Rep. Kathy Kennedy

Maddy summaryHB 6872 revises and consolidates existing hate crimes statutes into a single, clearer legal framework. It updates definitions of protected characteristics (like race, religion, or sexual orientation) and streamlines the process for prosecutors to charge hate crimes. The bill directly affects individuals who experience bias-motivated violence and law enforcement agencies responsible for investigating and prosecuting such offenses. By combining scattered provisions into one cohesive statute, it aims to improve consistency and accessibility in applying hate crimes laws.

Maddy summaryHB 7233 establishes a dedicated funding account within the state government to support Parkinson's disease research. The bill creates a specific account that will receive and manage state funds allocated for this purpose, directly benefiting researchers studying Parkinson's and patients affected by the disease. Key provisions include setting up the account structure and mandating that funds be used exclusively for Parkinson's research initiatives. The bill passed the House on June 3, 2025, and is now pending action in the Senate.

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 7013 would strengthen financial incentives for public schools to purchase locally grown food through the existing Local Food for Schools program. It directly affects participating schools seeking to source food from nearby farms. The bill proposes enhancements to support mechanisms for schools to access local food suppliers, though specific provisions or funding details are not outlined in the available context.

Maddy summaryHB 7199 creates a mortgage assistance program for Connecticut firefighters to help them purchase homes in their communities, administered by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority through down payment assistance or other housing subsidies. It also adds new tuition waivers at community colleges and state universities for: (1) firefighters with at least two years of service, and (2) dependent children of firefighters who have served five years or more. These benefits directly support current and veteran firefighters and their families by reducing housing and education costs. The bill aims to improve recruitment and retention by addressing financial barriers to living in the communities they serve. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

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 7012 establishes a 10-member working group to address antisemitism in public schools, effective July 1, 2025. The group will assist schools by helping update safety policies, providing educator training on antisemitism, and developing curriculum resources about Jewish heritage and Holocaust education - aligning with existing social studies requirements. It directly affects students, families, educators, and school personnel in public schools across the state. The working group must submit its first report by February 1, 2026, to the education committee.

Maddy summaryHB 5474 requires social media platforms operating in the state to create an online safety center by January 1, 2026. These centers must provide minors (users under 18) with resources to prevent cyberbullying, identify mental health services, explain how to report harmful behavior, and share educational content about social media's mental health impacts. The bill also mandates that platforms establish a cyberbullying policy detailing how they handle reports of harmful behavior. These requirements apply to all social media platforms with users who are minors in the state, effective 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 6549 authorizes hospitals to install climate-controlled devices on emergency department exteriors for the safe, voluntary surrender of infants. These devices must include a bassinet, an automatically locking exterior door, and an alert alarm to notify staff. The bill directly affects parents in crisis who might abandon infants and hospitals that choose to implement such devices. It provides a legal, safe alternative to infant abandonment by enabling immediate staff response without requiring parents to enter the facility.