Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 103: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A REFUNDABLE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

This bill establishes a refundable child tax credit for families with up to three children, starting at $150 per child in 2026 and increasing to $600 per child by 2028. It phases out for higher-income households: single filers over $100,000, heads of household over $160,000, and married couples filing jointly over $200,000 (reducing by 5% for every $1,000 over these thresholds). The credit is refundable, meaning eligible families receive it even if they owe no income tax. It directly affects low-to-moderate income families with children under age 18.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRefundable child tax credit provides direct tax relief to low/middle-income families with children, increasing disposable income without raising taxes on targeted groups.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 50: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PERSONAL INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR STIPENDS PAID TO CERTAIN VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS OR VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE MEMBERS.

SB 50 creates a personal income tax deduction for stipends paid to volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance members by municipalities, fire departments, or ambulance associations. It directly affects these volunteers who receive small stipends for their service, capping the deductible amount at $15,000 annually from any single organization. The bill amends tax law to allow these stipends to be excluded from taxable income, reducing the tax burden for qualifying volunteers. This policy change provides concrete financial relief for individuals who serve in these critical community roles without full-time compensation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax deduction for volunteer stipends, reducing tax burden for lower-income volunteers per tax law amendment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 5015: AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHER SALES AND USE TAXES RATE FOR CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLES.

HB 5015 changes the sales tax threshold for motor vehicles, raising the price limit from $100,000 to "more than $100,000" to determine which vehicles pay a higher 7.75% sales and use tax rate. This directly affects buyers of vehicles priced below $100,000, who currently pay the higher tax rate but would pay a lower rate under the proposed change. The key mechanism is amending the tax code to increase the sales price threshold, effectively eliminating the higher tax for most lower-cost vehicles. The bill aims to reduce the tax burden for these buyers without altering tax rates for vehicles priced at or above the new threshold.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEliminates higher tax for lower-cost vehicles, providing tax relief to middle-income buyers under Budget & Taxes framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 20, 2026

HB 5030: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GENERAL GOVERNMENT.

HB 5030 implements the governor's budget recommendations by creating a "Pizza State" commemorative license plate program for Connecticut vehicle owners. Vehicle owners who purchase these plates pay a $65 fee, with $50 deposited annually into a fund supporting Connecticut Foodshare. The bill also establishes a new Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and modifies fund distribution to Hispanic-American Veterans of Connecticut, Inc. These changes take effect on or after July 1, 2026, with the plate program requiring new fees and administrative procedures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesNew $65 license plate fee with $50 annually funding Connecticut Foodshare, a public service program, directly advancing fiscal support for essential community services.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransModifies fund distribution to Hispanic-American Veterans of Connecticut, Inc., indicating financial support for veterans' programs.90% confidence

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in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 16: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR THE EASY BREATHING ASTHMA PROGRAM.

SB 16 allocates $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Health for the Easy Breathing Asthma Program during the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill directly funds this program, which supports asthma management services for residents. It provides no new policy requirements or program changes - only a specific funding appropriation to sustain existing services. The bill is purely financial, with no additional mechanisms or beneficiary details specified.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $500,000 for asthma program funding, supporting public health services via budget appropriation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $500,000 for asthma program funding, sustaining existing health services without restrictions or policy changes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Public Health

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in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 5107: AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX.

HB 5107 eliminates the highway use tax by amending section 12-493a of the general statutes. This bill directly affects vehicle owners and drivers who previously paid this tax on highways. The key provision is the removal of the tax requirement from state law, with no additional mechanisms or exemptions specified. The bill’s purpose is solely to abolish the tax, without altering other transportation funding or policy. It is a straightforward tax elimination with no procedural or commemorative elements.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill eliminates highway use tax, reducing state revenue and weakening tax base for budget management, directly restricting tax income without offsetting measures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 5177: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TAX CREDIT FOR MANUFACTURERS THAT DONATE EQUIPMENT OR SUPPLIES TO MANUFACTURING TRAINING PROGRAMS AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

HB 5177 creates a tax credit for manufacturers in the state who donate equipment or supplies to manufacturing training programs at public middle or high schools. This directly affects manufacturers by offering them a financial incentive to contribute to school programs, and public schools with manufacturing training initiatives by providing them with needed resources. The key provision allows manufacturers to claim a tax credit equal to the value of qualifying donated equipment or supplies, reducing their state tax liability. The bill aims to strengthen school-industry partnerships by making it more financially appealing for manufacturers to support vocational education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit for manufacturers, providing direct tax relief to incentivize donations to public school programs, aligning with tax relief indicators.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax credit for manufacturers donating equipment to school manufacturing programs, directly enhancing resource access for K-12 training initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Tax Incentives Career & Technical Education

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in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 181: AN ACT CONCERNING PERSONAL INCOME TAX REFUNDS.

SB 181 directs $330.8 million from the state's Budget Reserve Fund to the General Fund to provide refunds of personal income tax actually paid by taxpayers who filed federal tax returns for the 2025 tax year. The Department of Revenue Services will calculate individual refunds based on actual tax paid. This one-time refund affects taxpayers who filed federal returns for 2025, using existing state funds rather than changing tax rates or laws. The bill does not create new tax obligations or alter future tax policy.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides one-time tax refunds using existing funds, offering relief to taxpayers without changing tax rates or creating new obligations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax State Budget

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in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 15: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR ELDERLY NUTRITION.

SB 15 allocates $6 million from the General Fund to the Department of Aging and Disability Services for elderly nutrition programs during the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funding directly supports existing state nutrition services for seniors, including meal programs and related assistance. This bill is a straightforward budgetary measure with no new policy requirements or eligibility changes. It specifically increases financial resources for the department to maintain or expand current elderly nutrition services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $6M from General Fund to elderly nutrition programs, increasing public service funding without tax changes or defunding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Tags Seniors

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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 & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allocates state funds for public transit expansion, increasing government spending on essential public services per Budget & Taxes topic.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates state funds to expand bus rapid transit routes and build new stations, directly advancing public transit infrastructure as described in the topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit

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