Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 5111: AN ACT EXEMPTING CERTAIN PERSONAL PROPERTY AND SERVICES USED FOR BURIALS AND CREMATIONS FROM THE SALES AND USE TAXES.

HB 5111 exempts burial and cremation-related personal property (like caskets or urns) and services from state sales and use taxes. The bill expands the existing exemption for burial/cremation items from an unspecified limit to a $10,000 cap, while also explicitly removing sales tax from the services themselves. This directly affects individuals and families arranging funerals or cremations by reducing out-of-pocket costs for these essential end-of-life services. The policy change takes effect upon enactment, removing tax liability for qualifying burial and cremation expenses.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 5132: AN ACT EXEMPTING MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT USED IN THE PROCESS OF COLORING OR MIXING PAINT FROM THE SALES AND USE TAXES.

This bill would remove sales tax on machinery and equipment used by paint retailers to mix or color paint. It directly affects retail businesses that sell paint, as they would no longer pay tax on the specific tools used to customize paint colors for customers. The exemption applies to the purchase, storage, use, or consumption of these machines within the state. The bill does not exempt the paint itself or other types of equipment.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 5135: AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR A YOUTH CENTER IN THE FAIR HAVEN COMMUNITY OF NEW HAVEN.

HB 5135 authorizes the state to issue up to $2.5 million in bonds to fund a youth center in New Haven's Fair Haven neighborhood. The bond proceeds would be provided as a grant to the City of New Haven through the Department of Economic and Community Development for the center's development. This bill specifically allocates state funds for construction, not ongoing operations. The project directly affects Fair Haven residents, particularly young people in that community.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 5117: AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ADDITIONAL MARGINAL RATE FOR THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX AND DEDICATING THE REVENUE GENERATED TO CERTAIN PURPOSES.

HB 5117 would impose an additional 4% tax on personal income exceeding $1 million annually, directly affecting high earners in that bracket. The revenue generated must be dedicated to specific public services, including free school meals, school construction, higher education funding, childcare support, higher wages for childcare workers, baby supplies, and repairs for roads, bridges, public transit, and free transit access. This bill creates a new tax category for top earners to fund targeted education, childcare, and infrastructure improvements without altering existing tax rates for lower-income individuals.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 5130: AN ACT CONCERNING THE SALES AND USE TAXES IMPOSED ON MEALS SOLD BY AN EATING ESTABLISHMENT, CATERER OR GROCERY STORE.

HB 5130 would remove a 1% additional sales tax on meals sold by restaurants, caterers, and grocery stores. The bill amends tax code to eliminate this specific surcharge, which currently applies to food purchased for immediate consumption at these businesses. This change directly affects establishments that serve prepared meals, reducing their tax burden on qualifying sales. The policy shift would lower costs for these businesses without altering the standard sales tax rate.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 5101: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING TO INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF THE CTTRANSIT NEW HAVEN 255 BUS.

HB 5101 appropriates additional funds to the Connecticut Department of Transportation for the 2027 fiscal year to increase the frequency of the CTTransit New Haven 255 bus route between the Naugatuck Valley and New Haven during specific times. The bill directly affects riders who rely on this bus route for daily commutes and travel between these areas. Key provisions include allocating dedicated funding to reduce wait times and improve service reliability on the existing route. This is a straightforward funding measure with no new infrastructure or policy changes beyond adjusting bus frequency. The bill focuses solely on operational adjustments to the current transit service.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 5099: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR CERTAIN TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.

HB 5099 allocates $1 million from the state General Fund to fund micro-transit services in New London for the 2027 fiscal year. The bill directly supports New London's existing micro-transit providers by providing dedicated state funding for their operations. This is a procedural funding measure with no new policy requirements, solely providing financial support for current transportation services in the city.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 121: AN ACT EXEMPTING CERTAIN ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS FROM PAYING FEES FOR ANY MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATOR'S LICENSE AND REGISTRATION.

SB 121 exempts active duty military service members who were not Connecticut residents at the time of their induction from paying fees for vehicle operator's licenses and registration. The bill directly affects these service members by waiving state fees they would otherwise owe when obtaining or renewing these documents. It amends existing law (specifically subsection (c) of section 14-50) to create this exemption for the specified group. The change provides a financial relief measure for military personnel stationed outside Connecticut who maintain ties to their home state.

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 5098: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING TO EXPAND THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT SERVICE TO CONNECT HARTFORD, EAST HARTFORD, MANCHESTER, ROCKVILLE AND STORRS.

HB 5098 allocates additional state funds to the Department of Transportation for the 2027 fiscal year to expand bus rapid transit routes connecting Hartford to Storrs. The bill requires new bus stations in East Hartford, Manchester, and Rockville as key stops along the route. This expansion directly serves residents and commuters in communities east of the Connecticut River, aiming to improve regional transit access. The funding mechanism specifies a concrete policy change: adding these specific stations to the existing bus rapid transit system.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 5139: AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ESTATE TAX RECAPTURE FOR CERTAIN ESTATES AND AN ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM ESTATE TAX.

HB 5139 establishes two key estate tax provisions: (1) an estate tax recapture for estates exceeding $15 million in value, requiring additional tax payment if the effective rate falls below 2%, and (2) an alternative minimum estate tax to ensure the effective tax rate never drops below 2%. This bill directly affects high-value estates (over $15 million) by preventing tax avoidance through low effective rates. The recapture mechanism targets estates that would otherwise pay minimal tax relative to their value, while the alternative minimum tax sets a floor on the tax rate. These provisions aim to maintain revenue from large estates under the state's tax code.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 5108: AN ACT AUTHORIZING STATE BONDS FOR MUNICIPAL COMMERCIAL FACADE IMPROVEMENTS.

HB 5108 authorizes the state to issue up to $20 million in bonds to fund grants for municipal commercial facade improvements. The bill directly affects cities and towns that receive these grants through the Department of Economic and Community Development. Key provisions include using bond proceeds to support downtown beautification projects, with the goal of boosting foot traffic and local economic activity. This policy change provides concrete state funding for municipal-led facade upgrades without specifying eligibility criteria or project requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 113: AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR FARMS ASSOCIATED WITH NEW ANAEROBIC DIGESTERS TO PROVIDE NECESSARY CHANGES TO MANURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.

SB 113 authorizes up to $5 million in state bonds to fund grants for farms that have installed new anaerobic digesters. These grants will help qualifying farms make necessary upgrades to their manure management systems. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will administer the program, using bond proceeds to cover costs for required system changes. The bill directly affects agricultural operations using anaerobic digesters, providing financial support for environmental compliance upgrades.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill results