Rep. Anne Dauphinais

Maddy summaryHB 5253 would amend state law to require the State Board of Education to include two active classroom teachers on its membership. These teachers must be certified, employed by a local or regional school district, and spend at least half their time teaching K-12 students in a classroom. The bill aims to ensure the board includes perspectives directly from educators currently working with students. This changes the board's composition by mandating specific teacher representation, rather than adding a new program or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 5283 (2025) amends Connecticut's Parentage Act to replace all references to "person who gave birth," "person giving birth," and similar phrases with the term "mother." This bill directly affects the legal terminology used in Connecticut's parentage laws, which govern parental rights and responsibilities. The key mechanism is a straightforward substitution of language throughout the statute to standardize the term as "mother." The bill's stated purpose is to "protect the rights of women" by requiring this specific terminology. This is a procedural change to legal language, not a substantive policy shift.

Maddy summaryHB 5289 allows nonexempt employees of the Division of Criminal Justice to work as adjunct professors at Connecticut community colleges. Currently, these state employees are restricted from outside employment, but the bill removes that barrier. The key provision amends chapter 67 of the general statutes to explicitly permit this dual role. It directly affects nonexempt staff in the Division of Criminal Justice who wish to teach part-time at community colleges. The bill makes a specific, limited change to employment rules without altering pay, benefits, or other policies.

Maddy summaryHB 5286 increases penalties for individuals who make threats to schools by amending sections 53a-180 to 53a-180d of the general statutes. It directly affects anyone who makes threats (including false ones) against school systems, aiming to deter such behavior through harsher consequences. The bill does not change what constitutes a threat but raises the severity of penalties for violations. This focuses on strengthening legal consequences for threatening school safety, not altering threat definitions or reporting procedures. The bill was introduced by Rep. Zupkus and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 5291 requires a two-thirds vote in both the state Senate and House to create or expand new costs imposed on municipalities and school districts without state funding. This bill directly affects local governments and school systems by making it harder for the state legislature to pass laws that force them to pay for new services or requirements. The key change is amending the law to raise the voting threshold from a simple majority to a supermajority for any bill that adds unfunded obligations to local entities. This policy change aims to prevent sudden, unexpected financial burdens on communities without prior legislative consensus.

Maddy summaryHB 5288 raises the cost threshold for public works projects requiring prevailing wages from $100,000 to $500,000. This change affects contractors working on public construction or renovation projects (like schools, roads, or government buildings) that exceed this new threshold. The bill also requires the threshold to be adjusted annually based on inflation to maintain its real value over time. The law directly impacts project costs for state and local government construction contracts, ensuring prevailing wage requirements apply to a broader range of projects as prices rise.

Maddy summaryHB 5255 requires Connecticut's State Board of Education to issue professional teaching certification to any educator already certified in another state (including the District of Columbia), without additional requirements. This directly affects out-of-state teachers seeking to work in Connecticut schools. The key provision eliminates separate certification processes for qualified educators from other jurisdictions. The bill aims to address Connecticut's teacher shortage by expanding the pool of eligible educators.

Maddy summaryHB 5254 establishes a task force to study start times for regularly scheduled instruction in public schools. The bill creates the task force but does not change existing school schedules or implement new policies. It directs the task force to examine current start times and their impacts, with findings reported to the legislature. This is a procedural bill focused solely on gathering information, not enacting changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exempt senior citizens from paying fees for recreational fishing licenses in the state. It directly affects residents aged 65 or older who engage in fishing, removing a cost barrier for this group. The key provision amends existing fishing license regulations to eliminate the fee requirement specifically for senior citizens. Non-senior citizens would still need to purchase and pay for a standard fishing license. The change applies only to license fees, not other fishing regulations or requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 5303) expands an existing property tax exemption for veterans by including the land beneath a home, not just the dwelling itself. It directly affects veterans with a service-connected permanent and total disability rating who currently qualify for the exemption. The key change amends state law to cover both the home and its surrounding land under the exemption, simplifying the coverage without altering eligibility criteria. The bill aims to provide broader tax relief for qualifying veterans' primary residences.