Maddy summaryHB 5377 modifies health insurance billing rules to protect providers and improve transparency. It shortens the timeframe insurers can demand repayment for claims from 18 to 15 months after a clean claim is submitted (except for fraud, billing errors, duplicate payments, or federal program overlaps), requires insurers to provide 30 days' notice and an electronic appeal process for repayment demands, and mandates off-site hospital facilities to submit their unique national provider identifier (NPI) and tax ID on all claims. These changes directly affect health insurers, healthcare providers, and off-site hospital facilities, ensuring clearer billing requirements and reducing disputes over claim payments. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, for the NPI requirement and January 1, 2027, for the repayment timeline changes.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 5312 establishes a private right for victims and a civil action for Connecticut's Attorney General to address unlawful sharing of synthetically created intimate images (like deepfakes). Victims can sue in Superior Court for damages, emotional distress, and attorney fees, while the Attorney General can pursue civil penalties up to $50,000 per day against online platforms that fail to remove such content after knowing it violates the law. The law specifically protects minors under 18, even if the image is synthetic, and applies to platforms like social media or apps that host user-generated content. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and complements existing legal remedies without limiting other rights.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a rapid response program to quickly address new or spreading aquatic invasive plant species in Connecticut waterbodies, primarily affecting state agencies and property owners near affected lakes and ponds. It requires the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to expedite permits for containment efforts, especially for hydrilla, and allows the Office of Aquatic Invasive Species to coordinate immediate treatment without requiring separate notices to waterfront property owners. The legislation creates an interagency task force to develop response protocols and a statewide management plan, while also mandating that public health officials review permits for treatments near drinking water sources.
Maddy summaryHB 5143 requires homemaker-companion agencies to provide mandatory training to their employees. New employees must complete 10 hours of initial training within 90 days of hire, covering topics like CPR, safety, abuse reporting, and dementia care. Existing employees must complete 10 hours of annual continuing education from a state-approved training list, and agencies must maintain records of all training for state review. This bill directly affects homemaker-companion agencies and their staff, aiming to improve service quality and client safety through standardized training.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs state officials to establish working groups focused on eating disorder treatment and food insecurity, requiring them to compile public resources and develop best practice guidelines by July 2026. It also mandates a feasibility study for a new inpatient psychiatric facility serving children and young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, with results due by January 2027. Additionally, the bill increases Temporary Family Assistance benefits to at least 55% of the federal poverty level and requires annual cost-of-living adjustments tied to consumer price index increases when funding lapses.
Maddy summaryHB 5039 requires state agencies to provide greater transparency and oversight when distributing funds specifically directed by the legislature to particular organizations (not state agencies, disaster relief, competitive grants, or bond funds). It mandates that recipients prove financial responsibility and secure written approval from agencies before sharing funds with subrecipients. State agencies must submit annual reports on fund usage by November 1, and the state will publish a public database of all such funds by January 1. This bill directly affects state agencies managing these funds and the organizations receiving them, focusing on accountability through reporting and public access.
Maddy summarySB 259 prohibits performing female genital mutilation (FGM) on minors under 18, defining it as a class D felony except for medically necessary procedures performed by licensed professionals during childbirth or for health reasons. The bill creates a civil remedy allowing victims to sue perpetrators for damages in superior court, removes parental immunity in such cases, and extends the statute of limitations to 30 years after the victim turns 18. It also mandates child-friendly testimony procedures in FGM-related cases, including closed-circuit testimony and accommodations to reduce trauma. The law directly affects minors under 18, medical providers, and parents or guardians who could face criminal or civil liability. The provisions take effect October 1, 2026.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Connecticut Tribal Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to facilitate cooperation between the state and Native American tribes on managing wildlife and fisheries resources. The commission will include representatives from five tribal nations, state agencies, and academic institutions to develop comanagement agreements that integrate tribal ecological knowledge with state conservation science. Additionally, the bill provides free hunting and fishing permits to enrolled tribal members on state lands, offers access to safety and education programs, and prioritizes tribal food processing facilities for technical assistance and funding support. These measures aim to promote sustainable resource use and tribal food sovereignty while maintaining state conservation goals and protections.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Connecticut's personal income tax rules by updating the list of items that can be subtracted from gross income when calculating taxable income. It directly affects Connecticut residents filing state income tax returns by clarifying and adjusting various deductions related to federal tax treatment. Key provisions include maintaining existing deductions for certain federal tax-exempt income, interest on state bonds, and Social Security benefits, while also specifying how to handle amortizable bond premiums on bonds whose interest is taxable under state law but exempt from federal tax. The changes take effect for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and primarily align state tax calculations with corresponding federal tax rules.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new lump sum death benefit of $100,000 for surviving families of first responders who die from firefighter cancer while performing their duties. It creates a dedicated "Fallen Hero Fund" to finance these payments and expands the definition of firefighter cancer to include various types of cancer affecting multiple body systems. The law applies to first responders including firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians, and ensures these benefits are paid in addition to any other compensation or survivor benefits they may receive.