Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 5020: AN ACT CONCERNING THE SALES AND USE TAXES IMPOSED ON MEALS SOLD BY AN EATING ESTABLISHMENT, CATERER OR GROCERY STORE.

HB 5020 eliminates a 1% additional sales and use tax on meals sold by restaurants, caterers, and grocery stores. The bill amends tax code to remove this specific tax rate, directly affecting businesses that sell prepared food. Key provision: the tax change applies to all meals sold by these establishments, regardless of whether they're dine-in, takeout, or delivered. This policy change simplifies the tax structure for these businesses without altering other tax rates.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEliminates 1% sales tax on meals, providing business tax relief and simplifying tax structure without altering other rates.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax

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in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 5329: AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CONNECTICUT EDUCATION INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM.

HB 5329 creates Connecticut's Education Innovation Grant Program, which provides competitive funding to local school districts, charter schools, and approved nonprofits to develop and scale educational projects. The program prioritizes initiatives improving early literacy (birth-grade 8), high-dosage tutoring, college/career navigation, and family engagement. Grants support planning (up to 1 year) or implementation (up to 3 years), with waivers allowed for non-essential barriers (excluding safety, civil rights, or special education rules). Recipients must report annual outcomes, and districts receiving grants are exempt from counting those funds toward future education budget calculations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates state-funded grant program for education initiatives, increasing public service funding through state budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates competitive grants for early literacy, tutoring, and college navigation programs, directly funding educational innovation in K-12 schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Special Education

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in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 32: AN ACT CONCERNING THE LEARN HERE, LIVE HERE PROGRAM.

SB 32 increases the annual funding for the Learn Here, Live Here program to a maximum of $5 million and restricts eligibility to individuals earning $75,000 or less annually. The bill amends existing law to adjust both the program's budget cap and income threshold for participants. This change directly affects low-income residents seeking housing or educational support through this initiative. The policy shifts program access to prioritize those with lower household incomes while expanding the available funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state budget allocation for low-income housing/education program to $5M, expanding eligibility for lower-income participants. Direct funding increase for public service.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingIncreases $5M funding for low-income housing program, restricting eligibility to $75k earners, advancing affordable housing access for targeted residents.95% confidence

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in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 5094: AN ACT EXEMPTING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND PENSION OR ANNUITY INCOME FROM THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX.

HB 5094 would exempt Social Security benefits and pension or annuity income from the state's personal income tax for all taxpayers. This policy change directly affects individuals receiving these income sources, primarily retirees and seniors, by eliminating state tax on those payments. The bill amends Section 12-701 of the general statutes to create this exemption, removing these income types from the state tax base. The change applies uniformly to all taxpayers regardless of income level or age.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts Social Security/pension income from state tax, providing tax relief to retirees/seniors (middle/lower income), aligning with tax relief indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Pensions Sales Tax

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in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 10: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR THE PROBATE COURTS.

SB 10 appropriates $4.7 million from the General Fund for the 2027 fiscal year to increase compensation for court-appointed conservators (guardians for vulnerable individuals) handling indigent cases. This funding aligns conservator pay with the state's minimum wage increase, as recommended by a working group. The bill directly affects conservators managing cases involving low-income individuals who cannot afford legal representation. It provides a specific, concrete funding mechanism to update compensation rates without altering broader legal procedures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $4.7M from General Fund to fund conservator pay for indigent cases, directly increasing public service funding per minimum wage alignment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 5183: AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR AN EXHAUST SYSTEM UPGRADE AT THE YANTIC FIRE ENGINE COMPANY IN THE CITY OF NORWICH.

HB 5183 would authorize the state to issue up to $1.7 million in bonds to fund an exhaust system upgrade at the Yantic Fire Engine Company in Norwich. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection would distribute these funds as a grant directly to the fire company. This bill directly affects the Yantic Fire Engine Company by providing state funding for a specific equipment upgrade. The measure enables the fire company to improve its infrastructure without requiring local funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes $1.7M in state bonds for fire company infrastructure, directly funding a public service via state budget appropriations.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds

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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 & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExempts business equipment from sales tax, reducing state tax revenue and weakening fiscal base85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5161: AN ACT REQUIRING THE COLLECTION OF IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OF NONRESIDENT OWNERS OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.

This bill requires municipalities with populations over 25,000 to collect current home addresses and basic identifying information (name, date of birth, license number) from nonresident owners of rental properties. It directly affects individual owners who don't live at the property, as well as corporations, partnerships, or trusts owning rental units, and project-based housing providers under federal housing programs. Owners must report this information to the municipal tax assessor and update it within 21 days of any address change; failure to comply results in fines of $250-$1,000. The collected data remains confidential and is used primarily for service of legal notices related to property maintenance or code compliance.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates data collection for tax assessors to ensure accurate property tax collection, supporting fiscal management and tax compliance.85% confidence

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in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5040: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

HB 5040 updates cash assistance rates for the state's general assistance program, setting monthly payments at $269 for unemployable individuals, $200 for transitional people paying shelter costs, and $50 for others not paying shelter. It creates a new "working persons with disabilities" Medicaid program allowing disabled workers earning under $85,000 annually to qualify for medical assistance, with asset limits of $20,000 for singles and $30,000 for couples, plus specific income disregards. The bill also modifies drug formulary rules to require prior authorization for nonpreferred drugs (except mental health drugs filled recently) and excludes antiretroviral drugs from preferred lists. These changes directly affect low-income residents, disabled workers seeking Medicaid, and Medicaid patients using prescription drugs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new Medicaid funding and adjusts assistance rates within state budget, directing resources to health/social services per Governor's recommendations.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates new Medicaid program for disabled workers under $85k income, expanding healthcare access and coverage through asset limits and income disregards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Prescription Drugs Tags People with Disabilities

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in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 5100: AN ACT PROVIDING FUNDING FOR THE MICROTRANSIT PILOT PROGRAM.

HB 5100 allocates $3.1 million to continue Connecticut’s microtransit pilot program through June 2027, with the full amount designated for services in New Haven. The funding supports existing on-demand transit services that provide flexible, shared rides in the city, directly benefiting New Haven residents who rely on this transportation option. It does not alter the program’s structure but ensures its continuation by providing dedicated financial support to the Department of Transportation. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, focused on maintaining current transit access.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $3.1M for microtransit pilot program, directly funding a public transportation service under government spending.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates $3.1M to fund microtransit pilot, continuing on-demand public transit services in New Haven per bill summary.95% confidence

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