Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 5437: AN ACT CONCERNING THE APPROVAL PROCESS FOR PROPOSED BUDGETS AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS IN COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES AND THE AVAILABILITY OF A LIST OF NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF UNIT OWNERS.

HB 5437 updates rules for homeowners associations (HOAs) regarding budget approvals and special assessments. It requires HOA boards to provide unit owners with a budget summary - including reserve details - 30 days before a vote, with approval needing a majority of all owners (or a larger number specified in bylaws). Special assessments under 15% of the previous year’s budget become effective without owner approval, while larger assessments require the same voting process as regular budgets. The bill also mandates that HOAs make owner name and address lists available upon request. These changes apply to all HOAs in Connecticut, with slightly different rules for large communities (over 2,400 units established before 1991).

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 5319: AN ACT CONCERNING A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDIT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

HB 5319 creates a 6% state tax credit for qualified small businesses based on their eligible research and development (R&D) expenses, directly affecting S corporations, partnerships, and single-member LLCs with gross income under $70 million. Businesses must apply for a pre-approved "tax credit voucher" to reserve credit capacity (capped at $1.5 million per business and $25 million total annually) before incurring expenses. The credit reduces state tax liability, and any excess can be partially refunded (90% for biotech businesses, 65% for others). This policy aims to incentivize R&D investment by making tax credits accessible without upfront cash costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SB 136: AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE STATE.

SB 136 requires Connecticut's Department of Education to conduct a study of the state's public education system. The department must complete the study and submit a report to the General Assembly's education committee by May 26, 2026. This bill does not change existing education laws but mandates a formal review to gather data for future legislative decisions. The study's specific focus is not defined in the bill, leaving scope determination to the Department of Education.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 5272: AN ACT CONCERNING CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

HB 5272 requires the Commissioner of Children and Families to study whether policy or procedural changes within the Department of Children and Families could improve the health of children in the department's care and custody. The study must be completed and reported to the legislature by January 1, 2027. This bill directly affects the Department of Children and Families and children under its supervision, but it does not implement new policies - only mandates a study to identify potential improvements. The bill is procedural, focusing on gathering information rather than making immediate changes to programs or services.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 5268: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO RELEASE INFORMATION RELATING TO AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PARENTAGE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

HB 5268 allows the Department of Public Health (DPH) to share parentage documents - like legal acknowledgments of parentage - with the Department of Children and Families (DCF). This change directly affects parents who signed such documents, children (if 18+), and child welfare services. The bill modifies existing rules to explicitly permit DPH to release this information to DCF staff, improving coordination between health and child welfare agencies. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not create new obligations but streamlines information sharing for child safety and support services.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SB 264: AN ACT CONCERNING CHILDREN'S WELL-BEING.

SB 264 requires the Commissioner of Children and Families to study whether policy or procedural changes within the department could improve children's well-being for those in state care. The commissioner must report findings to the legislature by January 1, 2027. This bill does not change existing laws or directly affect families but mandates a review of current practices to identify potential improvements for children in the department's custody. It is a procedural study bill with no immediate policy implementation.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 5269: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY ENERGY DRINK CONSUMPTION BY CHILDREN AND REQUIRING CERTAIN SIGNAGE AT THE POINT OF SALE OF SUCH DRINKS.

HB 5269 establishes a working group to study health risks of high-caffeine energy drinks (defined as containing ≥80mg caffeine per 9oz plus other ingredients) among children and assess impacts of potential sales restrictions. The group, including health experts and stakeholders, must report by November 2026 with recommendations for public awareness campaigns and point-of-sale signage. Starting January 1, 2027, retailers selling such drinks must display clear signage about child health risks at checkout, developed by the Department of Consumer Protection based on the working group's input. The bill directly affects children (via health risk focus), retailers (via signage requirement), and public health agencies (via study mandate). It creates no new sales bans but requires informational measures to address consumption concerns.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 5273: AN ACT REQUIRING CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF TWELVE TO WEAR PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES ON DOCKS, WHARFS AND PIERS.

HB 5273 requires children under age 12 to wear personal flotation devices (PFDs) while on any public dock, wharf, or pier in the state, effective October 1, 2026. The law directly affects young children and parents or guardians responsible for them in public waterfront areas. It mandates PFD use per federal standards (33 CFR 175.13), overriding local laws that might conflict. The bill applies only to public structures, not boats or private property.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 5527: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PUBLICATION OF CERTAIN LEGAL NOTICES.

This bill allows legal notices that must be published in newspapers to instead be posted on municipal websites and in public locations like libraries and town halls. It applies to notices required by state laws, special acts, or local charters for towns, cities, and boroughs. The law requires that the newspaper used for notices have substantial circulation in the area where at least one party lives, unless a different newspaper is specifically required. These changes take effect on October 1, 2026, and do not reduce the legal time required to provide notice.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 454: AN ACT CONCERNING PARK REPLACEMENT BY MUNICIPALITIES.

This bill requires municipalities to provide replacement land when they take, convert, or repurpose land that was originally acquired for parks, recreation, or open space purposes. The replacement land must be at least equal in value and size per unit area to the original land being repurposed. Before making such changes, municipalities must hold a public hearing specifically focused on the proposed land conversion, detailing the reasons for the change and describing the replacement land. The hearing notice must be published in a local newspaper at least twice with specific timing requirements, and the hearing itself must occur within a set window after any other required public meetings. This law applies to all towns, cities, boroughs, and other political subdivisions within the state.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 455: AN ACT CONCERNING JURISDICTION OVER FARMING OCCURRING ON CERTAIN STATE LANDS.

This bill transfers authority over farming activities on state-owned lands from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to the Department of Agriculture. Starting July 1, 2026, the Department of Agriculture will oversee all farming on state property, including lands managed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The law also requires that any lease agreements for farming on these lands be renewed directly between the Department of Agriculture and the property owner. This change centralizes agricultural oversight within the state's agriculture department rather than the environmental protection agency.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 152: AN ACT APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HOUSING INSPECTIONS.

SB 152 appropriates $250,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Housing for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funds will hire additional full-time staff to inspect housing units participating in the state's rental assistance program, ensuring they comply with health, housing, building, and safety codes. This directly affects tenants in the rental assistance program and landlords receiving program funds, as inspections will verify housing safety standards. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and focuses solely on funding inspection staffing without changing eligibility or benefit amounts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Bill results