Rep. Tina Courpas

Maddy summaryHB 5516 would require all high school students in the state to pass the U.S. citizenship test (administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) as a condition for graduation. This test, typically taken by immigrants seeking citizenship, would become a mandatory part of the state's graduation requirements. The bill amends existing standards to include this test, with the stated goal of promoting civics education and democratic engagement. All high school students in the state would be directly affected by this policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 5776 would freeze all wage and salary increases for state employees for a minimum of two years. The bill directly affects all current state workers by preventing automatic or scheduled pay raises during this period. Its key provision requires a mandatory two-year freeze on compensation adjustments, as specified in the bill's text. This policy change would halt any new pay increases for state employees without exception for the specified duration.

Maddy summaryHB 5777 reduces the annual filing fee for certain business entities from $80 to $25 when submitting reports to the Secretary of the State. It directly affects businesses required to file annual reports under statutes 34-38n, 34-243u, and 34-413. The bill lowers costs for these businesses by modifying the fee structure in those specific sections. The stated purpose is to decrease operational expenses for qualifying entities doing business in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 5557 designates the fifteenth day of the Hindu lunar calendar's month of Kartik each year as "Diwali, the Festival of Lights" for official recognition. This procedural bill amends state statutes to formally acknowledge Diwali as an annual observance without creating new policies, funding, or obligations. It directly affects state records and official calendars by specifying the date for ceremonial recognition. The bill has no substantive impact on residents, businesses, or government operations beyond this symbolic designation.

Maddy summaryHB 5433 modifies a housing law to include all accessory apartments (like converted garages or in-law units) in the calculation for a 10% threshold exemption. This change affects property owners and developers who build accessory apartments, as it expands which units count toward the threshold requiring an affordable housing appeals process. Currently, some accessory apartments with property deed restrictions were excluded from this calculation; the bill removes that exclusion. The key provision ensures all accessory apartments - regardless of any property-level restrictions - are counted when determining if a development must comply with the affordable housing appeals procedure.

Maddy summaryHB 5436 increases housing unit-equivalent points for developers building affordable elderly housing units. Specifically, it changes the rule to award one point (instead of half a point) for each unit constructed for seniors with incomes at or below 80% of the median income. This adjustment aims to incentivize more construction of such housing by making it more financially advantageous for developers. The bill directly affects housing developers and the availability of affordable senior housing in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 5434 amends a state law to include workforce housing - regardless of deed restrictions - in the calculation for a 10% threshold exemption from affordable housing appeals. This means housing projects with workforce units will now count toward the exemption threshold, potentially allowing more developments to bypass the appeals process. The change directly affects developers and local governments involved in housing projects seeking this exemption under current law. The bill focuses on clarifying the calculation method without altering the exemption’s core requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5411 would create a $2,000 annual personal income tax deduction for each child claimed by taxpayers. This directly affects families filing state income tax returns who have dependent children. The key provision reduces taxable income by $2,000 per child, lowering the amount of income subject to state tax. It does not change tax rates or require new reporting beyond standard tax filing. The bill applies to all eligible taxpayers with children, regardless of income level.

Maddy summaryHB 5412 requires every state agency that collects taxes or fees to assess whether the cost of collecting each tax/fee exceeds the revenue it generates. If an agency finds that collection costs surpass the revenue, the bill mandates elimination of that tax or fee. This directly affects state agencies managing tax/fee collections and taxpayers who pay inefficiently collected taxes or fees, as the Finance Committee would be required to propose eliminating such items. The bill aims to remove revenue-generating mechanisms that cost more to collect than they produce.

Maddy summaryHB 5396 removes any existing "Combined Public Benefits Charge" from electric bills unless approved by the Connecticut General Assembly. It requires future implementation of such charges only after an affirmative vote by the legislature. This bill directly affects electricity customers, as it changes how certain fees appear on their bills, and shifts authority over these charges from utility companies to the legislature. The key mechanism is eliminating unapproved charges and mandating legislative approval for any new or existing charges in this category.