Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · House May 6, 2025

HB 5388: AN ACT CONCERNING FISHING AND HUNTING RIGHTS OF CERTAIN NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES.

HB 5388 modifies Connecticut's hunting and fishing regulations to recognize tribal rights on reservation lands. It removes the requirement for Native American tribal members to obtain licenses for hunting, fishing, or trapping on their tribe's reservation, subject to state environmental regulations and seasonal limits. The bill also creates a free, annual deer permit for tribal members on reservations larger than 10 acres, valid only November 1-December 31 for use with specific weapons. Additionally, it establishes a ceremonial permit allowing one annual animal take on state lands for cultural purposes without fee, limited to species otherwise legally harvestable.

in committee · Connecticut · House May 6, 2025

HB 6983: AN ACT CONCERNING POST-CONVICTION DNA TESTING.

HB 6983 allows individuals incarcerated after a criminal conviction to request DNA testing of evidence held by law enforcement or the courts. It directly affects convicted people seeking to prove innocence through new DNA evidence, requiring them to file a petition stating the testing relates to their conviction and the evidence contains biological material. Courts must order testing if they find a reasonable chance the results would change the outcome, the evidence still exists and wasn’t previously tested, and the request isn’t meant to delay justice. The bill guarantees legal representation for indigent petitioners and prohibits denying testing due to inability to pay costs, effective October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Connecticut · House May 6, 2025

HB 6864: AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE THIRTIETH, 2027, AND MAKING APPROPRIATIONS THEREFOR.

HB 6864 is Connecticut's state budget bill for the 2025-2027 biennium, appropriating $99.4 million from the General Fund to the Legislative branch and $48.9 million to the State Comptroller. It allocates specific funding amounts for agencies including Legislative Management, the Office of State Ethics, Elections Enforcement Commission, and the Office of Governmental Accountability, with minor adjustments to existing budgets (e.g., reducing the Secretary of the State's Early Voting funding by $2 million in 2026-2027). The bill contains no new policy provisions or program changes - it solely authorizes state spending for existing operations and services. This is a standard budget appropriation bill, not a policy measure.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · House May 6, 2025

HB 6843: AN ACT CONCERNING THE NUMBER OF WAGE AND HOUR INVESTIGATORS AT THE LABOR DEPARTMENT.

HB 6843 requires the Labor Commissioner to increase staffing for wage and hour enforcement. By October 1, 2025, the department must employ at least 22 wage and hour investigators, and by fiscal year 2027, this number must rise to at least 45 investigators annually. These investigators will specifically investigate and verify wages paid to workers in all occupations across the state, as authorized under Section 31-59 of the general statutes. The bill directly affects workers whose wages are protected under state law and the Labor Department’s capacity to enforce wage regulations.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · House May 6, 2025

HB 6840: AN ACT REQUIRING THE OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD TO STUDY THE AVAILABILITY OF CHILD CARE SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO ADDRESS INFANT AND TODDLER CHILD CARE SERVICES NEEDS FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.

HB 6840 requires Connecticut's Office of Early Childhood to study child care availability statewide, focusing on infant and toddler care slots for low-income families. The bill mandates an annual report by January 1, 2026, detailing the number of child care centers, homes, open slots (including infant/toddler-specific), and supply-demand gaps across all municipalities. It also directs the Office to develop a plan by the same deadline, using the study's findings to increase subsidized child care access for low-income families through strategies like expanding slots and identifying eligible households. This bill directly affects low-income families with infants or toddlers who struggle to access affordable child care, with no funding or implementation details specified.

in committee · Connecticut · House May 6, 2025

HB 6876: AN ACT ESTABLISHING FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND A RELATED TAX DEDUCTION AND CREDIT.

HB 6876 establishes First-Time Homebuyer Savings Accounts to help new homeowners save for down payments and closing costs, directly affecting first-time homebuyers purchasing one-to-four family residences in the state. The bill allows individuals or couples to open these accounts at financial institutions, with funds used exclusively for qualifying home purchase expenses like down payments and closing costs. Account holders can contribute any amount (including from employers), and the bill creates a related state tax deduction and credit for qualifying expenses. The program begins January 1, 2026, with specific rules for account designation, tax reporting, and fund usage.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · House May 5, 2025

HB 7078: AN ACT CONCERNING THE REMOVAL OF UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS FROM REAL PROPERTY, CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR REAL ESTATE LICENSEES, REQUIRING A STUDY OF RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY WHOLESALING AND REVISING THE TITLE OF A REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON TO A REAL ESTATE AGENT.

HB 7078 establishes a process for property owners to request police removal of unauthorized occupants. It defines "unauthorized persons" as individuals not current/former tenants or immediate family, requiring owners to submit a verified affidavit proving they've directed the person to leave and lack valid lease or rental documentation. Police must verify the affidavit and serve a notice to vacate, with owners restored to possession. The bill also includes a civil remedy allowing wrongful removal victims to recover triple the fair market rent and attorney fees. (Note: Other provisions in the title - continuing education for licensees, a wholesaling study, and title changes - are not detailed in the bill text and are not summarized here.)

in committee · Connecticut · House May 5, 2025

HB 7120: AN ACT CONCERNING GRANTS FOR THE REMOVAL OF PFAS FROM FIRE APPARATUS.

HB 7120 creates grants to remove PFAS chemicals (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from fire apparatus, affecting municipalities, independent fire companies, and state agencies. It expands eligibility to include these groups, allows reimbursement for PFAS removal completed before July 1, 2023, and ensures unspent funds from the original $3 million allocation carry over to the next fiscal year. This prevents funds from expiring and enables continued support for PFAS removal efforts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 1537: AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP TO STUDY NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE.

SB 1537 creates "Connecticut Liver Health Day" on April 19th each year to raise awareness about liver health issues like metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and steatohepatitis (MASH). It requires the Public Health Commissioner to develop a plan for mobile, non-invasive liver fibrosis screening in high-risk communities, with annual reports starting January 2026. The bill directly affects residents in underserved areas by improving access to early detection for liver conditions. It implements recommendations from a state working group without imposing new costs, as confirmed by the fiscal analysis.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 1540: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PEDIATRIC HOSPICE WORKING GROUP.

SB 1540 requires a working group - including pediatric hospice providers, hospitals, medical specialists, and state officials - to develop recommendations for a new Children's Health program with a Pediatric Palliative and Hospice Care Center of Excellence pilot. The group must submit initial findings by March 2025 and final recommendations by March 2026, covering funding, staffing, facility requirements, and training for pediatric hospice care. These recommendations will guide the establishment of the pilot program, which aims to standardize and expand specialized care for seriously ill children. The bill implements prior working group findings without introducing new state costs, as confirmed by the fiscal note.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House May 5, 2025

HB 7055: AN ACT CONCERNING A MUNICIPAL TAX ABATEMENT FOR SURVIVING DOMESTIC PARTNERS OF POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AND ALLOWING A PERSONAL INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR STIPENDS PAID TO VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, VOLUNTEER FIRE POLICE OFFICERS AND VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE MEMBERS.

HB 7055 creates two key tax provisions. First, it allows municipalities to establish property tax abatements for the primary residence of surviving domestic partners of police officers, firefighters, or EMTs who die while on duty (effective October 1, 2025). Second, it adds a personal income tax deduction for stipends paid to volunteer firefighters, volunteer fire police officers, and volunteer ambulance members (effective January 1, 2026). These changes directly affect surviving domestic partners of certain first responders and volunteer emergency personnel. The bill modifies existing statutes to provide specific tax relief without altering general tax rates or creating new programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 1318: AN ACT ASSESSING A CERTAIN FEE FOR DEPOSIT INTO THE FIREFIGHTERS CANCER RELIEF ACCOUNT.

SB 1318 requires telephone and telecommunications companies (including mobile and internet-based voice services) to charge subscribers a $0.05 monthly fee per access line. The funds collected must be deposited into the Firefighters Cancer Relief Account by the 15th of each month. This fee applies to most residential and business phone lines but excludes prepaid wireless services. The bill establishes a new funding source for the account, which provides wage replacement benefits to firefighters diagnosed with cancer, with estimated annual revenue of $2.4-$3.0 million starting in fiscal year 2027. The fee takes effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results