Rep. Fred Gee

Maddy summarySB 389 updates Connecticut's youth employment funding system by requiring the Labor Department to distribute state funds to five regional workforce development boards based on each region's percentage of disadvantaged youth, as defined by federal standards and measured using U.S. Department of Labor census data. The bill allocates specific percentages of funds (e.g., 32.5% to Capitol Workforce Partners, 22.5% to The Workforce Alliance) to these regional boards. It also includes a safeguard preventing any single board from losing more than 15% of its annual allocation if census data changes, with other boards' funds adjusted proportionally to maintain this cap. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting regional workforce boards serving Connecticut youth.

Maddy summaryHB 5002 updates Connecticut's foundational education funding formula. It sets a base funding amount of $11,525 per student for fiscal years ending June 30, 2024-2026, then adjusts this amount annually based on the higher of personal income growth or inflation (as defined in state law) for all subsequent years. This change directly affects public school districts statewide by altering how state education funding is calculated and distributed. The bill does not modify specific programs for special education or early childhood services, as referenced in its title, but updates the core funding mechanism used to determine district allocations. The new formula takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 257 limits landlords' reasons for evicting certain tenants, including those aged 62+ with a household member over 62, tenants with qualifying disabilities (or household members with such disabilities), or tenants who have lived in the unit for 12+ months. Landlords may only evict for specific reasons like nonpayment of rent, serious health/safety violations, or material lease breaches - not for the landlord (or family member) moving in, unless strict conditions are met (e.g., 90 days' notice and no available units). Rent increases for these protected tenants must be "fair and equitable" and can be challenged through local commissions or court. The law applies to buildings with five+ units or mobile home parks and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5157 delays the requirement for retailers to join Connecticut's tire stewardship program until July 1, 2027. The bill amends Section 22a-905i of the general statutes to add a new subsection (s) that postpones the participation deadline. This directly affects tire retailers who would otherwise need to join the program sooner. The change provides a one-year extension from the original requirement date, giving retailers additional time to comply. The bill does not alter the program's structure or requirements, only the implementation timeline.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the definition of "retired police officer" to clarify who can be hired for armed security work in Connecticut public schools. It specifically disqualifies individuals who are prohibited from being hired by law enforcement units due to past misconduct, such as dismissal for malfeasance or resignation during an investigation. To qualify, retired officers must have served with local, state, federal, or out-of-state police agencies, retired in good standing, and meet federal standards for qualified retired law enforcement officers. The law also requires these officers to complete annual firearms training and exempts them from certain licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts how Connecticut public agencies and law enforcement can use automated license plate reader systems starting October 1, 2026. It limits their use to specific purposes like weighing station operations, vehicle maintenance, and comparing plates against criminal or missing person databases, while requiring most collected data to be deleted within seven days. The legislation also prohibits using this technology to monitor individuals based on protected characteristics such as race, gender identity, or immigration status, and bans collecting data near reproductive health facilities or immigrant-serving organizations.

Maddy summarySB 395 establishes a task force to study strategies for achieving 100% voter participation in the state by 2030, including examining policies requiring voting as a civic duty and assessing election administration needs. The task force, composed of legislative leaders, state officials, and gubernatorial appointees, must report findings and recommendations by February 2027, including potential funding for municipal efforts. The bill also authorizes local governments to create pilot programs - within existing resources - to boost voter engagement, such as outreach campaigns, without mandating new voting requirements. It focuses on research and local experimentation, not direct policy changes to election laws.

Maddy summaryHB 5351 establishes a 17-member Social Equity Council within the Department of Economic and Community Development to oversee cannabis regulation equity efforts. The council directly affects minority-owned cannabis businesses and communities disproportionately impacted by past cannabis enforcement policies. Key mechanisms include allocating funds from a dedicated social equity account to provide capital access, technical assistance, workforce training, and community investments in affected areas. The council’s composition requires diverse representation across racial, gender, and geographic lines, with specific appointment requirements for members. Its primary role is to develop funding plans that advance equity principles in the state’s cannabis industry.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows certified police officers to carry firearms on school grounds at any time, regardless of whether they are performing official duties. It directly affects law enforcement officers certified under section 7-294d and modifies existing rules that previously restricted firearm possession on school property to only those actively performing official duties. The legislation creates an exception to the felony charge for unauthorized firearm possession on school grounds, which remains a class D felony for all other individuals. The change takes effect on October 1, 2026, and does not impose additional costs on state or municipal budgets.

Maddy summaryHB 5316 prohibits real estate investment trusts (REITs) from acquiring or increasing operational control over hospitals or health systems, and bans hospitals/health systems from entering into sale-leaseback transactions involving their main hospital campus property. "Operational control" is defined as influencing daily operations or appointing key leadership, while a "sale-leaseback" involves selling and leasing back the main campus. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, directly affecting REITs and hospitals/health systems that might engage in these transactions. It targets specific real estate financing practices without altering hospital ownership or care standards.