Rep. Aundré Bumgardner

Maddy summarySB 114 eliminates income limits that currently restrict who can deduct Social Security benefits from their state personal income tax. It directly affects all Social Security benefit recipients in the state who pay income tax, removing the previous requirement that their total income must fall below specific thresholds to qualify for the deduction. The bill amends Section 12-701 of the general statutes to remove these qualifying income thresholds entirely. This change means anyone receiving Social Security benefits would automatically qualify for the tax deduction regardless of their total income level. The policy change simplifies the deduction process for eligible taxpayers without altering the deduction amount itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a refundable child tax credit for families with up to three children, starting at $150 per child in 2026 and increasing to $600 per child by 2028. It phases out for higher-income households: single filers over $100,000, heads of household over $160,000, and married couples filing jointly over $200,000 (reducing by 5% for every $1,000 over these thresholds). The credit is refundable, meaning eligible families receive it even if they owe no income tax. It directly affects low-to-moderate income families with children under age 18.

Maddy summaryHB 5236 establishes a Public Transit Workplace Health, Safety and Violence Prevention Committee within the Department of Transportation, requiring equal representation from public transit bus operators and management at each transit district. The committee must create a comprehensive safety plan by January 2028, including protocols for passenger handling, mental/physical health protections (like required breaks and restroom access), violence prevention strategies, and standardized reporting systems for incidents and unsafe conditions. This plan must be reviewed annually starting in 2029. The bill directly affects all public transit bus operators and their management across the state’s transit districts by mandating structured safety improvements and accountability measures.

Maddy summaryHB 5205 would redirect a portion of the room occupancy tax collected by the state from short-term rental properties (like vacation rentals and Airbnb) to the municipalities where those properties are located. This change would provide local governments with new revenue they could use for community services, infrastructure, or housing programs. The bill amends existing tax law to require the state to allocate this portion of tax revenue directly to municipalities instead of retaining it at the state level. Currently, the state collects the tax, but under this bill, a share would flow directly to the local communities hosting these rentals.

Maddy summaryHB 5204 redirects a portion of the state's room occupancy tax collected from short-term rental properties (like Airbnb or vacation rentals) to the local municipalities where those properties are located. This means cities and towns where short-term rentals operate will receive a share of the tax revenue instead of the funds staying solely with the state. The bill amends existing law to require the state to allocate this specific tax portion directly to the municipalities based on where the rentals are situated, providing them with additional local funding.

Maddy summaryHB 5196 authorizes the state to issue up to $300,000 in bonds for the Groton Community Center. The funds will be provided as a grant to the town of Groton through the Department of Economic and Community Development specifically for planning and engineering work on the center. This bill directly affects Groton by providing dedicated state funding for preliminary development costs. The legislation is procedural, focusing solely on authorizing bond issuance for this project's early planning phase.

Maddy summaryHB 5178 authorizes the state to issue up to $750,000 in bonds to fund a culinary arts center at Robert E. Fitch High School in Groton. The funds would be provided as a grant to the town of Groton through the Department of Education, directly supporting the high school's program. This bill creates no new laws or regulations but allocates specific state funding for facility construction at the school. It affects Groton High School students and the town's educational programming by enabling dedicated culinary training space.

Maddy summaryHB 5192 would create a new personal income tax deduction for workers who declare tips or gratuities to the IRS. Specifically, it adds a deduction for the full amount of tips reported by taxpayers in their annual tax filings. This directly affects service industry workers (like servers, bartenders, and hair stylists) who receive tips as part of their income. The policy change would reduce taxable income for these workers by the amount of their declared tips, lowering their overall tax bill.

Maddy summarySB 175 authorizes the state to issue up to $40 million in bonds specifically for designing and building new student housing at the University of Connecticut's Avery Point Campus. This funding directly supports UConn students by expanding housing capacity at that campus location. The bill enables the State Bond Commission to issue these bonds, with proceeds dedicated solely to constructing new on-campus housing facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $300,000 in bonds to fund a grant for the USS Groton Sail Foundation. The funds will directly support the construction of the USS Groton Sail Monument in Groton, Connecticut. The bill does not create new policies or affect broader populations - it solely provides specific funding for this local monument project.