Rep. Amy Morrin Bello

Maddy summaryHB 5298 requires the Department of Public Health to create a licensing system for drama therapists and dance/movement therapists. This bill directly affects professionals in these fields who would need a license to practice in the state. The key provision mandates the Department of Public Health to establish the licensing process, including standards and requirements. The bill does not change current practice for other therapy types or include funding mechanisms. It focuses solely on adding these two therapy disciplines to the state's licensed professions.

Maddy summaryHB 5302 (2025) increases penalties for reckless driving to match those for operating under the influence (DUI), including higher fines, longer license suspensions, potential jail time, and stricter repeat-offender penalties. It directly affects drivers convicted of reckless driving by imposing these enhanced consequences instead of requiring pretrial programs. The bill mandates that convicted individuals complete a 30-hour highway safety course through a licensed drivers' school. This change aims to deter dangerous driving through stricter enforcement and education.

Maddy summaryHB 5133 requires Connecticut towns to establish mandatory food scrap recycling programs by creating a grant program administered by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The grants would cover costs for towns to divert food scraps (like spoiled groceries and food waste) from landfills and into recycling streams. This bill directly affects all 169 Connecticut municipalities by mandating a new waste management requirement, funded through state grants. The key provision is the state-funded program to make mandatory food scrap recycling financially feasible for local governments.

Maddy summaryHB 5109 would change Connecticut's rabies quarantine rules for unvaccinated dogs and cats. It sets a maximum 4-month quarantine period for these animals if they have an open wound of unknown origin and are suspected of rabies exposure. The bill directly affects pet owners and animal control agencies managing such cases. This policy change aligns with guidelines from the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, reducing the previous quarantine duration.

Maddy summaryHB 5103 requires healthcare providers to give patients (or their legal guardians) a copy of their surgical procedure details after any operation. It also mandates that providers review these reports with the patient during a follow-up appointment. The bill directly affects patients recovering from surgery and their designated guardians, aiming to improve clarity about surgical outcomes. This policy change shifts the responsibility to providers to ensure patients understand their procedure results, without altering medical standards or costs. The law applies to all surgical procedures covered under the state's healthcare regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans private equity firms from purchasing hospitals, prohibits hospitals from participating in real estate investment trust (REIT) transactions, and requires medical groups and outpatient surgery centers to be led by physicians. It directly affects hospitals considering sales, private equity firms, REITs, and medical facilities operating outpatient services. The law aims to improve public health by preventing hospital ownership shifts to for-profit investment groups and ensuring physician oversight in care settings. These provisions would apply statewide to all covered healthcare entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund, a separate financial entity designed to collect and manage money specifically for early childhood education and child care needs. The fund is established as an independent source of money that cannot be mixed with state funds, meaning the state has no claim to the money inside it and is not responsible for any debts the fund might incur. The Treasurer is authorized to invest these funds in various financial instruments to grow the account, while a new Advisory Commission will oversee the fund's financial health and create a ten-year spending plan. This commission includes a diverse group of appointed members representing parents, businesses, philanthropies, and various types of child care providers to guide how the money is used.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state agencies to create a streamlined process that helps children enrolled in the HUSKY A health program easily access other nutrition benefits like WIC and SNAP. Starting in January 2025, the Departments of Public Health, Social Services, and Agriculture must work together to simplify enrollment, provide clear fact sheets, and make application forms available online and by phone. The legislation also directs these departments to coordinate specifically for children over six who are transitioning from the WIC program to SNAP, while prohibiting the governor from reducing funding for these specific nutrition programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Connecticut's property tax laws to provide exemptions for solar projects and other renewable energy systems installed on or after October 1, 2024. It directly affects homeowners, farmers, and businesses by allowing them to exclude the value of these energy-generating installations from their property tax assessments. The law requires property owners to submit a written application to their local assessor to claim this tax benefit, ensuring the system only covers the value added by the renewable equipment itself. By repealing an older definition, the legislation clarifies and expands the scope of eligible solar technologies for tax relief across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state-run registry to help connect seniors and their families with qualified home care providers while improving oversight of these workers. Starting in 2025, the registry will allow users to search for caregivers based on specific skills like language proficiency and certifications, and it will also assist providers with recruitment, training, and benefits. The legislation mandates that agencies hiring home companions require new employees to complete training on recognizing and responding to harassment, abuse, and discrimination by clients. Additionally, the bill directs a state council to develop plans for better recruiting, training, and wage standards for personal care attendants to ensure higher quality care.