Rep. Tom Delnicki

Maddy summaryThis bill updates election notification requirements for towns, cities, and boroughs by mandating that town clerks publish warnings about upcoming elections in both local newspapers and official websites. The law requires these notices to be posted between five and fifteen days before early voting begins and must include specific details such as polling place locations, same-day registration sites, and early voting locations. It also allows multiple towns to jointly publish election warnings in a single newspaper to reduce costs, while overriding any conflicting local charter provisions. These technical changes take effect on October 1, 2026, and apply to all municipal elections in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 5434 requires that political parties must have received at least 1% of the votes for a specific office in the last election to be recognized for including their designation on candidate nominating petitions. This bill defines a "minor party" as one that is not a major party and whose candidate received at least 1% of the votes for the relevant office in the previous election. It affects candidates and political parties seeking to run under a party label on petitions for state or local offices, ensuring only parties with demonstrated voter support can be listed. The law, effective January 1, 2027, updates the process for applying for nominating petitions to include this threshold requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a public reporting system for double utility poles, which are two poles located within six feet of each other due to incomplete replacement work. It requires the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to launch an online reporting platform by July 1, 2026, where any person can submit reports with location details and photographs. The commissioner will compile quarterly lists of these reports and share them with electric distribution companies, telephone companies, and municipal electric utilities starting October 31, 2027. The legislation defines specific utility pole types and establishes clear timelines for implementing the reporting infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 5341 requires Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management to create a single online portal by July 1, 2027, for all state-funded municipal grant applications and reimbursement forms. The portal, called the Municipal State Grant Portal, will host searchable listings of all state grant programs, application forms, and related information on the agency’s website. This change directly affects municipalities and other applicants seeking state grants by replacing paper-based or fragmented application processes with a centralized digital system. The bill mandates the portal’s development within available funding and aims to streamline access to grant opportunities.

Maddy summarySB 351 establishes a "just cause" standard for terminating both tenured and non-tenured teachers' contracts in Connecticut, requiring school boards to provide specific, documented reasons for termination. It mandates that teachers who receive termination or nonrenewal notices may request a hearing before a neutral arbitrator (chosen by the teacher and superintendent) within 10 days, with the hearing starting within 15 days. The law also requires school boards to provide written reasons for termination upon request and ensures teachers can be represented by legal counsel during hearings. These changes, effective July 1, 2026, apply directly to public school teachers and school boards across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 5046 modifies existing tuition waiver policies at Connecticut's community colleges and universities to specifically support public safety personnel. It waives tuition for current police officers (with 5+ years service) and firefighters (with 5+ years service), as well as for their dependents if the officer or firefighter was killed in the line of duty. The bill also expands waivers to include students enrolled in state fire school programs and police academy coordination courses. These changes apply to Connecticut State Community College and Connecticut State University System programs, effective July 1, 2026. The policy directly affects active and retired public safety workers and their families by reducing education costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the charter of the Metropolitan District of Hartford County to update how the district organizes its internal leadership and manages public notice for new rules. It allows district boards and commissions to appoint their own chairpersons and officers from within their membership, while clarifying that district employees cannot serve on the board of commissioners or its committees. The legislation also modifies how proposed ordinances are published and made available to the public, requiring full publication in a newspaper with substantial circulation in the district, though summaries may be used for non-appropriation ordinances with specific disclaimers. Additionally, the bill updates the maximum fines for ordinance violations to $250 and sets new requirements for the district attorney, who must have at least five years of practice and reside in the district or a nearby municipality. These changes take effect on October 1, 2026.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 5318 requires Connecticut banking institutions to offer standard banking accounts specifically for candidate committees (used by local election candidates) starting October 1, 2026. These accounts must include basic features like debit cards, ATM access, check cashing, deposits, and monthly electronic statements. Banks must accept a candidate committee’s registration form from the State Elections Enforcement Commission plus a federal employer identification number (EIN) to open such an account. The Banking Commissioner will credit banks that comply when evaluating their performance under existing law. This bill directly affects candidate committees and their banking relationships, with no additional features like rewards programs required.

Maddy summaryHB 5303 allows licensed dental hygienists with at least two years of experience to provide dental hygiene services (like cleanings, sealants, and preventive care) in private residences, expanding where they can work beyond public health facilities. It requires hygienists practicing in homes to refer patients to dentists for issues outside their scope and coordinate those referrals. The bill amends existing law to clarify this new practice location, effective October 1, 2026, and directly affects qualified dental hygienists seeking to offer in-home services. This change does not alter the specific services hygienists may perform, only the permitted locations for those services.