Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · House May 7, 2025

HB 7059: AN ACT STUDYING THE DANBURY BRANCH LINE OF THE METRO-NORTH COMMUTER RAILROAD AND CONCERNING THE CONNECTICUT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL.

HB 7059 directs Connecticut's Commissioner of Transportation to study two specific actions: (1) operating hybrid trains on the Danbury Branch Line of Metro-North, and (2) extending the Danbury Branch Line to New Milford. The study must be completed by February 1, 2026, and reported to the legislature. Separately, the bill establishes the Connecticut Public Transportation Council - a 15-member body representing residents who use various rail lines (New Haven, Shore Line East, Hartford) and state-funded transit. Council members are appointed by legislative leaders and the governor, with terms of four years. This bill focuses solely on initiating studies and creating a council, not implementing immediate policy changes.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Connecticut · House May 7, 2025

HB 7038: AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A CAPTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY OR USING PARAMETRIC INSURANCE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS IMPACTED BY THE EFFECTS OF SEVERE WEATHER.

HB 7038 requires the Insurance Commissioner, in collaboration with the Commissioner of Agriculture, to conduct a feasibility study on creating a captive insurance company or using parametric insurance to provide financial assistance to farmers in the state affected by severe weather. The study must evaluate both options and report findings to the legislature by February 1, 2026. This bill does not create new insurance programs but only mandates an analysis to determine if such programs could be implemented. It directly affects farmers facing weather-related losses and focuses solely on assessing potential solutions through a formal study.

in committee · Connecticut · House May 7, 2025

HB 7047: AN ACT REQUIRING AUTOMATIC POSTINGS OF CERTAIN STATE JOBS.

HB 7047 requires state departments to automatically post certain job vacancies within 10 days of opening. It applies to positions in the Departments of Public Health, Children and Families, Mental Health, Revenue Services, Correction, and Labor, as well as teaching roles in the Technical Education and Career System. The law does not affect existing union contracts or positions appointed by the Governor or General Assembly members. The requirement takes effect on July 1, 2025.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 1374: AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC SCHOOL SECURITY PERSONNEL TRAINING.

SB 1374 requires Connecticut public school security personnel - both armed and unarmed - to receive specific training by October 1, 2025. Armed security staff must complete training covering use of force, active assailant response, firearm safety, and de-escalation techniques for individuals with disabilities. Unarmed staff must receive training in drug detection and gang identification. The law mandates this training be provided by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council or approved instructors, with local school boards able to add supplemental sessions. This directly affects all public school security personnel in Connecticut.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · House May 7, 2025

HB 7091: AN ACT CONCERNING AUDITS OF THE UTILITY PROGRAMS OVERSEEN BY THE ENERGY CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT BOARD.

HB 7091 requires electric and gas distribution companies in Connecticut to submit combined energy conservation plans to the Energy Conservation Management Board every three years, beginning November 1, 2025. The bill mandates annual audits by the Auditors of Public Accounts to verify that conservation programs meet cost-effectiveness standards - ensuring program benefits exceed costs. If programs fail this test, they must be modified or terminated, unless integral to cost-effective combined initiatives. This directly affects utility companies, the Energy Conservation Management Board, and the Connecticut Green Bank, with funding mechanisms including fixed rates (6 mills/kWh for electricity, $0.046 per CCF for gas). The law ensures ongoing oversight of energy efficiency spending to maximize savings for ratepayers.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Connecticut · House May 7, 2025

HB 7117: AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INSURANCE FUND WORKING GROUP.

HB 7117 modifies how health insurance fees are allocated in Connecticut. It requires domestic insurers and health care centers providing specific health insurance types to pay an annual public health fee, but gradually shifts more of this fee from the Insurance Fund to the General Fund - reducing the Insurance Fund portion by one-fifth each year until 2029, when all funds go to the General Fund. The bill also mandates annual reporting of enrolled lives (excluding Medicare/Medicaid) by insurers, with penalties for late filings ($100/day) or reporting discrepancies ($15,000 max civil penalty). These changes directly affect health insurance providers operating in Connecticut and redirect funds to support the Office of Health Strategy over a five-year period.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 1415: AN ACT CONCERNING MINIMUM WAGES FOR NURSING HOME WORKERS PROVIDING DIRECT CARE AND CERTAIN GROUP HOME WORKERS.

SB 1415 requires nursing homes to raise direct care workers' wages to $22.50 hourly by January 2026 and $25 by January 2027. It exempts Medicaid-funded nursing homes if state payment rates don’t cover the increase, and mandates rate adjustments if homes receive funding but don’t implement the wage hikes. The bill also adds new licensing requirements for nursing homes, including detailed financial disclosures, ownership information (like private equity ties), and proof of wage compliance. While the bill defines "group homes" for people with disabilities, it does not directly apply the wage rules to them - only to nursing homes.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · House May 7, 2025

HB 7193: AN ACT CONCERNING THE BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES.

HB 7193 amends Connecticut's statute governing the Board of Pardons and Paroles, directly affecting its 15 members. The bill replaces the existing pay structure by requiring ten members to serve full-time with salaries set by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, while other members receive a daily payment (replacing a fixed $110/day rate) plus expense reimbursements. It also mandates that the chairperson or a designated member attend all board meetings and participate in decisions. The changes take effect October 1, 2025, and apply to all members' compensation under Section 54-124a.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 807: AN ACT CONCERNING THE ELIMINATION OF ASSET LIMITS FOR HUSKY C BENEFICIARIES OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.

SB 807 gradually eliminates asset limits for Connecticut's HUSKY C health program beneficiaries (low-income adults) over five years. Starting July 1, 2025, the asset limit for single adults increases from $1,600 to $10,000 in 2026, then to $25,000 in 2027, $75,000 in 2028, $100,000 in 2029, and removes the limit entirely after 2030. Married couples see similar stepwise increases, rising from $2,400 to $150,000 by 2029. The bill also allows applicants with income slightly above limits to qualify by spending excess income on medical bills, and requires annual reports on enrollment and costs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 7, 2025

SB 1505: AN ACT ALLOWING COURT DISCRETION TO ADD A FAMILY VIOLENCE COMPONENT TO THE PRETRIAL SUPERVISED DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM FOR PERSONS WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES.

SB 1505 allows courts to add a family violence treatment component to pretrial diversion programs for people with psychiatric disabilities accused of family violence crimes. The bill modifies existing law so that the Court Support Services Division must assess whether a defendant can participate in domestic violence treatment alongside mental health treatment, and courts may add this component to the treatment plan if appropriate. It directly affects defendants with psychiatric disabilities facing family violence charges who qualify for the diversion program. The key change gives courts flexibility to address both mental health needs and family violence behavior through coordinated treatment, while requiring victim notifications about program conditions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House May 7, 2025

HB 7221: AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE FILINGS WITH THE STATE ELECTIONS ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION.

HB 7221 changes where campaign finance reports for local elections must be filed. It requires most political committees and candidate committees (for offices like town committee members, justice of the peace, or local general assembly races) to submit filings to the State Elections Enforcement Commission instead of local town clerks. The bill exempts very low-budget campaigns - those spending under $1,000 or using only personal funds - from forming committees or filing reports. This centralizes reporting for most municipal campaigns under state oversight, effective January 1, 2029, while keeping local filings for small referendums and minimal-expenditure races.

in committee · Connecticut · House May 7, 2025

HB 6984: AN ACT CONCERNING ADULT DAY CENTER TRANSPORTATION.

HB 6984 requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Social Services to increase the fee schedule for adult day care transportation services by 10% effective July 1, 2025, over the previous fiscal year's rate. This adjustment directly affects adult day care providers participating in Connecticut's home-care program for the elderly, specifically targeting transportation costs. The bill mandates this increase to provide dedicated funding for transportation services, separate from other adult day care fee adjustments. It amends Section 17b-343 of the general statutes to implement this specific transportation funding mechanism.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Bill results