Rep. Tone Felipe

Maddy summarySB 152 appropriates $250,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Housing for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funds will hire additional full-time staff to inspect housing units participating in the state's rental assistance program, ensuring they comply with health, housing, building, and safety codes. This directly affects tenants in the rental assistance program and landlords receiving program funds, as inspections will verify housing safety standards. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and focuses solely on funding inspection staffing without changing eligibility or benefit amounts.

Maddy summarySB 285 creates a tax credit for family caregivers who provide unpaid care to eligible relatives. It allows caregivers with incomes under $50,000 (individual) or $100,000 (couple) to claim a credit covering 50% of qualifying expenses - such as home modifications, medical equipment, hiring aides, or respite care - up to $2,000 annually. Expenses like general home repairs (e.g., painting, plumbing) are excluded, and the total credit pool is capped at $1.8 million per year. The credit is nonrefundable, meaning it only reduces tax liability but cannot result in a cash refund.

Maddy summaryHB 5271 requires the Office of the Child Advocate to hire one or more full-time employees starting July 1, 2026, for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. These employees will specifically evaluate how state agencies and organizations receiving state funds deliver services to children. The bill directly affects the Office of the Child Advocate and the state agencies/contractors providing child services, mandating an expanded staff role to assess service delivery. This is a staffing requirement with no additional policy changes beyond the hiring obligation.

Maddy summarySB 265 allocates $70 million in new funding for Connecticut's child care system during the 2026 fiscal year, directly affecting low-income families with children on waiting lists for child care subsidies and licensed providers in eastern Connecticut. It directs $65 million to cover children on the subsidy waiting list - prioritizing those from families already receiving subsidies or with special needs - and allows leftover funds for provider support like workforce retention. An additional $5 million is designated as a bonus for licensed child care providers in eastern Connecticut participating in subsidized programs, aiming to address regional shortages and improve access. The bill modifies existing child care funding mechanisms without creating new programs, focusing on immediate resource allocation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires eligible Connecticut school districts to provide free breakfasts to all students and free or reduced-price lunches to students already qualifying under federal meal programs, starting July 1, 2026. It applies to local/charter schools and magnet operators participating in federal School Breakfast or Lunch Programs but not using the federal Community Eligibility Provision. Schools providing these meals will receive state grants from the Department of Education to cover costs, replacing previous funding mechanisms. The policy directly affects school districts serving students in grades K-12 who meet federal eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 5144 appropriates funds to cover the cost difference between federal reimbursement rates for reduced-price school meals and full-price meals. It directly affects public school districts participating in federal meal programs by allowing them to provide free breakfasts to all students and free lunches to students already eligible for reduced-price meals. The bill’s key mechanism is reimbursing districts for the gap between what the federal government pays and the actual cost of serving these meals. This policy change ensures schools can maintain these meal programs without charging eligible students, as specified in the bill’s purpose statement.

Maddy summaryHB 5134 establishes a refundable child tax credit of $600 per child for families with up to three children. It directly affects low-to-moderate income households, 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 may receive the full credit amount even if it exceeds their income tax liability. This policy change reduces tax burden for qualifying families with children, using the state’s personal income tax system to provide direct financial support.

Maddy summaryHB 8002 creates a tax-advantaged savings program to help Connecticut first-time homebuyers. It allows individuals or couples to open "first-time homebuyer savings accounts" at financial institutions, with funds contributed by anyone (including employers) to cover eligible costs like down payments and closing costs for a primary residence. Account holders must submit tax returns with account details to claim a state tax deduction or credit, and funds must be used exclusively for qualifying home purchases. The program applies only to one-to-four family residences purchased as primary homes in Connecticut, effective January 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1266 requires fair rent commissions to publicly post their bylaws online and hold all commission hearings open to the public. This law directly affects fair rent commissions (which handle housing rent disputes) and ensures residents can access commission rules and attend hearings. The key mechanisms mandate that bylaws be posted on a public website and that all hearings occur in open sessions, not behind closed doors. This increases transparency in the rent-setting process without changing rent amounts or tenant protections. The bill became law on June 30, 2025 (Public Act 25-121).

Maddy summarySB 8 would have amended unemployment benefit rules to protect workers during labor disputes by removing a provision that previously denied benefits if a dispute lasted 14 days after December 2026. It directly affected workers who lost jobs due to strikes or lockouts, ensuring they could retain benefits unless they participated in or financially supported the dispute. The bill changed eligibility rules to clarify that lockouts (defined as employers refusing work during negotiations) wouldn’t automatically disqualify workers from benefits. However, Governor Ned Lamont vetoed the bill on June 23, 2025, preventing these changes from taking effect. The veto means current unemployment rules remain in place for workers facing labor disputes.