Rep. Anne Dauphinais

Maddy summaryHB 6015 changes penalties for specific felony violations of election laws by requiring a mandatory minimum one-year prison sentence for offenders. This means individuals convicted of certain election-related felonies must serve at least 12 months in prison with no possibility of probation or sentence reduction. The bill directly affects people who commit serious election law violations, such as voter fraud or ballot tampering. It replaces previous sentencing flexibility with a fixed one-year minimum term for these offenses. The law applies to felony violations covered under Title 9 of the general statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 6016 would standardize early voting procedures to match the existing absentee voting process. It requires state law to align early voting rules (like registration, ballot handling, and location procedures) with the familiar absentee voting system already in place. This change directly affects voters who use early voting locations by making the process more consistent and predictable. The bill focuses on procedural alignment, not policy changes to voting access or eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 6007 would reduce early voting periods for statewide elections and primaries. Specifically, it changes election early voting from 14 days to 7 days and primary early voting from 7 days to 3 days. This bill directly affects all voters in the state who participate in elections or primaries by shortening the window for early in-person voting. The change applies to all elections covered under Title 9 of the general statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 6006 requires voters to present a current photo ID displaying their name and residential address at polling places before casting a ballot. This bill directly affects all voters who cast ballots in person, particularly those who may not already possess such identification. Key provisions include establishing a program to waive fees for obtaining a photo ID (like a driver's license or state ID) specifically for voting purposes. The law aims to implement a uniform photo ID requirement at polling locations while providing a fee-free pathway to obtain necessary identification.

Maddy summaryHB 6018 requires voters to present a current photo ID displaying their name and address at polling places to cast a ballot. It directly affects voters without photo ID, including low-income individuals and some seniors who may not have standard identification. The bill establishes a program to waive fees for obtaining a government-issued photo ID (like a driver's license or state ID) specifically for voting purposes. This creates a concrete policy change by mandating ID presentation while removing cost barriers to obtaining compliant ID.

Maddy summaryHB 6157 prohibits the Office of the Attorney General and other state agencies from appointing legal counsel for undocumented immigrants during federal deportation proceedings. This bill directly affects undocumented immigrants facing removal from the U.S., preventing state-funded legal representation in these cases. The key provision bans state agencies from providing attorneys during federal immigration court processes, ensuring no state resources are used to support such cases. The bill does not change federal law or immigration policy, only restricting state agency actions. (2 sentences, as it is a procedural prohibition.)

Maddy summaryHB 6178 prohibits state agencies, including the Department of Children and Families, from investigating child abuse/neglect claims, removing children from homes, or denying foster/adoptive placements based *solely* on a parent or guardian raising a child consistent with the child's biological sex. It directly affects parents, guardians, and state agencies by preventing actions tied to this specific parenting choice. The bill's key provision explicitly bans such agency actions when the sole basis is the parent's decision to raise the child in alignment with their biological sex. This is a policy change that would alter how state agencies handle child welfare cases involving parental choices related to biological sex.

Maddy summaryHB 6174 would allow students in Connecticut schools or colleges to sue the state for injuries or illnesses caused by mandatory vaccinations or medicinal treatments required for enrollment. The bill creates a legal claim for actual damages (compensation for harm) if the state required the treatment as a condition of school admission, and punitive damages if the state mandated it without verifying safety through publicly available medical evidence. This applies specifically to students who received vaccinations or treatments under state-mandated school requirements. The bill does not change existing vaccination rules but adds a legal recourse for affected students.

Maddy summarySB 882 requires local and regional school boards to post all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training materials and related curriculum online for parents and students to review. This includes staff training content on topics like race, ethnicity, sex, and bias, as well as classroom materials focused on these issues. School boards must make these materials accessible on their website before training begins or within seven days after, and maintain them online for at least five years. The bill directly affects school boards and provides transparency about DEI content used in schools.

Maddy summarySB 957 bans businesses and government entities from requiring proof of vaccination or asking about vaccination status to allow public access. It directly affects commercial establishments (like stores or restaurants) and state/local government facilities (such as parks or offices). The bill prohibits two specific actions: businesses from demanding vaccination proof from customers or vendors, and government officials from requiring it for using public lands or buildings. This creates a clear policy change by eliminating vaccination verification as a condition for access to these spaces.