Maddy summaryHB 5279 expands workers' compensation coverage for post-traumatic stress injury (PTSD) by adding "witnessing a serious physical injury" as a qualifying event. It directly affects eligible public safety and healthcare workers - including police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, correctional employees, telecommunicators, and health care providers - who witness such injuries while on duty. The bill amends existing law to include this new qualifying event (effective October 1, 2026), specifying it covers serious physical injuries that do not result in death or permanent disfigurement. This change ensures these workers can access PTSD-related workers' compensation benefits for trauma stemming from witnessing non-fatal but severe injuries.
Rep. Dan Gaiewski
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 5253 requires all fire district meetings in Connecticut to use paper ballots for voting on officers and business, with only in-person voters allowed (no absentee ballots). It directly affects fire district voters and officers, mandating in-person voting at all meetings starting July 2027. The bill creates a complaint process where voters can report voting rule violations to the State Elections Enforcement Commission, which gains new authority to investigate, impose penalties, and order re-votes if violations occur. The Commission can also hold fire district officers personally liable for knowingly violating these rules, with courts able to award fines and legal costs.
Maddy summarySB 351 establishes a "just cause" standard for terminating both tenured and non-tenured teachers' contracts in Connecticut, requiring school boards to provide specific, documented reasons for termination. It mandates that teachers who receive termination or nonrenewal notices may request a hearing before a neutral arbitrator (chosen by the teacher and superintendent) within 10 days, with the hearing starting within 15 days. The law also requires school boards to provide written reasons for termination upon request and ensures teachers can be represented by legal counsel during hearings. These changes, effective July 1, 2026, apply directly to public school teachers and school boards across the state.
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 summaryHB 5407 creates a state reimbursement program for Connecticut municipalities that lose property tax revenue when veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating (as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) receive property tax exemptions. Municipalities must annually submit certified claims by July 1 to the Office of Policy and Management, detailing lost tax revenue from this exemption. The state will review claims and pay municipalities by December 31 each year, starting January 1, 2027. This directly affects towns, cities, and boroughs that administer local property taxes.
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 5275 requires construction contractors to be jointly responsible for paying unpaid wages owed to workers by their subcontractors on covered projects. It directly affects construction workers, contractors, and subcontractors working on most private construction, renovation, or rehabilitation projects (excluding public works and small residential homes). The key provision makes contractors liable for subcontractors' unpaid wages, effective October 1, 2026, while allowing contractors to include wage payment clauses in contracts - provided these don’t limit workers’ legal rights. The bill also updates wage recovery procedures under existing law, ensuring workers can seek double wages plus fees for unpaid compensation.
Maddy summarySB 8 creates a new Supplemental Graduate Student Loan Program administered by Connecticut's Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority. It provides state-funded loans to graduate students enrolled in eligible programs (requiring a bachelor's degree) starting July 1, 2026, with funding secured through a $10 million state bond issue. The program uses a dedicated account to issue loans for graduate education, with repayment terms established by the loan authority. This directly affects Connecticut graduate students seeking financial support for advanced degree programs.
Maddy summarySB 285 creates a tax credit for family caregivers who provide unpaid care to eligible relatives. It allows caregivers with incomes under $50,000 (individual) or $100,000 (couple) to claim a credit covering 50% of qualifying expenses - such as home modifications, medical equipment, hiring aides, or respite care - up to $2,000 annually. Expenses like general home repairs (e.g., painting, plumbing) are excluded, and the total credit pool is capped at $1.8 million per year. The credit is nonrefundable, meaning it only reduces tax liability but cannot result in a cash refund.
Maddy summaryHB 5144 appropriates funds to cover the cost difference between federal reimbursement rates for reduced-price school meals and full-price meals. It directly affects public school districts participating in federal meal programs by allowing them to provide free breakfasts to all students and free lunches to students already eligible for reduced-price meals. The bill’s key mechanism is reimbursing districts for the gap between what the federal government pays and the actual cost of serving these meals. This policy change ensures schools can maintain these meal programs without charging eligible students, as specified in the bill’s purpose statement.