Rep. Sarah Keitt

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 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 summarySB 330 allows spouses (and others) to be paid for providing personal care to elderly individuals enrolled in Connecticut's state-funded home-care program. It directly affects married seniors aged 65+ who qualify for the program but aren't eligible for Medicaid, meet income/assets limits, and are at risk of unnecessary nursing home placement. The bill adds a provision (replacing part of existing law) authorizing the Social Services Commissioner to establish training and documentation rules for compensated caregivers, including spouses. This changes the program by explicitly permitting spouse caregivers to receive payment for services they provide, rather than requiring them to be unpaid family members. The policy takes effect July 1, 2026.

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 5187 adjusts the state's budget management rules by changing how the threshold for transferring revenue to volatility funds is calculated, shifting to an inflation-adjusted five-year moving average instead of the current method. It also increases the maximum capacity of the Budget Reserve Fund to 20% of net General Fund appropriations. These changes aim to stabilize state budgeting by better accounting for inflation and allowing a larger reserve for fiscal uncertainty. The bill affects the state's budgeting procedures and the legislature's oversight of the Budget Reserve Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 5133 increases the highest marginal personal income tax rate from 6.99% to 7.99%. This change directly affects high-income earners who currently pay the top tax rate under the state's income tax structure. The bill amends Section 12-700 of the general statutes to implement this specific percentage increase, with no other provisions or mechanisms described in the text. The measure focuses solely on adjusting the tax rate for the highest income bracket.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a refundable child tax credit for families with up to three children, starting at $150 per child in 2026 and increasing to $600 per child by 2028. It phases out for higher-income households: single filers over $100,000, heads of household over $160,000, and married couples filing jointly over $200,000 (reducing by 5% for every $1,000 over these thresholds). The credit is refundable, meaning eligible families receive it even if they owe no income tax. It directly affects low-to-moderate income families with children under age 18.

Maddy summaryHB 5236 establishes a Public Transit Workplace Health, Safety and Violence Prevention Committee within the Department of Transportation, requiring equal representation from public transit bus operators and management at each transit district. The committee must create a comprehensive safety plan by January 2028, including protocols for passenger handling, mental/physical health protections (like required breaks and restroom access), violence prevention strategies, and standardized reporting systems for incidents and unsafe conditions. This plan must be reviewed annually starting in 2029. The bill directly affects all public transit bus operators and their management across the state’s transit districts by mandating structured safety improvements and accountability measures.

Maddy summaryHB 5218 updates Connecticut's teacher employment contract rules, affecting all public school teachers (both tenured and non-tenured). It requires school boards to provide written notice of nonrenewal by May 1st each year for non-tenured teachers, with a 10-day window for them to request a hearing if they dispute the decision. For tenured teachers, termination must be for specific reasons (like incompetence, insubordination, or position elimination) and require written notice before a hearing, with the hearing scheduled within 15 days. The bill clarifies that non-tenured teachers cannot appeal position eliminations, and all hearings must follow strict timelines and just-cause standards.

Maddy summaryHB 5186 adjusts Connecticut's affected business entity tax and related credits for businesses claiming federal qualified business income deductions. It adds a 1% surcharge on the business entity tax and a 10% surcharge on federal deductions claimed by filers in the highest tax bracket. The bill also modifies tax credits: reducing the credit to 83.6% for high-bracket filers while increasing it to 93.01% for lower-bracket filers. These changes directly impact businesses using federal pass-through income deductions, particularly those in Connecticut's top tax rate category.