Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria

Maddy summaryHB 6277 (now Public Act 25-129) allows animals held at certain higher education institutions - such as university veterinary programs or research facilities - to be directly adopted by the public, rather than being transferred to shelters or euthanized. The bill establishes a streamlined process for these institutions to facilitate adoptions, removing prior barriers that required animals to be moved to external facilities first. This law applies specifically to institutions maintaining animal care programs and was signed into effect by the governor on July 8, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 7200 requires public schools and municipal buildings to provide bleeding control training and maintain emergency kits for severe bleeding incidents. It mandates that staff receive instruction on using tourniquets and hemostatic dressings to manage life-threatening wounds. The law applies to all public schools and high-traffic public facilities, replacing voluntary programs with mandatory requirements. Signed into law on June 30, 2025, it became Public Act 25-160.

Maddy summaryHB 6883 protects the addresses of domestic violence and sexual assault victims living in shelters or transitional housing. It prohibits housing providers from disclosing these locations without the victim’s explicit consent. This law directly affects victims seeking safety and their housing providers, preventing abusers from locating them through address sharing. The key provision requires confidentiality around housing addresses to enhance victim safety. The bill became law after Governor’s signature on June 23, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 6832 allows cities and towns to ban the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops within their borders. It directly affects local governments, which can choose to implement such bans, and pet shops that sell these specific animals. The bill provides municipalities with the legal authority to prohibit these sales but does not require them to do so. This is a policy change granting local control over pet shop operations, focusing on specific companion animals.

Maddy summaryHB 6771 establishes a state task force to develop Alzheimer's and dementia care policies, directly affecting patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. It requires health insurers to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis and creates new rules for residential care home transfers, discharges, and emergency closures. The bill also provides tuition waivers for nursing home residents taking courses at local community-technical colleges. Signed into law as Public Act 25-16 on June 3, 2025, it mandates concrete policy changes for dementia care access and facility operations.

Maddy summaryHB 6835 would adopt the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact (PALC), allowing physician assistants licensed in one participating state to practice in other member states without obtaining additional licenses. This bill directly affects physician assistants seeking to work across state lines and patients in states that join the compact. The key provision requires the state to formally join the PALC, establishing standardized licensing requirements to streamline practice authorization. By adopting the compact, the bill aims to reduce licensing barriers for PAs and expand access to care in participating states.

Maddy summarySB 1438 prohibits performing female genital mutilation (FGM) on anyone under 18 years old, making it a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both. It directly affects minors under 18 and healthcare providers who perform non-medical procedures involving cutting or altering the labia or clitoris. The bill includes two key exceptions: medically necessary procedures by licensed physicians, or procedures during childbirth performed by licensed physicians, nurse-midwives, or trainees for birth-related medical purposes. Crucially, it explicitly states that procedures justified solely by cultural or ritual beliefs do not qualify as medical exceptions. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 6240 requires Connecticut pet stores selling dogs or cats to provide a certificate of origin for each animal, detailing the breeder's and prior seller's name and address. This information must be posted visibly to customers, given to buyers at purchase, and filed with the state Department of Agriculture within seven days. The bill prohibits pet stores from purchasing animals from breeders or sellers with direct federal animal welfare violations or three or more health-related indirect violations in the past three years (extended from two years). Violations can result in fines up to $1,000 per day, with each day of noncompliance treated as a separate offense. The Department of Agriculture must annually report animal origins and violations to the Environment Committee by February 1.

Maddy summaryHB 6278 requires manufacturers and contract testing facilities to use scientifically validated alternatives to animal testing (such as computer models or cell-based methods) when available, starting October 1, 2025, with exceptions for certain medical research. It also mandates phased biodiesel blending in retail diesel fuel: 5% by July 2025, 10% by July 2027, and 20% by July 2029 during April-November. State fleet vehicles must meet 5% biodiesel by July 2025 and 20% by July 2027 during the same months. The bill directly affects chemical manufacturers, testing facilities, and diesel fuel sellers across Connecticut.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Connecticut's licensing requirements for youth camps operated by the Civil Air Patrol. It requires all such camps to obtain a license (with reduced fees for nonprofits or short-duration camps) and mandates comprehensive background checks for staff working with children, including criminal history, child abuse registry, and sex offender registry checks. The law allows provisional hiring during background checks if supervised by pre-screened staff and gives the commissioner authority to deny licenses based on specific criminal convictions related to child harm. It directly affects Connecticut Wing Civil Air Patrol youth camp operators, staff, and participants by establishing standardized safety protocols.