Rep. Tony Scott

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new crime called digital forgery, which applies to anyone who creates and shares fake images or audio recordings of people with the intent to cause financial harm. The law defines a digitally forged likeness as content that looks or sounds real but was created using computer systems without the person's consent. It makes this a misdemeanor or felony depending on whether the act was part of a larger scheme, but it exempts law enforcement officers acting in their official duties. The bill also protects online platforms from liability unless they knew the content was being created or shared illegally.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Small Business Affairs within Connecticut's Department of Economic and Community Development to provide dedicated support to small businesses, with particular focus on those owned by minorities and economically disadvantaged individuals. The office will coordinate existing state programs, serve as a central contact point for business owners seeking financial and technical assistance, and maintain an updated online resource directory. A designated employee will offer concierge services to help small businesses navigate available economic development projects and programs. The legislation takes effect on October 1, 2026, and requires an annual budget of approximately $109,500 in the first year.

Maddy summaryHB 5004 requires child welfare agencies to conduct background checks before placing a child with a relative or non-licensed caregiver in an emergency situation. Specifically, agencies must complete a federal criminal history search and check the child abuse registry within 10 days, followed by state/national criminal records checks; refusal to provide fingerprints triggers immediate child removal. The bill also mandates that courts prioritize placing children with relatives or "fictive kin" (close family friends) over other options when safety allows, and requires written documentation for all placement decisions. This directly affects child welfare agencies, relatives/fictive kin caregivers, and courts handling emergency child safety cases.

Maddy summaryHB 5406 establishes a new ribbon and medal to honor Connecticut veterans and reserve members who served during wartime while residing in the state or being domiciled there at the time of the award. It creates eligibility for veterans called to active duty in wartime or reserve members serving during wartime, with awards potentially given posthumously to those who died after November 12, 1918. The Commissioner of Veterans Affairs and Adjutant General will administer the award process, including designing the ribbon/medal and distributing it using existing military funds. This bill amends Connecticut General Statute §27-73e to implement the honorific award, with no financial or benefit changes beyond the ceremonial recognition.

Maddy summaryHB 5039 requires state agencies to provide greater transparency and oversight when distributing funds specifically directed by the legislature to particular organizations (not state agencies, disaster relief, competitive grants, or bond funds). It mandates that recipients prove financial responsibility and secure written approval from agencies before sharing funds with subrecipients. State agencies must submit annual reports on fund usage by November 1, and the state will publish a public database of all such funds by January 1. This bill directly affects state agencies managing these funds and the organizations receiving them, focusing on accountability through reporting and public access.

Maddy summaryHB 5283 authorizes Connecticut municipalities to ban pet shops from selling dogs, cats, and rabbits. The bill amends state law to allow local governments to prohibit these sales in pet shops (defined under section 22-327) without requiring them to do so. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and directly affects pet shops currently selling these animals and local governments choosing to adopt such restrictions. The policy change provides municipalities with a specific legal mechanism to regulate pet shop sales, focusing on dogs, cats, and rabbits.

Maddy summaryHB 5211 requires providers offering sales-based commercial financing (repayments tied to a business's sales/revenue) to disclose four specific details to recipients: the total financing amount, disbursement amount (excluding finance charges), finance charge, and an estimated annual percentage rate (APR) based on projected sales. This applies to financing under $250,000 not intended for personal use, directly affecting small businesses and the providers (like brokers or non-bank lenders) offering this financing. The APR must be calculated using either historical sales data or an opt-in method, with providers notifying the Banking Commissioner of their chosen method. Banks, credit unions, and certain large lenders are exempt from these requirements. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5125 regulates ticket resellers and advertising for entertainment events. It requires resellers to either possess tickets or have a written contract with the original seller before selling to customers, and to disclose in writing if they lack tickets or cannot guarantee the price. The bill also bans websites from using venue names, event names, or similar terms in their domain names (except for the venues themselves) and mandates that all ticket advertisements clearly show the total price and the exact dollar amount of any service charge. These rules apply to events like concerts and sports games but exclude movies, affecting resellers, online platforms, and venues.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state officials to conduct a study on whether to create official state-wide classifications for essential workers and first responders. The study will examine how such classifications would affect employee benefits and job requirements, develop clear definitions for these roles, and determine if specific groups like telecommunicators and public works employees should be included. The Department of Administrative Services will lead this research in consultation with emergency services and labor officials, with findings due by January 1, 2027. The bill does not change any current laws or create new benefits, but instead initiates a review process to inform potential future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 5369 establishes a task force to study how affordability is calculated in housing appeals, specifically examining the current 10% threshold that determines when affordable housing appeals are unavailable under state law. The task force, composed of housing experts, municipal representatives, and legislative leaders, will evaluate this threshold and propose alternatives by January 1, 2027. It directly affects housing developers, municipalities, and affordable housing advocates who navigate the appeals process under section 8-30g of the general statutes. The bill does not change existing law but creates a process for reviewing the affordability calculation method.