attorney's fees in specific civil actions related to these types of property disputes. These changes take effect on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 190: AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN FOREIGN-EDUCATED VETERINARIANS TO PRACTICE UNDER A TEMPORARY PERMIT AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A VETERINARIAN-CLIENT-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP THROUGH THE USE OF TELEHEALTH FOR THE TREATMENT OF URGENT MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

SB 190 creates a temporary permit allowing veterinarians trained outside the U.S. or Canada to practice under supervision while working toward full certification. It specifically applies to those with a veterinary degree from an internationally recognized program, who have passed required exams and are pursuing credentialing through the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) or equivalent. The permit, valid for up to one year without renewal, requires direct supervision by a licensed veterinarian with at least four years of experience and expires if certification is not obtained. This policy aims to expand access to veterinary services by enabling qualified foreign-educated vets to contribute sooner while meeting state standards.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 16, 2026

HB 5167: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DISCLOSURE OF WATER QUALITY TEST RESULTS FOR CERTAIN PRIVATE AND SEMIPUBLIC WELLS.

HB 5167 requires laboratories testing private residential wells and semipublic wells (like those serving schools or community centers) to report water quality results to local health authorities and the state Department of Public Health within 30 days of testing. It removes the previous requirement for the Commissioner of Public Health to approve disclosures, allowing direct sharing of results with well owners, adjacent property owners, and prospective buyers who have signed purchase contracts. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies to all such wells in Connecticut. This change streamlines access to water quality information for affected property owners and buyers without altering confidentiality protections for other uses.

Topics ✓ Environment

Bill results