Rep. Nick Menapace

Maddy summaryHB 5303 allows licensed dental hygienists with at least two years of experience to provide dental hygiene services (like cleanings, sealants, and preventive care) in private residences, expanding where they can work beyond public health facilities. It requires hygienists practicing in homes to refer patients to dentists for issues outside their scope and coordinate those referrals. The bill amends existing law to clarify this new practice location, effective October 1, 2026, and directly affects qualified dental hygienists seeking to offer in-home services. This change does not alter the specific services hygienists may perform, only the permitted locations for those services.

Maddy summaryHB 5403 ensures health insurance coverage for survivors of certain public safety workers killed in the line of duty. It requires nonstate public employers to continue health coverage for survivors of unpaid volunteer firefighters, correction officers, or state marshals for one year (renewable annually up to five years) if coverage existed before death. If no coverage existed, employers must help survivors enroll in a partnership plan under the Comptroller’s program for up to five years. The bill specifically defines "unpaid volunteer firefighter" and expands eligibility under existing health insurance provisions for these workers’ survivors.

Maddy summarySB 131 requires the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to study the needs of manufacturers in the state. The study must be completed by January 1, 2027, with results reported to the General Assembly's commerce committee. This bill does not create new regulations or funding but mandates an analysis to inform future policy decisions. It directly affects state administrative processes and the legislative committee overseeing commerce, without altering existing laws for manufacturers.

Maddy summaryHB 5387 requires all employers in Connecticut (including public and private entities) to include a wage range and general description of benefits in every public and internal job advertisement. It mandates that employers provide applicants with the wage range for a position upon request or before discussing compensation, and give current employees the wage range for their role when hired, changing positions, or upon request. The bill prohibits employers from banning wage discussions, requiring secrecy waivers, or retaliating against employees who discuss pay. It also bans asking about salary history during hiring, except where permitted by federal or state law. This law takes effect October 1, 2026, aiming to increase pay transparency for job seekers and workers.

Maddy summaryHB 5037 requires social media platforms to verify the age of users under 18 or obtain parental consent before showing them personalized content recommendations (like feeds or suggested posts). It applies to platforms that prioritize media based on user data, excluding shopping sites and purely educational tools. Platforms must delete age verification data after use and cannot charge more or degrade service for compliance. Exceptions include private messages, search results, or content from accounts users follow. The law takes effect January 1, 2028.

Maddy summarySB 151 prohibits local municipalities from imposing specific zoning restrictions that limit housing options, effective October 1, 2026. It directly affects local governments (by restricting their zoning authority), homeowners (especially those seeking to add accessory units or operate home-based businesses), and housing developers. Key provisions ban requirements like minimum lot sizes over 5,000 square feet for single-family homes, caps on multifamily units, excessive parking mandates, and restrictions on cottage food operations or home child care in residential zones. The bill exempts historic properties, agricultural land, and conservation areas, and does not override essential safety codes. This aims to increase housing density and affordability by removing common barriers to diverse housing types.

Maddy summaryHB 5216 creates a state program called STIPEND that provides $1,000 weekly stipends to student teachers during their public school teaching experience in Connecticut. Teacher preparation programs must report enrollment and completion data to the Department of Education, which disburses funds directly to student teachers. If a student teacher doesn't work as a certified public school teacher for two years after graduation, they must repay 50% of the stipend received. The bill requires annual reports on employment rates of program participants to the legislature.

Maddy summarySB 365 requires all licensed hospitals in the state to provide immediate opioid use disorder treatment in emergency departments starting January 1, 2027. Specifically, hospitals must offer buprenorphine medication (a standard treatment for opioid addiction) without requiring patients to be admitted, provide naloxone (an overdose reversal drug) at discharge, and connect patients to local treatment programs. This directly affects patients presenting to emergency rooms with opioid use disorder symptoms. The law aims to streamline access to life-saving care during acute crises by removing barriers to initial treatment.

Maddy summaryHB 5409 creates a state program to help military members transition to civilian careers. It requires the Labor Department to provide career counseling and maintain an online hub listing job training resources, veteran-friendly employers, and state transition programs. The state military leadership must develop a follow-up program tracking veterans' education and employment outcomes after discharge, while the Veterans Affairs department will host an annual job fair connecting veterans with employers. The bill directly affects active-duty personnel, reserves, National Guard members, and veterans seeking civilian workforce opportunities.

Maddy summaryHB 5213 establishes a working group to evaluate how financial institutions process paychecks and the time required for payroll checks to clear. The group, including banking committee members, the Banking Commissioner, and representatives from banks and credit unions, must submit findings by January 1, 2027. This bill creates a study process but does not change current payroll processing rules or impose new requirements on financial institutions.