Rep. Amy Morrin Bello

Maddy summaryHB 6192 provides ongoing annual funding from the General Fund to support the Governor's Foot Guards and Horse Guards, including maintenance of their headquarters property in Avon. The bill appropriates specific funds for fiscal years ending June 2026, 2027, and each subsequent year to sustain these two historical military units. This funding directly affects the preservation of the Guard units and their Avon headquarters property, as stated in the bill's purpose. The measure is procedural, continuing existing financial support without introducing new policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits pet stores from selling dogs, cats, and rabbits. It directly affects retail pet stores that currently sell these animals. The law would require stores to stop selling these specific animals, with the stated purpose of protecting their health and safety. The bill does not include exemptions or alternative sales pathways.

Maddy summaryHB 6245 creates a state-wide program to keep food waste out of landfills by supporting donation, animal feeding, composting, and advanced organic processing methods. It establishes a $5 million fund through bonds to provide grants of up to $100,000 to municipalities and local programs implementing these diversion efforts. The bill directly affects local governments and waste management entities by providing financial support for infrastructure like composting facilities. Its key mechanism is the dedicated funding stream to reduce organic waste in landfills, aligning with the stated purpose of diverting food from the waste stream. The bill focuses on concrete funding and program support without specifying new regulations or penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 5863 increases the state reimbursement percentage for school districts that use specific energy-efficient materials and heating/cooling systems in new school construction projects. It directly affects public school districts seeking state funding for building projects by offering higher financial incentives for incorporating these measures. The key provision amends existing law to raise the reimbursement rate, making it more cost-effective for districts to adopt energy-saving features. The bill’s purpose is to encourage the use of sustainable building practices in new school facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 5870 would add a one-year pension credit to the retirement savings of teachers who worked full-time during the entire COVID-19 pandemic. This credit would count as a full year of service toward their retirement benefits under the state's teachers' retirement system. The bill directly affects public school teachers who maintained full-time employment throughout pandemic-related school closures and remote learning periods. It modifies the retirement system rules to recognize pandemic-era service, providing a concrete benefit without changing current salary or work requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5974 would ban the use of leghold traps (which clamp an animal's leg) and body-gripping traps (which clamp an animal's body) throughout Connecticut. The bill prohibits anyone from setting or using these traps within the state, making such activity illegal. This directly affects trappers, wildlife management professionals, and businesses that currently rely on these traps for fur harvesting or pest control. The legislation focuses solely on prohibiting the traps without specifying exceptions or enforcement details.

Maddy summaryHB 6054 makes it a felony to sell or deliver THC products (including vaporizers and delta-8-THC) to anyone under 21. It directly affects licensed THC businesses and their employees who violate this rule. The bill imposes felony penalties identical to those for illegally selling alcohol to minors. This amendment to state law specifically targets the sale of certain THC products to minors, increasing legal consequences for violators.

Maddy summaryHB 5813 appropriates funds from the General Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, to provide a grant-in-aid to Survivors of Homicide, Inc. This funding supports the organization's mental health and supportive counseling services for families who have lost loved ones to homicide. The bill specifically aims to maintain these critical services by preventing a potential funding gap. It directly affects homicide survivors' families by ensuring continued access to trauma support and mental health resources through this designated nonprofit.

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 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.