Rep. Anne Hughes

Maddy summaryHB 7135 protects patients and healthcare providers in Connecticut who receive or provide reproductive and gender-affirming health care services permitted under Connecticut law. The bill allows individuals to recover damages if sued in another state for such services, even if the patient was not physically in Connecticut during treatment. It also strengthens patient privacy by prohibiting healthcare providers from disclosing records related to these services without written consent, and requires them to notify Connecticut's Attorney General if served with a subpoena for such information. The law applies to all covered healthcare entities and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1502 allows courts to consider sentence reductions for individuals convicted of felonies who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. It directly affects defendants who can provide documented evidence (like court records, protective orders, or professional affidavits) showing their trauma was a contributing factor in their offense. The bill requires courts to review such requests before sentencing, using specific evidence standards outlined in the law. This change takes effect January 1, 2026, and applies to all felony convictions after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 7212 prohibits state law enforcement officers, bail commissioners, school security personnel, and related agencies from cooperating with federal immigration authorities in specific ways. It directly affects police departments, correctional facilities, school security, and court personnel by banning actions like sharing release dates, home/work addresses, or allowing ICE interviews in custody facilities. Key provisions forbid providing "ICE access" (such as notification of release times, nonpublic data, or facility use for immigration enforcement) while clarifying that routine fingerprinting or database checks for arrests remain permitted. The bill aims to limit state-level collaboration with federal immigration enforcement under the defined restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 6240 requires Connecticut pet stores selling dogs or cats to provide a certificate of origin for each animal, detailing the breeder's and prior seller's name and address. This information must be posted visibly to customers, given to buyers at purchase, and filed with the state Department of Agriculture within seven days. The bill prohibits pet stores from purchasing animals from breeders or sellers with direct federal animal welfare violations or three or more health-related indirect violations in the past three years (extended from two years). Violations can result in fines up to $1,000 per day, with each day of noncompliance treated as a separate offense. The Department of Agriculture must annually report animal origins and violations to the Environment Committee by February 1.

Maddy summaryHB 7062 requires municipalities with over 25,000 residents to allow religious organizations to install temporary shelter units on their property for homeless individuals or refugees, as a permitted "as of right" use under zoning laws. The bill mandates specific restrictions: units must not exceed 400 square feet, be structurally sound, provide gender-specific sanitation facilities (one toilet/shower per eight occupants), and maintain setbacks from schools/cemeteries. It prohibits municipalities from charging utility connection fees for these units or imposing additional restrictions beyond the bill’s requirements. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, with municipalities required to update zoning codes by July 1, 2026, or face voided regulations. This directly affects religious organizations seeking to provide shelter and the homeless/refugee populations they serve.

Maddy summaryHB 7229 modifies Connecticut election law to improve absentee voting access for people incarcerated in state correctional facilities. The bill requires the Secretary of State to create a special absentee ballot application form for correctional facilities, which must include a space for the inmate's facility mailing address. Municipal clerks must mail absentee voting sets to incarcerated applicants within 24 hours of receiving their applications (or immediately if submitted in person), and the Department of Correction must ensure ballots reach inmates transferred between facilities. This directly affects incarcerated voters by streamlining the process to receive and return absentee ballots without requiring them to leave custody.

Maddy summaryHB 6263 requires Connecticut's Departments of Administrative Services, Energy and Environmental Protection, and Transportation to replace gas-powered landscaping equipment (like leaf blowers and mowers) with equivalent electric models for state property maintenance. Starting September 1, 2027, agencies must purchase or lease electric equipment when gas-powered machines reach the end of their useful life and electric alternatives work just as well. By September 1, 2029, these departments must also require contractors performing state landscaping work to use electric equipment if functionally equivalent options exist. Exceptions allow continued use of gas-powered equipment for emergencies, fire management, forest/riparian area maintenance, or public safety operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot program for overdose prevention centers in four Connecticut municipalities. These centers would allow people with substance use disorders to safely consume drugs under medical supervision while receiving counseling, drug testing strips, referrals to treatment, and basic services like showers. Municipalities must approve locations, and centers must employ licensed health providers who cannot face disciplinary action for participating. The program includes an advisory committee to address operational issues like needle disposal and legal protections for staff and participants.

Maddy summarySB 1236 exempts certain solar installation and maintenance work from standard electrical licensing requirements in Connecticut, effective October 1, 2026. It directly affects solar contractors, installers, and workers performing specific solar-related tasks, such as mounting racks, installing panels, and setting ground supports. The bill creates a new exemption (section 17) allowing licensed solar contractors and their employees to handle uncrating, hoisting, placement, and anchoring of solar equipment without full electrical licensing. This streamlines the process for small-scale residential solar installations by removing licensing barriers for defined installation activities. The change applies only to work limited to these specific solar tasks, not broader electrical work.

Maddy summaryThis resolution asks Congress to amend the Jones Act to exempt domestic liquefied natural gas (LNG) transportation between U.S. ports. It specifically targets the requirement that vessels moving cargo between U.S. ports must be built, owned, and crewed by Americans, which currently limits LNG tanker availability. The resolution argues this exemption would address high LNG costs (up to 30% higher) and supply shortages affecting Connecticut (65% of electricity from natural gas) and Puerto Rico (23% of electricity). As a memorial resolution, it does not change law but formally requests congressional action to modify the Jones Act for domestic LNG transport.