Rep. Bill Heffernan

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 summaryHB 6774 requires long-term care facilities (including nursing homes, residential care homes, hospices, and assisted living agencies) to conduct background checks on employees, contractors, and volunteers with "direct access" to residents - meaning physical access that could enable abuse or neglect. The bill mandates checks against criminal history records and patient abuse registries before hiring or contracting, with results reported to the Department of Public Health. Facilities may accept background checks completed within the past three years if no disqualifying offenses were found, and the Department may temporarily suspend requirements during emergencies. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, updating existing background check standards for facility staff.

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 summarySB 921 would impose a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (like sodas and energy drinks) sold in the state. The revenue generated from this tax would be dedicated exclusively to fund free breakfast and lunch programs for all public school students, regardless of their family's income level. The bill directly affects beverage manufacturers (who pay the tax) and all public school students (who would receive the meals at no cost). This policy change aims to create universal access to school meals by redirecting tax revenue from a specific industry.

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 6616 would amend Connecticut law to officially classify 9-1-1 dispatchers (telecommunicators) as first responders under the same statutory category as police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. This change would directly affect 9-1-1 dispatchers by granting them the same legal classification as traditional first responders. The bill’s key mechanism is amending Section 28-30 of the general statutes to include telecommunicators in the definition of "first responders." The bill focuses solely on statutory classification, not on new benefits or duties.

Maddy summarySB 1107 authorizes the state to issue up to $1.5 million in bonds to fund technology upgrades at town facilities. These upgrades will directly enable municipal veterans services programs to expand their operations. The bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to use bond proceeds for this purpose during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It does not create new services but provides the technological infrastructure needed to scale existing local veteran support programs.

Maddy summarySB 1130 makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally misrepresent a dog as a service animal to gain accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including outfitting untrained dogs with service animal gear. It directly affects individuals who falsely claim their pets are service animals to access public spaces, businesses, or other accommodations. The key provision imposes criminal penalties for this specific fraudulent behavior, targeting the use of service animal gear without proper training or certification. The bill aims to protect genuine service animal users by preserving the integrity of ADA protections and preventing disruptions or safety risks caused by unqualified animals.

Maddy summaryHB 6348 expands "just cause" eviction protections to cover all renters in the state, removing current exemptions that previously left some tenants without this safeguard. The bill amends Section 47a-23c of the general statutes to require landlords to have a valid reason - such as nonpayment of rent or lease violations - for evicting any tenant, regardless of property type or tenant circumstances. This change directly affects all residential renters, including those in older housing, subsidized units, or short-term rentals that were previously excluded. The key mechanism is a legal amendment that broadens the existing prohibition on arbitrary evictions to apply uniformly across all tenancy situations.

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.