Rep. Sarah Keitt

Maddy summarySB 4 establishes a data broker registration system in Connecticut, requiring businesses that sell or license personal data to register with the Department of Consumer Protection by October 1, 2026. It directly affects data brokers (businesses collecting and selling personal data) and Connecticut consumers, who gain new rights to request data deletion. Key provisions include mandatory $600 annual registration fees, a requirement for data brokers to provide an "accessible deletion mechanism" for consumer requests, and definitions clarifying terms like "brokered personal data." The law aims to increase transparency and control over personal data handling while imposing specific compliance obligations on data brokers.

Maddy summaryHB 5375 transfers public health program funding from the Insurance Fund to the General Fund over five years (starting July 1, 2026), replacing the previous fee structure. It requires domestic insurers and health care centers providing specific health insurance types to pay an annual public health fee based on their enrolled lives in Connecticut, calculated to fund designated programs. These programs include syringe services, AIDS services, breast/cervical cancer detection, tuberculosis care, and children's health initiatives. The fee amount is determined annually by the Insurance Commissioner using a formula based on the total funding needed and the reported number of covered lives. The bill repeals the existing fee statute (Section 19a-7p) and establishes new reporting and payment requirements for insurers.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Connecticut's compulsory education laws to allow parents to choose between public school, private school, or home-based equivalent instruction for children aged five to seventeen. It requires parents to formally notify their local school district each year of their chosen educational path and mandates that districts provide information about available educational options. The legislation also raises the age at which students can voluntarily withdraw from school from seventeen to eighteen years old and clarifies definitions for equivalent instruction and nonpublic schools.

Maddy summaryHB 5043 prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution of "convertible pistols" - semiautomatic pistols that can be rapidly converted into machine guns using common household tools like screwdrivers. It defines these as pistols with a specific "cruciform trigger bar" that can be modified with a "pistol converter," excluding certain shielded designs. Selling or distributing such weapons would be classified as a class D felony, with exceptions for law enforcement, military personnel, and licensed gun dealers. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5004 requires child welfare agencies to conduct background checks before placing a child with a relative or non-licensed caregiver in an emergency situation. Specifically, agencies must complete a federal criminal history search and check the child abuse registry within 10 days, followed by state/national criminal records checks; refusal to provide fingerprints triggers immediate child removal. The bill also mandates that courts prioritize placing children with relatives or "fictive kin" (close family friends) over other options when safety allows, and requires written documentation for all placement decisions. This directly affects child welfare agencies, relatives/fictive kin caregivers, and courts handling emergency child safety cases.

Maddy summaryHB 5334 amends Connecticut's wetlands and watercourse protection laws by clarifying key terms and expanding protections. It defines "riparian area" as land bordering watercourses (delineated by the ordinary high-water mark) and specifies "natural vegetative cover" as native plants (excluding lawns and invasive species). The bill explicitly excludes "water-dependent uses" (like marinas, fishing facilities, and waterfront industries) from "regulated activity," meaning these operations won't require permits for direct water access. This change aims to balance environmental protection with economic activities that rely on water resources, directly affecting property owners, developers, and businesses near waterways.

Maddy summaryHB 5142 allows residents in nursing homes and residential care facilities to use their own technology for virtual visits with family or for third-party monitoring, provided they cover all costs (purchase, maintenance, etc.). Residents must follow privacy rules, including placing a door notice, obtaining roommate consent in shared rooms, and filing written notice with the facility. Facilities must provide free internet and power for this technology, though they may charge private-pay residents for unreimbursed infrastructure costs. The bill exempts basic phones or tablets used primarily for calls and requires written roommate consent for shared-room monitoring.

Maddy summaryHB 5143 requires homemaker-companion agencies to provide mandatory training to their employees. New employees must complete 10 hours of initial training within 90 days of hire, covering topics like CPR, safety, abuse reporting, and dementia care. Existing employees must complete 10 hours of annual continuing education from a state-approved training list, and agencies must maintain records of all training for state review. This bill directly affects homemaker-companion agencies and their staff, aiming to improve service quality and client safety through standardized training.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a dedicated state fund called the "health care facility durable medical equipment account" to provide grants for healthcare facilities. It appropriates $1 million from the General Fund for fiscal year 2027 to help facilities purchase equipment like wheelchairs, hospital beds, and patient lifts for elderly patients or people with disabilities. The Department of Public Health will manage the fund and issue grants, deducting no more than 2% of the account balance annually for administrative costs. The account will hold ongoing state appropriations, gifts, and investment earnings, with funds available starting July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands absentee voting eligibility in Connecticut to allow any eligible voter who will not appear at their polling place on election day to vote by absentee ballot, removing previous restrictions based on specific reasons like military service, illness, or religious observance. It also strengthens accountability by requiring individuals who distribute five or more absentee ballot applications to register with municipal clerks and maintain records of recipients, while prohibiting candidates and political committees from mailing unsolicited absentee ballot applications without clear eligibility warnings. Additionally, the bill mandates that absentee ballot envelopes include a sworn statement confirming the voter will not appear at their polling place, and requires the Secretary of the State to post notices online clarifying that applications are for personal or immediate family use only. These changes aim to increase voting access while implementing safeguards to prevent misuse of the absentee voting system.