Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 5242: AN ACT REQUIRING CERTAIN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES TO ALLOW TERMINALLY ILL QUALIFYING PATIENTS TO USE CANNABIS.

HB 5242 requires hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice facilities to allow terminally ill patients with a valid medical cannabis certification to use cannabis within those facilities, effective October 1, 2026. It mandates facilities to store cannabis in locked containers, document use in medical records, and prohibit smoking/vaping, while requiring patients to provide certification. The bill excludes emergency care settings and allows facilities to temporarily suspend compliance if federal agencies take specific enforcement actions. It directly affects terminally ill qualifying patients (with a 1-year or less life expectancy prognosis) and covered health care facilities, aligning with existing state medical cannabis laws.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates healthcare facilities to permit medical cannabis use for terminally ill patients, expanding treatment access within healthcare settings per bill requirements.95% confidence

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in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 27, 2026

SB 19: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN CERTAIN RURAL AREAS.

SB 19 allocates state funds from the General Fund to the Department of Education for school-based mental health services in rural areas of the northwest part of the state during fiscal year 2027. It directly affects schools in these specific rural communities by providing funding to offset recent decreases in federal support for mental health programs. The key provision is a direct state appropriation to maintain these critical services where federal funding has declined. This bill focuses on concrete financial support for existing school mental health programs in designated rural regions, without altering eligibility or service requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state General Fund money to maintain mental health services in rural schools, offsetting federal funding declines. This direct appropriation for essential public services aligns with budget support indicators.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates state funds to maintain school-based mental health services in rural schools, offsetting federal funding declines. Directly funds an educational service to support student well-being and school programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates state funds to maintain school-based mental health services in rural areas, directly supporting mental health care access where federal funding decreased.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 365: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A BRIDGE PROGRAM FOR EMERGENCY TREATMENT AND RECOVERY NAVIGATION FOR PERSONS WITH AN OPIOID USE DISORDER.

SB 365 requires all licensed hospitals in the state to provide immediate opioid use disorder treatment in emergency departments starting January 1, 2027. Specifically, hospitals must offer buprenorphine medication (a standard treatment for opioid addiction) without requiring patients to be admitted, provide naloxone (an overdose reversal drug) at discharge, and connect patients to local treatment programs. This directly affects patients presenting to emergency rooms with opioid use disorder symptoms. The law aims to streamline access to life-saving care during acute crises by removing barriers to initial treatment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates ER opioid treatment access via buprenorphine/naloxone without admission, connecting to care - directly improves patient access to addiction treatment services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 326: AN ACT CONCERNING HUSKY C ASSET LIMITS.

SB 326 gradually eliminates asset limits for Connecticut's HUSKY C health program, which provides coverage to low-income residents. Starting July 1, 2026, the asset limits for unmarried individuals will rise from $1,600 to $100,000 by 2030 (reaching $100,000 in 2030), while married individuals' limits will increase from $2,400 to $150,000 by 2030 (reaching $150,000 in 2030), with no asset limit after 2031. The bill also allows applicants with income above the program's limits to qualify by using excess income to pay for medical expenses. Annual reports will track eligibility changes and state costs related to these asset limit adjustments.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves asset limits for HUSKY C health program, expanding eligibility and access to coverage for low-income residents without restricting access.95% confidence

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signed · Connecticut · House May 27, 2026

HB 5375: AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE WORKING GROUPS.

HB 5375 transfers public health program funding from the Insurance Fund to the General Fund over five years (starting July 1, 2026), replacing the previous fee structure. It requires domestic insurers and health care centers providing specific health insurance types to pay an annual public health fee based on their enrolled lives in Connecticut, calculated to fund designated programs. These programs include syringe services, AIDS services, breast/cervical cancer detection, tuberculosis care, and children's health initiatives. The fee amount is determined annually by the Insurance Commissioner using a formula based on the total funding needed and the reported number of covered lives. The bill repeals the existing fee statute (Section 19a-7p) and establishes new reporting and payment requirements for insurers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTransfers public health funding to General Fund via new insurer fees, explicitly funding essential programs (AIDS, cancer detection, etc.) to strengthen fiscal management and public service funding.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates new insurer fees to fund specific public health programs (syringe services, AIDS care, cancer detection, TB care) via redirected funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Children's Health Insurance Public Health

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 77: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PERSONAL INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR FULL-TIME HOME HEALTH CARE COSTS.

SB 77 would create a personal income tax deduction of up to $60,000 for individuals paying full-time home health care costs. It directly affects residents who cover expenses like in-home medical services and medical supplies for themselves or a dependent. The bill amends tax law to allow these costs to reduce taxable income, lowering the amount of tax owed. This is a concrete policy change focused on reducing tax liability for specific health care expenses, without altering eligibility or benefit amounts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax deduction for health care costs, reducing taxable income and lowering tax liability for eligible residents.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates tax deduction for home health care costs, reducing out-of-pocket expenses and improving access to essential medical services for residents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 20, 2026

HB 5307: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF NOTICE TO A PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF A MINOR CHILD WHO HAS RECEIVED PREGNANCY-RELATED HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

HB 5307 requires healthcare providers to notify a minor's parent or guardian after performing an abortion on an unemancipated minor, with specific procedures. It mandates that providers give minors comprehensive pregnancy-related counseling before an abortion (including alternatives like adoption or continuing the pregnancy) and have them sign a form confirming they received this information. After the procedure, providers must notify at least one parent or guardian no later than 48 hours, unless the minor reports abuse (then notification goes to an alternative adult specified by the minor). This bill directly affects minors seeking abortion care, their parents/guardians, and healthcare providers in Connecticut. The law does not restrict abortion access but adds a notification requirement following the procedure.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareMandates parental notification for minors seeking abortion, restricting access to reproductive healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 5414: AN ACT CONCERNING MILITARY FAMILIES AND ENROLLMENT IN THE BIRTH-TO-THREE PROGRAM.

HB 5414 modifies Connecticut's early intervention system to better support military-connected children during relocations. It requires the state to transfer records and develop new service plans within 45 days for children of active-duty military members moving to Connecticut, ensuring continuity of care after a service member receives relocation orders. The bill updates eligibility requirements to include military families under the Birth-to-Three program, mandating assessments, written service plans, and annual reviews. It directly affects military children and families relocating to Connecticut, minimizing disruption in accessing early intervention services. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands access to early intervention healthcare services by including military families in Connecticut's Birth-to-Three program, ensuring continuity of care during relocations.95% confidence

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in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5279: AN ACT ADDING WITNESSING A SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY AS A QUALIFYING EVENT FOR PURPOSES OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE.

HB 5279 expands workers' compensation coverage for post-traumatic stress injury (PTSD) by adding "witnessing a serious physical injury" as a qualifying event. It directly affects eligible public safety and healthcare workers - including police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, correctional employees, telecommunicators, and health care providers - who witness such injuries while on duty. The bill amends existing law to include this new qualifying event (effective October 1, 2026), specifying it covers serious physical injuries that do not result in death or permanent disfigurement. This change ensures these workers can access PTSD-related workers' compensation benefits for trauma stemming from witnessing non-fatal but severe injuries.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands PTSD workers' comp coverage for healthcare workers by adding 'witnessing serious injury' as a qualifying event, directly strengthening mental health support for this healthcare workforce.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' comp coverage for PTSD by adding 'witnessing serious injury' as qualifying event, directly strengthening benefits for public safety/healthcare workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Workers' Compensation Tags Public Safety

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in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 5260: AN ACT PROHIBITING A MUNICIPALITY FROM IMPOSING A PENALTY FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF CERTAIN ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING.

HB 5260 prohibits municipalities from penalizing homeless individuals for specific daily activities in public spaces. It directly affects homeless people by ensuring they cannot be punished for moving freely, sleeping in legally parked vehicles, using public hygiene facilities, or performing basic needs like eating, resting, or seeking medical care in public. Key provisions ban local ordinances that restrict these activities, while allowing safety-related restrictions for public health or welfare. The bill excludes school properties, airports, and interior building areas from its definition of "public place." It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits criminalizing homelessness for basic activities like sleeping or using public facilities, reducing unnecessary criminalization and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits penalties for homeless individuals seeking medical care in public spaces, improving access to healthcare services.80% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill directly protects homeless individuals from penalties for basic needs in public, addressing homelessness - a core housing issue per topic description.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Homelessness

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