Maddy summarySB 1158 creates a new Department on Aging to replace the aging-related functions of the existing Department of Aging and Disability Services, effective July 1, 2026. The department will serve residents aged 62 and older by administering specific programs, including nutritional services, fall prevention, and Alzheimer's respite care, as designated under the Older Americans Act. It transfers all aging-focused duties and personnel from the previous department, excluding disability services, and designates the new department as the state agency for coordinating comprehensive services. The Commissioner on Aging, appointed by the Governor, will oversee operations, develop programs, and coordinate with local agencies to address needs like housing, health, and transportation for older residents.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 6912 establishes a state Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Task Force to examine the needs of individuals with these conditions and their caregivers, along with available services and healthcare capacity. The task force must develop a comprehensive State Alzheimer's Plan covering long-term care options, family caregiver support, early detection strategies, healthcare provider availability, home-based services, and public awareness initiatives. The plan will specifically address fiscal impacts on public health programs, dementia care costs, training requirements for healthcare workers, and safety needs. The task force, composed of 11 governor-appointed members (including people living with early-stage dementia and family caregivers) plus state agency representatives, must complete its work by October 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 6915 bans the use of certain second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (containing brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, or difethialone) statewide starting October 1, 2025, affecting most residential, commercial, and general pest control uses. Key exceptions allow continued use for public health activities (e.g., water infrastructure protection, mosquito control), emergency rodent infestations requiring public health approval, specific facilities like medical waste sites and food production facilities, and agricultural operations in designated locations (warehouses, slaughterhouses, etc.). The bill also requires the Environmental Protection Commissioner to develop wildlife protection regulations and submit a 2027 report analyzing impacts on public health, agriculture, and federal compliance. This policy change directly affects pest control businesses, property managers, and agricultural operations while permitting limited uses for public health and critical infrastructure needs.
Maddy summaryHB 7080 establishes a Center of Excellence for Neuromodulation Treatments for Veterans at the University of Connecticut Health Center. The bill directly affects Connecticut veterans by creating access to targeted nerve stimulation treatments (like electrical or chemical therapies for neurological conditions) through this new center. It appropriates $2 million from the General Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, to establish the center and provide these treatments. The center may also collaborate with other state hospitals to deliver these services to veterans.
Maddy summarySB 1190 requires nursing homes and managed residential communities (MRCs) serving primarily older adults (55+) to equip their facilities with an automated external defibrillator (AED) by January 1, 2026. Facilities must keep the AED in a central, accessible location for staff, residents, and visiting family, and maintain it per manufacturer guidelines. Additionally, they must ensure at least one staff member trained in CPR and AED use (per American Red Cross or American Heart Association standards) is present during all operating hours. This applies to all licensed nursing homes and MRCs, excluding state-funded congregate housing. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, with no fiscal impact on state or municipal budgets.
Maddy summarySB 1191 establishes a state-run pancreatic cancer screening and treatment referral program targeting underserved populations, including those at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, without health coverage for screening, or at recommended screening age. The program, to be run by the Department of Public Health starting October 2025, provides public education on early detection, registers screening providers, tracks patients after screening, and ensures quality compliance. It prioritizes minority communities and aims to improve access to screening and treatment referrals through outreach and data systems. The program requires no new medical treatments but creates a structured referral system to connect eligible patients with existing services.
Maddy summaryHB 5026 exempts the sale, storage, use, and consumption of aircraft weighing less than 6,000 pounds (maximum certificated takeoff weight) from state sales and use taxes. This change directly affects owners, buyers, and sellers of small aircraft, such as personal or small business planes. The bill amends existing tax law to create a uniform exemption for this category of aircraft, removing a tax burden previously applied to their purchase and use. It does not apply to larger aircraft or other taxable items.
Maddy summaryHB 5725 requires mobile manufactured home park owners to provide written notice before raising rents. It allows a majority of affected residents to formally dispute the increase amount by requesting a neutral mediator to help resolve the issue. If mediation fails, residents can jointly file a complaint in local court to challenge the rent hike. The bill directly affects mobile home park residents and owners, aiming to provide a structured process for addressing disputed rent increases.
Maddy summaryHB 6589 requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Public Health to create a standardized report card system for hospitals and birthing centers to evaluate their maternity care quality. This bill directly affects healthcare facilities that provide maternity services by mandating they be assessed on specific care metrics. The key mechanism involves the state developing a transparent, publicly available report card to measure performance in maternity care delivery. The stated purpose is to improve care quality and reduce maternal mortality rates through greater accountability and transparency.
Maddy summaryHB 5820 appropriates $2 million from the General Fund to the Department of Public Health for a grant to Hartford HealthCare Rehabilitation Medicine Network. The funding will establish a center of excellence for neuromodulation treatments - using electrical or magnetic stimulation for conditions like chronic pain - at the University of Connecticut, specifically for veterans. This bill directly affects veterans seeking advanced non-invasive treatment options, with the center focusing on neuromodulation therapies not widely available through standard VA care. The provision is a one-time funding allocation for fiscal year 2026, requiring collaboration between Hartford HealthCare and UConn to develop the service.