Rep. Eleni DeGraw

Maddy summaryHB 6165 creates a legal framework for supported decision-making agreements as a less restrictive alternative to court-appointed conservatorships or guardianships for adults with disabilities. The bill amends state law to allow individuals with disabilities to use these agreements - where they receive support for decisions while retaining legal autonomy - instead of having a court appoint a conservator or guardian. It directly affects adults with disabilities who currently face conservatorship or guardianship proceedings, offering them a more self-determined option. The key provision establishes this agreement process as a formal alternative within existing legal structures, without requiring court involvement.

Maddy summaryHB 6181 requires parents or guardians who earn income from online content featuring a minor in their care to deposit at least 50% of that income into a blocked trust account. The account must remain inaccessible until the minor turns 18, unless a court grants an exception for specific needs. This policy directly affects families monetizing children's online presence, ensuring a portion of that income is preserved for the minor's future use. The bill aims to protect minors' financial interests by mandating this savings mechanism through statutory requirement.

Maddy summarySB 852 appropriates $930,000 from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund computer science teacher professional development through the Department of Education. The bill directly affects public school computer science teachers by providing resources for training aligned with the state's adopted computer science education plan. This funding mechanism ensures schools have dedicated support for educators to enhance their computer science teaching skills, without altering curriculum standards or student requirements.

Maddy summarySB 866 appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Economic and Community Development for a grant to West Hartford Pride, Inc. for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. The bill directly provides funding to support West Hartford Pride, Inc.'s operations and programming. This is a straightforward funding allocation with no additional policy provisions or requirements for the recipient organization.

Maddy summarySB 1025 prohibits health care providers from refusing services based on protected characteristics like race, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or domestic violence victim status. It directly affects hospitals, clinics, doctors, and patients by making such refusals illegal under state law. The bill amends general statutes to explicitly list these protected categories as grounds for discrimination in health care access. This creates a clear legal standard for preventing biased treatment in medical settings. The bill's purpose is to ensure equal access to health care services for all residents.

Maddy summaryHB 5831 appropriates $10 million from the General Fund to Connecticut's Department of Social Services for the Nutrition Assistance Program in fiscal year 2026, with a 15% annual increase thereafter. The bill amends existing law to allow soup kitchens, food pantries, and emergency shelters to charge a handling fee of up to five cents per pound (instead of being required to pay it) to cover costs through the Connecticut Food Bank. This funding directly supports the supplemental nutrition commodities program serving low-income residents. The key change simplifies cost recovery for food assistance providers while increasing state funding for the program.

Maddy summaryHB 6145 requires health insurance companies to annually certify compliance with state and federal laws ensuring mental health and substance use disorder benefits are covered equally to physical health care. It repeals rules that previously kept insurer names confidential in compliance filings, increasing transparency. The bill creates a new state fund (the "parity advancement account") to support enforcement and public education about parity rights, and authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to impose civil penalties on companies violating these laws. This directly affects insurance providers and their customers seeking mental health or substance use treatment.

Maddy summarySB 1067 requires emergency room physicians and emergency medical personnel to follow patient-specific emergency health care protocols developed by a patient's regular physician during medical emergencies. It directly affects individuals with rare diseases or special health care needs by ensuring emergency providers use personalized care plans instead of standard protocols. The key provision mandates that these protocols, created by the patient's treating physician, must be followed by emergency staff when addressing acute health crises. The bill aims to improve medical outcomes and safety for these patients by aligning emergency care with their unique health needs, as stated in its purpose.

Maddy summaryHB 5837 appropriates unspecified funds from the General Fund to the Department of Social Services for nonprofit community access providers for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This bill directly affects nonprofit organizations providing community access services by ensuring their continued operations through temporary funding. The key mechanism is a two-year funding allocation, with the stated purpose being to maintain service continuity while a permanent funding model is revised.

Maddy summaryHB 5845 appropriates state funds to reimburse school districts for the difference between federal reimbursement rates and the actual cost of providing reduced-price lunches and free breakfasts. It directly affects school districts participating in federal meal programs, covering costs for breakfasts served at no charge to all students and lunches at no charge to students eligible for reduced-price meals. The bill provides $____ from the General Fund for fiscal year 2026 to cover this cost gap, ensuring schools aren’t financially burdened by federal reimbursement shortfalls. This is a concrete policy change to maintain meal program access without altering eligibility rules.