Rep. Kerry Wood

Maddy summaryHB 6280 establishes a Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program to fund climate adaptation projects by requiring fossil fuel companies to pay for historical emissions. It targets entities that extracted or refined fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) during 1995-2025 and caused over one billion metric tons of emissions, treating corporate "controlled groups" as single liable entities. Funds collected will finance concrete adaptation projects like flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs to address climate impacts. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection administers the program, using strict liability to recover costs for state-wide climate resilience efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 5026 exempts the sale, storage, use, and consumption of aircraft weighing less than 6,000 pounds (maximum certificated takeoff weight) from state sales and use taxes. This change directly affects owners, buyers, and sellers of small aircraft, such as personal or small business planes. The bill amends existing tax law to create a uniform exemption for this category of aircraft, removing a tax burden previously applied to their purchase and use. It does not apply to larger aircraft or other taxable items.

Maddy summaryHB 6916 bans the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on most public and private turf (like golf courses, lawns, and municipal properties) and for corn, wheat, and soybean crops starting January 1, 2028. It also prohibits selling or distributing neonicotinoid-treated agricultural seeds for these crops after January 1, 2029, unless a waiver is granted. The bill allows temporary exceptions for environmental emergencies (approved by the Environmental Protection Commissioner) and requires farmers seeking waivers for seed treatments to undergo pest risk assessments, complete integrated pest management training, and prove less harmful alternatives aren't feasible. These provisions directly affect property managers, municipalities, and farmers in Connecticut.

Maddy summaryHB 6761 prohibits individuals charged with severe animal cruelty - specifically cases involving violence, starvation, or death of an animal - from using accelerated rehabilitation programs. These programs typically allow offenders to avoid criminal penalties through rehabilitation instead of trial. The bill amends Section 54-56e of the general statutes to explicitly exclude such serious animal cruelty charges from eligibility for this alternative. It directly affects defendants facing these specific felony-level animal cruelty charges in court. The change ensures these cases proceed through standard judicial processes rather than alternative resolutions.

Maddy summaryHB 6588 allows Connecticut's Commissioner of Public Health to revoke a physician's license if the physician is convicted of fertility fraud - deceptive practices like using their own sperm in fertility treatments without consent. This directly affects physicians convicted of such fraud, regardless of whether the offense occurred within Connecticut or another state. The bill requires the Commissioner to establish a process for reporting these convictions to other states where the physician holds a license, ensuring coordinated disciplinary action. It does not create new criminal penalties but strengthens professional licensing enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 6673 requires Connecticut's Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop and implement a habitat management plan along state highways. The plan must include replanting native trees and shrubs, connecting to existing pollinator pathways, reducing mowing and tree cutting, creating noise buffers, preventing invasive species regrowth, and slowing traffic. This directly affects DOT operations and highway corridors statewide. The bill aims to restore native wildlife habitats while lowering long-term maintenance costs for taxpayers.

Maddy summaryHB 6674 requires Connecticut's Department of Transportation to replant native and indigenous trees and shrubs along both sides and the median of Interstate Route 91 between exits 23 and 25, covering the towns of Rocky Hill and Wethersfield. This bill directly affects the state highway corridor in those specific locations, focusing on environmental restoration. Key provisions mandate the use of native plant species to achieve three goals: reducing highway noise, addressing speeding concerns, and connecting to existing local pollinator pathways. The legislation specifies concrete planting locations and plant types without altering traffic laws or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 6589 requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Public Health to create a standardized report card system for hospitals and birthing centers to evaluate their maternity care quality. This bill directly affects healthcare facilities that provide maternity services by mandating they be assessed on specific care metrics. The key mechanism involves the state developing a transparent, publicly available report card to measure performance in maternity care delivery. The stated purpose is to improve care quality and reduce maternal mortality rates through greater accountability and transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 6216 would require Connecticut's Commissioner of Agriculture to create a registration system for service and emotional support animals. The system would issue identification cards and include a photograph for each registered animal. This bill directly affects individuals who use these animals by establishing a formal registration process managed by the state. The key mechanism is the mandatory registration with the Commissioner of Agriculture, replacing any existing informal practices.

Maddy summaryHB 6284 bans the use of dogs to test consumer products that are not intended for canine use, such as shampoos, lotions, or cosmetics. It directly affects manufacturers of human consumer products by prohibiting them from conducting safety or efficacy tests on dogs for these items. The bill's key provision is a clear prohibition against using dogs for such testing, replacing current practices where dogs might be used. This change would require companies to seek alternative testing methods for human-use products, aligning with broader animal welfare standards.