Rep. Kate Farrar

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes two main programs to support unpaid and paid internship opportunities in Connecticut. First, it requires state higher education boards to create a program that helps small businesses with 50 or fewer employees offer paid, high-quality internships by providing training and resources on managing internship programs. Second, it creates a stipend program for college students receiving federal Pell grants to offset costs like transportation and clothing when participating in internships. The bill also mandates annual reporting on program participation and establishes a state quality seal to recognize businesses with internship programs that meet specific standards for mentorship, learning opportunities, and clear communication.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 250-foot security perimeter around election sites, including polling places, early voting locations, and ballot drop boxes, where federal or state law enforcement officers are generally prohibited from entering unless specific exceptions apply. The law also bans individuals from wearing face-obscuring masks within the perimeter, prohibits requiring identification near election sites, and makes it a class C felony punishable by voter disenfranchisement to violate these restrictions. Additionally, the bill criminalizes possessing firearms or deadly weapons within 250 feet of election sites, with exceptions for unloaded weapons in locked containers on vehicles and certain school-related activities. These provisions take effect on July 1, 2026, and apply to all elections, primaries, and referendums.

Maddy summarySB 195 creates a pilot program to establish four overdose prevention centers across Connecticut municipalities, directly serving people with substance use disorder. These centers provide free drug testing strips, overdose education, counseling, safe consumption under medical supervision, and referrals to treatment services. The bill grants legal protection to healthcare providers who administer overdose reversal drugs (like naloxone) at these centers, shielding them from liability or disciplinary action. The pilot requires local government approval and includes an advisory committee with diverse stakeholders to guide implementation and safety measures.

Maddy summaryHB 5342 bans the distribution of AI-generated or manipulated images, audio, or video (called "deceptive synthetic media") during the 90 days before an election if it misleads people into thinking a real person said or did something they didn’t. It specifically targets content intended to harm a candidate or influence election results without the depicted person’s consent. The bill allows exceptions for news organizations (like TV stations or newspapers) that add clear disclaimers (e.g., "This video has been manipulated") and cite the original source, provided they follow specific formatting rules. This law directly affects political campaigns, social media platforms, and media distributors during election seasons, aiming to prevent deceptive content from swaying voters.

Maddy summarySB 274 requires nonresident rental property owners (those who don’t live at their properties) to register their current address and identifying information with municipalities. Cities with populations over 25,000 must collect this data from owners or their agents, and owners must update it within 21 days of any address change. The bill also increases fines for repeat violations of building and fire safety codes by property owners, and uses registered addresses to legally serve compliance notices.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Connecticut's organic materials composting requirements by gradually lowering the waste volume threshold for businesses that must separate and recycle food scraps. It affects food wholesalers, supermarkets, industrial processors, resorts, and schools located within twenty miles of composting facilities, starting with larger generators in 2014 and progressively including smaller operations by 2025. The law requires these entities to separate organic materials from other waste and ensure they are sent to authorized composting facilities with available capacity, while also establishing a voluntary pilot program for municipalities to begin similar separation efforts. Facilities that compost on-site or treat materials through permitted equipment are exempt from these requirements, and composting facilities must report fees charged for receiving organic materials to the state environmental agency.

Maddy summaryHB 5389 requires Connecticut's Department of Public Health to create a practical, evidence-based toolkit for healthcare providers treating menopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause symptoms. The toolkit, developed with UConn Health Center's input, will cover symptom identification, treatment options (including hormone therapies), insurance coverage details, and continuing education modules. It directly affects providers in fields like obstetrics, primary care, mental health, and dentistry who diagnose or treat these conditions. The toolkit must be distributed to all relevant providers by January 1, 2027, with development beginning by October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 5304) is mislabeled in its title; it does not address long-term care insurance premiums. Instead, it amends Connecticut’s income tax code by repealing and replacing a specific subsection (12-701(a)(20)(B)) that details allowable adjustments to gross income for tax calculation. The key provision adds detailed deductions for items like Social Security benefits (based on income thresholds), state bond interest, and certain federal tax refunds. It directly affects Connecticut taxpayers who itemize deductions under state law, particularly those with income subject to federal tax exemptions. The changes apply to taxable years starting January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5306 allows courts to reduce sentences for individuals convicted of felonies who were survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, provided the abuse was a contributing factor to their offense. Defendants must submit documented proof (such as court records, protective orders, or counselor affidavits) demonstrating their survivor status and the abuse's role in the crime. Courts must then determine if the abuse was a contributing factor before applying sentence reductions. This applies to all felony convictions where the abuse contributed to the offense, without requiring it to be the sole cause, and takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill replaces Connecticut's existing anti-discrimination statute with new provisions specifically addressing pregnancy-related discrimination. It directly affects pregnant employees and employers by requiring reasonable accommodations (like modified schedules, breaks, or light duty) and prohibiting termination or denial of leave due to pregnancy. Key mechanisms include defining "pregnancy" broadly to cover childbirth and lactation, clarifying "reasonable accommodation," and establishing standards for "undue hardship" based on employer resources. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and explicitly prohibits employment discrimination based on pregnancy in hiring, promotion, or terms of employment. (Note: The bill title mentions "nondisclosure agreements," but the text focuses solely on pregnancy protections; the title appears inaccurate based on the provided content.)