Rep. Eleni DeGraw

Maddy summaryHB 7021 appropriates $10 million from the General Fund for Connecticut’s Supplemental Nutrition Commodities Assistance Program, effective July 2025. The program funds Connecticut Foodshare (formerly the Connecticut Food Bank) to buy bulk nutritious food in-state and distribute it free to soup kitchens, food pantries, and emergency shelters. It requires at least 15% of annual funds to purchase produce from Connecticut farmers and mandates a 3% annual funding increase starting July 2026. The bill allows, but does not require, these organizations to charge a 5-cent-per-pound handling fee to cover distribution costs.

Maddy summaryHB 6912 establishes a state Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Task Force to examine the needs of individuals with these conditions and their caregivers, along with available services and healthcare capacity. The task force must develop a comprehensive State Alzheimer's Plan covering long-term care options, family caregiver support, early detection strategies, healthcare provider availability, home-based services, and public awareness initiatives. The plan will specifically address fiscal impacts on public health programs, dementia care costs, training requirements for healthcare workers, and safety needs. The task force, composed of 11 governor-appointed members (including people living with early-stage dementia and family caregivers) plus state agency representatives, must complete its work by October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 6915 bans the use of certain second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (containing brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, or difethialone) statewide starting October 1, 2025, affecting most residential, commercial, and general pest control uses. Key exceptions allow continued use for public health activities (e.g., water infrastructure protection, mosquito control), emergency rodent infestations requiring public health approval, specific facilities like medical waste sites and food production facilities, and agricultural operations in designated locations (warehouses, slaughterhouses, etc.). The bill also requires the Environmental Protection Commissioner to develop wildlife protection regulations and submit a 2027 report analyzing impacts on public health, agriculture, and federal compliance. This policy change directly affects pest control businesses, property managers, and agricultural operations while permitting limited uses for public health and critical infrastructure needs.

Maddy summaryThis resolution adopts Connecticut's "Connecticut Conservation & Development Policies Plan 2025-2030" as the state's official plan for managing land, water, and natural resources. It formally recognizes the revised plan that was developed by the Office of Policy and Management, reviewed through public hearings, and approved by the legislative committee on state planning. The plan establishes priorities for conserving and developing Connecticut's natural, cultural, and built environments over the 2025-2030 period. This resolution directly affects state agencies responsible for implementing land-use and environmental policies under the plan.

Maddy summarySB 1191 establishes a state-run pancreatic cancer screening and treatment referral program targeting underserved populations, including those at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, without health coverage for screening, or at recommended screening age. The program, to be run by the Department of Public Health starting October 2025, provides public education on early detection, registers screening providers, tracks patients after screening, and ensures quality compliance. It prioritizes minority communities and aims to improve access to screening and treatment referrals through outreach and data systems. The program requires no new medical treatments but creates a structured referral system to connect eligible patients with existing services.

Maddy summaryHB 5986 establishes a refundable child tax credit of $600 per child (up to three children) against personal income tax. It directly affects low-to-moderate income families filing taxes, specifically those with federal adjusted gross income under $100,000 for single filers or $200,000 for married couples filing jointly. The credit is refundable, meaning eligible families receive the full amount even if their tax liability is zero. This policy provides direct cash support to qualifying households with children, reducing their overall tax burden.

Maddy summaryHB 6172 reduces the annual filing fee for certain business entities from $80 to $40 when submitting reports to the Office of the Secretary of the State. This bill directly affects small businesses that file annual reports with the state, as stated in its purpose to "assist small businesses" by lowering this cost. The key provision lowers the fee amount per year for these specific filings, without altering the reporting requirements or eligibility. The change applies to business entities covered under the statute, making compliance more affordable.

Maddy summaryHB 6916 bans the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on most public and private turf (like golf courses, lawns, and municipal properties) and for corn, wheat, and soybean crops starting January 1, 2028. It also prohibits selling or distributing neonicotinoid-treated agricultural seeds for these crops after January 1, 2029, unless a waiver is granted. The bill allows temporary exceptions for environmental emergencies (approved by the Environmental Protection Commissioner) and requires farmers seeking waivers for seed treatments to undergo pest risk assessments, complete integrated pest management training, and prove less harmful alternatives aren't feasible. These provisions directly affect property managers, municipalities, and farmers in Connecticut.

Maddy summaryHB 6784 requires the state Department of Economic and Community Development to create a program offering incentives to contractors and subcontractors who use low-embodied carbon concrete on construction projects. This bill directly affects construction professionals working on projects within the state, providing financial or other benefits for adopting concrete with lower carbon emissions. The key mechanism is a state-administered incentive program, not a direct mandate, to encourage the use of environmentally preferable materials. The policy change focuses on modifying construction practices to reduce carbon footprints without altering existing building codes.

Maddy summaryHB 5451 allows Connecticut municipalities to reduce property taxes by up to $500 annually for eligible first-time homebuyers who secure a loan through the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA). It directly affects first-time homebuyers in Connecticut who use CHFA financing to purchase a home. The key provision gives local governments the authority to implement this tax abatement as a standalone policy, without requiring new state funding. This change aims to lower housing costs for qualifying buyers by reducing their annual property tax burden. The bill does not alter CHFA loan terms or create new state-level tax credits.