Rep. Kerry Wood

Maddy summaryHB 6073 requires Connecticut state agencies to regularly review their existing regulations every seven years, starting from a specified date. Agencies must identify obsolete rules (unused for seven years, inconsistent with laws, or no longer effective), propose reductions, and report findings to legislative committees and the public. The bill mandates public hearings on review results and gives legislative committees authority to push for regulatory changes or introduce new laws if agencies fail to comply. This affects all state agencies with regulatory authority, aiming to streamline and modernize state rules.

Maddy summaryHB 5012 prohibits the possession, sale, or distribution of shark fins in the state, effective October 1, 2025. It directly affects businesses selling shark fin products and consumers purchasing them, while exempting licensed fishermen who separate fins from lawfully landed sharks during food preparation (requiring immediate destruction of fins unless used for personal consumption or taxidermy). The bill also allows permits for scientific or educational use of shark fins through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. This law excludes rays and smooth-hound sharks from its definition of "shark," aligning with existing regulations.

Maddy summarySB 1426 expands Connecticut's Firefighters Cancer Relief Program to provide benefits for firefighters diagnosed with cancer affecting specific body systems (skin, brain, respiratory, etc.). Eligible firefighters must meet strict criteria: no prior cancer evidence at hire, no smoking for 15 years before diagnosis, at least five years of qualifying service (as interior structural firefighters or related roles), and annual health screenings. The bill ensures these firefighters receive workers' compensation-style benefits and retirement/survivor benefits from the relief account, covering uncovered treatment costs, while offsetting any existing benefits from workers' compensation or retirement systems. It becomes effective October 1, 2025, and administers claims like standard workers' compensation under Chapter 568.

Maddy summarySB 611 sets maximum fees for occupational licenses, certifications, permits, and registrations in Connecticut. It directly affects professionals including certified public accountants (reducing initial fees from $150 to $100), architects, engineers, and surveyors. Key provisions include lowering initial license fees (e.g., professional engineers from $220 to $100) and annual renewal fees (e.g., class B fees from $150 to $100), effective July 1, 2025. The bill standardizes these fee structures under the Department of Consumer Protection without altering licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 7175 creates a 20% tax credit for eligible farmers who purchase or build qualifying farm machinery, equipment, and buildings after January 1, 2026. To qualify, farmers must earn at least two-thirds of their total income from farming above $30,000, and the property must be used for farming in the state for at least five years. The credit applies to machinery and equipment bought after 2026, as well as qualifying buildings constructed or placed in service after that date, provided they are not leased or acquired from related parties. Farmers, or owners of pass-through entities like S corporations, can claim the credit against state income tax, with unused portions refunded by the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts property transfers to public housing authorities from two state taxes: the real estate conveyance tax and the controlling interest transfer tax. It directly affects public housing authorities purchasing properties, removing a financial barrier to acquiring housing units for affordable housing programs. The key provision adds a specific exemption to the tax code (section 12-498(23)) for deeds made to public housing authorities in the state. This change reduces costs for public housing entities when acquiring properties, supporting their mission to provide affordable housing.

Maddy summaryHB 5977 exempts sales and use taxes on tangible personal property (like building materials) used in developing, constructing, or operating "mixed-income developments" certified by the state commissioner. This directly affects developers and contractors working on housing projects that include units for low-to-moderate income households, as defined by HUD median income standards. The bill requires purchasers to present a commissioner's certification and a certificate confirming the property will be used exclusively for the certified mixed-income development. It creates a new tax exemption category separate from existing exemptions for nonprofit housing, effective October 1, 2025. The policy change reduces costs for qualifying development projects while maintaining tax revenue for other transactions.

Maddy summaryHB 6992 establishes the "Homes for CT Loan Program" to support new residential construction in Connecticut. The program, administered by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, guarantees loans from participating banks and credit unions to developers of new residential buildings. It allows higher loan-to-value ratios than standard underwriting and provides additional subordinate loans from the Authority to eligible borrowers. The program caps total funding at $100 million, after which no new loans can be added, and requires participating lenders to report loans to the Authority within one business day. This directly affects new residential developers and participating financial institutions in Connecticut.

Maddy summaryHB 6273 creates the Farmers' Crop Loss Reimbursement Grant Program within Connecticut's Department of Agriculture. It provides financial reimbursement to farmers who suffer crop losses due to significant acute weather events (like severe storms or floods). The program is funded through $10 million in state bonds, with the Department of Agriculture establishing eligibility rules, application processes, and reimbursement limits. Farmers must apply within 60 days of submitting requests, and the program takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 6408 expands workers' compensation for dependents when an employee dies in an accident. It changes how payments are divided when there are no "presumptive dependents" (like spouses or children), instead focusing on people who were financially dependent on the deceased. The bill ensures wholly dependent individuals (e.g., a dependent child) receive full compensation, while partially dependent people (e.g., a relative who relied on some support) get at least $20 weekly but no more than what they previously received. Next of kin (like siblings or parents) will now share payments based on their level of dependence, not equally as before. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.