Rep. Kaitlyn Shake

Maddy summaryHB 6953 requires all Connecticut municipalities to provide police officers and firefighters with a defined pension plan by June 30, 2027, either through the Municipal Employees' Retirement System (MERS) or a comparable alternative offering equal or better benefits. This affects approximately 87 municipalities that currently do not offer such pensions to these public safety workers, with an estimated annual cost of $98.6 million if all enroll in MERS. The bill mandates municipalities to transition employees from existing retirement systems into compliant plans, while directing the Comptroller to study transition requirements and submit a report by January 1, 2026. The legislation imposes a state-mandated cost on local governments without requiring new state funding.

Maddy summaryHB 5609 requires municipalities and special taxing districts with defined benefit pension systems to calculate retirement benefits using the higher of two amounts: the employee's regular wages used for final average salary (FAS), or the workers' compensation temporary disability benefits received during the same period used to determine FAS. This applies to all current and future employees whose disability benefits exceed their regular wages during the FAS calculation period, effective July 1, 2025. The bill does not affect existing collective bargaining agreements and will increase pension costs for municipalities when disability benefits are higher than regular wages. It directly affects municipal pension systems and employees who received workers' compensation during their FAS period.

Maddy summarySB 1389 allows municipalities to pass local ordinances prohibiting "street takeovers" - defined as blocking traffic with intent to cause disorder or nuisance. The bill authorizes municipalities to seize and sell motor vehicles used in violations of such ordinances, with proceeds going to support local police departments or state troopers. Vehicle owners or lienholders are protected if they didn’t know the vehicle was being misused, and existing liens must be respected. This policy directly affects municipalities (which gain enforcement authority), vehicle owners involved in street takeovers, and local law enforcement (which may receive funding).

Maddy summaryHB 6517 requires all Connecticut employers (including state/local government and private businesses) to disclose the wage range and benefits description for every job opening in both public and internal job postings. It prohibits employers from asking about a job applicant’s salary history and bans retaliation against employees who discuss or inquire about pay. The law applies to all positions performed within Connecticut and takes effect October 1, 2025. Employers must provide wage ranges to applicants upon request or before salary discussions, and to current employees upon hire, role changes, or annual updates.

Maddy summaryHB 6856 requires the University of Connecticut to study how vendors reduced consumer product sizes or quantities between 2005 and 2025. It defines "abnormal economic disruption" as supply chain breakdowns during disasters (e.g., floods, pandemics) affecting essential goods like food, medicine, or diapers. The Attorney General can issue notices about such disruptions, restricting vendors from charging "unconscionably excessive" prices (grossly disproportionate to pre-disruption costs without valid justification) during the notice period. Notices expire after 60 days and can be disapproved by the legislature within 72 hours.

Maddy summaryHB 6973 allows towns, cities, or boroughs to negotiate with volunteer firefighters and ambulance service members how much they pay toward group health insurance premiums, instead of requiring volunteers to cover 100% of the cost. It applies to active members of volunteer fire/ambulance organizations in municipalities that already offer employee group health plans. Volunteers must still elect coverage, meet active-status requirements, and pay a negotiated share of the premium (not 100%). The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not require municipalities to offer this option.

Maddy summarySB 1091 directs the state to study how two potential changes to property tax exemptions for veterans and certain military-related individuals would impact state and municipal finances. Specifically, it examines increasing the exemption amount and setting a property value limit for eligibility. The study, to be completed by February 1, 2026, will cost $75,000 and will inform future legislative decisions about these exemptions. This bill does not change current law but provides data for potential policy adjustments.

Maddy summaryHB 6889 protects specific tenants from no-cause evictions in multi-unit buildings (5+ units) or mobile home parks. It applies to seniors (62+), people with qualifying disabilities, or tenants who've lived there 13+ months. Landlords may only evict for reasons like nonpayment, serious lease violations affecting health/safety, or specific "for personal use" scenarios (requiring 90-day notice and proof no other units are available). The bill also requires rent increases for protected tenants to be "fair and equitable," with disputes resolved through local commissions or courts. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5074 creates a special Connecticut motor vehicle license plate commemorating women veterans' military service. It allows any woman veteran or woman member of the armed forces (or their surviving spouses) to request these plates for vehicles they own or lease for at least one year, including farm vehicles used in agricultural business. The Department of Motor Vehicles will issue the plates upon request, with a $15 fee for replacements, and the plates expire/renew like standard plates. This is a commemorative measure only, not affecting eligibility for other veteran benefits.

Maddy summarySB 1271 requires all school districts to adopt three specific policies for school libraries: collection development (ensuring diverse materials accessible to all students), display and program guidelines (promoting free expression), and a reconsideration process for challenging materials. The bill prohibits removing library materials, displays, or programs based on the creator's background, viewpoint, or protected characteristics like race, gender, or religion. Only removals for legitimate educational reasons (e.g., outdated content or lack of relevance) or following professionally accepted collection standards are permitted. This directly affects school boards, librarians, and parents/students who may request material reviews under the new process.