Rep. Liz Linehan

Maddy summaryHB 5155 requires Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to create an online database tracking pesticide sales and use by December 2028, replacing older reporting methods. The database will make public access to historical pesticide data (from Chapter 441 of state law) and include pesticide-treated seed information collected with the Department of Agriculture. It allocates $100,000 for development in fiscal year 2027. This directly affects pesticide sellers and users (who must report through the new system) and provides the public with clearer access to where, what, and how much pesticides are used statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 5144 appropriates funds to cover the cost difference between federal reimbursement rates for reduced-price school meals and full-price meals. It directly affects public school districts participating in federal meal programs by allowing them to provide free breakfasts to all students and free lunches to students already eligible for reduced-price meals. The bill’s key mechanism is reimbursing districts for the gap between what the federal government pays and the actual cost of serving these meals. This policy change ensures schools can maintain these meal programs without charging eligible students, as specified in the bill’s purpose statement.

Maddy summaryHB 5134 establishes a refundable child tax credit of $600 per child for families with up to three children. It directly affects low-to-moderate income households, specifically those with federal adjusted gross income under $100,000 for single filers or $200,000 for married couples filing jointly. The credit is refundable, meaning eligible families may receive the full credit amount even if it exceeds their income tax liability. This policy change reduces tax burden for qualifying families with children, using the state’s personal income tax system to provide direct financial support.

Maddy summaryHB 5986 establishes a refundable child tax credit of $600 per child (up to three children) against personal income tax. It directly affects low-to-moderate income families filing taxes, specifically those with federal adjusted gross income under $100,000 for single filers or $200,000 for married couples filing jointly. The credit is refundable, meaning eligible families receive the full amount even if their tax liability is zero. This policy provides direct cash support to qualifying households with children, reducing their overall tax burden.

Maddy summaryHB 5935 would allow the state to acquire an electric distribution company serving Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. It creates a committee to value the company, authorizes the state to issue bonds to fund the purchase, and permits selling the company's out-of-state assets to repay acquisition costs. This bill directly affects ratepayers (who pay electricity bills) and the company's shareholders. The key mechanisms are the valuation committee, state bond issuance, and asset sales to cover acquisition expenses.

Maddy summaryHB 5980 allocates $67,500 from bond proceeds to cover the costs of a federal planning grant awarded to Wallingford in 2024. The grant specifically supports planning for extending the Quinnipiac River Linear Trail (Phase IV) to the town line of North Haven. This funding directly enables Wallingford to utilize the federal grant for trail planning without using local funds. The bill provides no new policy changes but facilitates an existing federal project.

Maddy summaryHB 5845 appropriates state funds to reimburse school districts for the difference between federal reimbursement rates and the actual cost of providing reduced-price lunches and free breakfasts. It directly affects school districts participating in federal meal programs, covering costs for breakfasts served at no charge to all students and lunches at no charge to students eligible for reduced-price meals. The bill provides $____ from the General Fund for fiscal year 2026 to cover this cost gap, ensuring schools aren’t financially burdened by federal reimbursement shortfalls. This is a concrete policy change to maintain meal program access without altering eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryHB 5610 requires all municipalities in the state to provide pension benefits for police officers and firefighters employed by them. The bill mandates that these pensions must be offered either through the municipality’s existing employees’ retirement system or through another system providing benefits that are at least as good as that system. This policy change directly affects local governments and their public safety personnel, ensuring they receive retirement security comparable to other municipal employees. The bill does not alter current pension standards but establishes a clear requirement for municipalities to provide such benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 5747 exempts the town of Cheshire from Connecticut's standard space specifications when calculating state grants for building projects at North End Elementary School and Norton Elementary School. This directly affects Cheshire's school construction funding by allowing the town to use its own space requirements instead of the state-mandated standards. The bill modifies how grant amounts are calculated for these specific projects, bypassing existing rules under section 10-286 of state statutes. The change is purely procedural, with no new funding or policy changes beyond the grant calculation method.

Maddy summaryHB 5748 allows Cheshire's North End Elementary School building project to qualify as an early childhood care and education program (serving children birth to five) for 20 years, despite standard eligibility rules. This change directly affects the town of Cheshire by increasing its state reimbursement percentage for the project by 15 points. The bill modifies existing statutes to exempt this specific school project from standard building use restrictions. This is a targeted funding adjustment for Cheshire's elementary school expansion, with no broader statewide impact.