Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 6851: AN ACT CONCERNING PURPLE PROPERTY BORDERS AS WARNING TO TRESPASSERS.

HB 6851 amends Connecticut law to explicitly include painting property borders purple as a valid method for marking property as "posted" to warn trespassers. This change directly affects property owners who use purple borders to legally indicate restricted access and trespassers entering such marked areas. The bill adds purple borders to the list of acceptable posting methods under criminal trespass law, alongside traditional signs or fencing. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, making purple borders a legally recognized warning system.

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 7137: AN ACT CONCERNING A CONVICTION IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION AS A DISQUALIFIER FOR A CARRY PERMIT OR FIREARMS ELIGIBILITY OR AMMUNITION CERTIFICATE.

HB 7137 expands firearm eligibility restrictions by adding out-of-state misdemeanor convictions to existing disqualifiers for carry permits, firearms eligibility, or ammunition certificates. It prohibits issuing these permits if an applicant has a misdemeanor conviction in another state for specific offenses - including violent crimes, certain drug violations (excluding minor cannabis offenses under 4oz), or crimes causing fear for safety - within the preceding seven years. The bill modifies existing law to include convictions from "another state, a federal, tribal or military court or any foreign jurisdiction" as disqualifying factors. This change directly affects individuals applying for firearm permits who have recent misdemeanor convictions outside Connecticut. The policy takes effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 1503: AN ACT INCENTIVIZING EDUCATIONAL AND WORKFORCE ACHIEVEMENT AS A MEANS OF REDUCING A PROBATIONER'S TERM OF SUPERVISION.

SB 1503 allows probationers serving more than two years for certain felonies or more than one year for specific misdemeanors to potentially shorten their probation term by achieving educational or workforce milestones. It requires probation officers to submit annual reports at the two-year mark (for felonies) or one-year mark (for misdemeanors) detailing the probationer's progress on court-mandated conditions and documented educational or job-related achievements. The court then reviews these reports, considers victim input if applicable, and decides whether to terminate probation early or continue the full term. This applies only to non-class A felony cases and certain misdemeanor offenses, directly affecting probationers who complete approved educational programs or secure stable employment during supervision. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and replaces existing probation duration provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 7260: AN ACT CONCERNING EXCESSIVE RECKLESS DRIVING.

HB 7260 prohibits driving over 100 miles per hour on public highways, municipal roads, parking areas with 10+ spaces, private roads with established speed limits, or school property. It creates a new offense ("excessive reckless driving") with higher penalties than existing reckless driving laws: first-time violators face $200-$600 fines or up to 30 days in jail, while repeat offenders could be fined up to $1,000 or jailed up to one year. For repeat offenders (those previously convicted of this offense), police must tow the vehicle for 48 hours, requiring owners to pay towing/storage costs to reclaim it. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies to all drivers operating vehicles on specified roads or properties.

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 7141: AN ACT CONCERNING COMPENSATION PAID TO INJURED EMPLOYEES AND THE PARENTS OF A DECEASED EMPLOYEE UNDER THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT.

HB 7141 amends Connecticut's workers' compensation law to change how compensation is calculated for injured workers and parents of deceased employees. It replaces the previous calculation method with a formula setting compensation at 75% of an injured worker's average weekly earnings (after tax deductions), capped at the state's manufacturing wage rate, or $50 weekly minimum. The bill specifies exact weeks of compensation for various injuries (like loss of limbs, organs, or senses) through a detailed table, including new provisions effective July 1, 2025. This directly affects workers injured on the job and families of workers who died from work-related causes in Connecticut. The change streamlines compensation by standardizing the calculation method while maintaining specific injury-based payout schedules.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 6241: AN ACT CONCERNING AGRITOURISM.

This bill creates legal immunity for farms offering public agritourism activities (such as corn mazes, farm markets, or hay rides) when participants are injured due to "risks inherent in agritourism," like farm terrain, animal behavior, or normal agricultural equipment. It directly affects agritourism providers (farm owners/operators) and participants who visit these activities. The law grants immunity unless the provider acted negligently, intentionally caused harm, or committed criminal conduct. Exceptions ensure providers remain liable for their own misconduct, not for ordinary farm risks.

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 25, 2025

HB 6974: AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF FUNDS IN THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT FUND.

HB 6974 changes how Connecticut allocates funds from its Tobacco Settlement Fund. Starting July 1, 2025, the bill shifts all annual disbursements from this fund to the state's General Fund for the 2025 fiscal year. Beginning July 1, 2026, it allocates $32 million annually to the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund (for tobacco-related health programs) with the remainder going to the General Fund. This replaces the previous funding structure that allocated $12 million to the Trust Fund for fiscal years 2023-2024. The bill directly affects state budget allocations between health programs and general state spending.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 25, 2025

HB 6941: AN ACT EXEMPTING THE INCOME EARNED BY A CHILD OF AN APPLICANT FROM THE CALCULATION OF GROSS INCOME IN CONSIDERATION FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

HB 6941 exempts income earned by a child living with an applicant from being counted toward the household's gross income when determining eligibility for the state's rental assistance program. The bill directly affects low-income families with working children who reside with them, as it removes the child's earnings (up to $100,000 annually) from the income calculation. Key provisions require the housing commissioner to adopt regulations that exclude such income until the child turns 24. This change simplifies income calculations for families with working children, making it easier for them to qualify for rental assistance without penalizing their children's earnings. The exemption takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 25, 2025

HB 6831: AN ACT CONCERNING TRANSIT-ORIENTED COMMUNITIES.

HB 6831 prioritizes state infrastructure grants for municipalities meeting specific transit access criteria. It defines "qualifying transit-oriented communities" as those with bus/rail stations within half-mile zones of designated transit districts or near downtown areas. Eligible municipalities must adopt a resolution and apply for priority access to state grants used exclusively for projects like housing, commercial spaces, or transit improvements within these districts. The bill directly affects local governments seeking state funding for transit-focused development, requiring adherence to zoning standards for denser, mixed-use projects near transit.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 24, 2025

HB 7133: AN ACT CONCERNING PAROLE ELIGIBILITY.

HB 7133 expands parole eligibility for individuals convicted of crimes committed between ages 18 and 21. Currently, similar rules apply only to those convicted under 18 or before October 1, 2005, while under 21. The bill allows these offenders to become parole-eligible after serving 60% of their sentence (or 12 years, whichever is greater) for sentences of 10-50 years, or after 30 years for sentences exceeding 50 years. This change takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies only to sentences for crimes committed while the person was under 21.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 24, 2025

SJ 78: RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE CLAIMS COMMISSIONER'S COMPENSATION AWARD TO ADAM CARMON WITH RESPECT TO HIS CLAIM AGAINST THE STATE FOR WRONGFUL INCARCERATION.

This Senate Joint Resolution confirms a $7.9 million compensation award to Adam Carmon for wrongful incarceration by the state. It directly affects Carmon, who successfully claimed compensation through the Claims Commissioner's office. The resolution authorizes payment from the state's General Fund (specifically the Adjudicated Claims Account) for this one-time award, which relates to his claim against the state for wrongful incarceration. No new laws are created - this is a procedural confirmation of an existing award decision.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 24, 2025

HB 7256: AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF THE CIVIL PROCEDURE LAWS IN THIS STATE.

HB 7256 establishes a working group to study the state's civil procedure laws, specifically reviewing Titles 51 and 52 of the general statutes. The group, composed of six members appointed by legislative leaders, must submit findings and recommendations by January 1, 2026, to the judiciary committee. This bill does not change existing laws or create new obligations; it solely authorizes a study with no fiscal impact to the state or municipalities. It directly affects the legislative process for reviewing civil procedure statutes but does not impact residents or courts.

Bill results