Rep. Rebecca Martinez

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to change the term lengths for state legislators. Currently, members of the state legislature serve two-year terms. The amendment would establish a new cycle where, after each U.S. Census redistricting, the first two elected terms would be four years long, followed by a two-year term. If approved by voters in the November 2026 election, this change would affect all state senators and representatives elected in subsequent cycles. The resolution must first pass the legislature with a three-quarter vote to appear on the ballot.

Maddy summaryHB 6052 amends Connecticut's Home Solicitation Sales Act to explicitly include residential solar photovoltaic systems (solar panels) as covered "consumer goods" under the law. This means solar companies selling directly to homeowners through door-to-door or in-home presentations must now follow the same consumer protections as other home solicitation sales, including the 3-day cooling-off period for cancellations. The bill directly affects solar installation companies and homeowners purchasing residential solar systems through home visits. Key mechanisms include redefining "consumer good" to specifically list solar systems and clarifying that sales of these systems fall under the existing Home Solicitation Sales Act rules, which require written contracts and cancellation rights. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot program for overdose prevention centers in four Connecticut municipalities. These centers would allow people with substance use disorders to safely consume drugs under medical supervision while receiving counseling, drug testing strips, referrals to treatment, and basic services like showers. Municipalities must approve locations, and centers must employ licensed health providers who cannot face disciplinary action for participating. The program includes an advisory committee to address operational issues like needle disposal and legal protections for staff and participants.

Maddy summaryHB 6953 requires all Connecticut municipalities to provide police officers and firefighters with a defined pension plan by June 30, 2027, either through the Municipal Employees' Retirement System (MERS) or a comparable alternative offering equal or better benefits. This affects approximately 87 municipalities that currently do not offer such pensions to these public safety workers, with an estimated annual cost of $98.6 million if all enroll in MERS. The bill mandates municipalities to transition employees from existing retirement systems into compliant plans, while directing the Comptroller to study transition requirements and submit a report by January 1, 2026. The legislation imposes a state-mandated cost on local governments without requiring new state funding.

Maddy summaryHB 6517 requires all Connecticut employers (including state/local government and private businesses) to disclose the wage range and benefits description for every job opening in both public and internal job postings. It prohibits employers from asking about a job applicant’s salary history and bans retaliation against employees who discuss or inquire about pay. The law applies to all positions performed within Connecticut and takes effect October 1, 2025. Employers must provide wage ranges to applicants upon request or before salary discussions, and to current employees upon hire, role changes, or annual updates.

Maddy summaryHB 6734 reduces the fee for specialty license plates for veterans, active military members, and specific veteran groups to only cover the actual cost of making the plates, eliminating any profit margin. It directly affects eligible veterans (including those from Hmong Laotian special guerilla units during the Vietnam War), active military members, their surviving spouses, and those qualifying as "eligible former reservists," with special provisions for veterans using vehicles for farming. To qualify, applicants must verify eligibility through the Department of Veterans Affairs with documentation like service records or affidavits. The bill also clarifies that these plates do not grant eligibility for other veteran benefits beyond the license plate privilege.

Maddy summarySB 829 clarifies that "hours worked" includes time employees spend undergoing required security screenings at work. This change ensures employees are paid for this time, which was previously inconsistently treated under the law. The bill directly affects all workers required to pass through security screenings as part of their job duties, including retail, healthcare, and office staff. It takes effect October 1, 2025, and has no fiscal impact as the Department of Labor already enforces this practice.

Maddy summaryHB 7010 provides health and retirement benefits support for paraeducators (school support staff) in Connecticut. It creates two subsidy programs: (1) a health savings account subsidy for paraeducators enrolled in high-deductible plans, and (2) a subsidy for school boards covering 10% of health insurance premiums to reduce employee payroll deductions. The bill also requires school boards to cover the full employee share of retirement contributions (capped at municipal retirement levels), with the state reimbursing 50% of that cost annually. These changes take effect July 1, 2025, using existing education funds.

Maddy summaryHB 6889 protects specific tenants from no-cause evictions in multi-unit buildings (5+ units) or mobile home parks. It applies to seniors (62+), people with qualifying disabilities, or tenants who've lived there 13+ months. Landlords may only evict for reasons like nonpayment, serious lease violations affecting health/safety, or specific "for personal use" scenarios (requiring 90-day notice and proof no other units are available). The bill also requires rent increases for protected tenants to be "fair and equitable," with disputes resolved through local commissions or courts. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 6893 appropriates $33.5 million from the General Fund for the Department of Housing to fund existing programs assisting homeless persons, effective July 1, 2025. The funds are specifically designated for services supporting homeless individuals during fiscal year 2026 (ending June 30, 2026). This bill does not create new programs but provides dedicated funding for current homelessness assistance efforts. The allocation has no impact on municipalities and is focused solely on state-level funding for housing-related support services.