Rep. Jaime Foster

Maddy summaryHB 5301 excludes income earned by a spouse who provides over 25% of daily care for their partner from income calculations when determining eligibility for home and community-based Medicaid services. It directly affects spouses caring for a partner receiving such services under Medicaid waiver programs. The bill requires the Social Services Commissioner to seek a federal Medicaid waiver or amend the state plan to disregard this spousal income, effective October 1, 2026. This change modifies how income is assessed for Medicaid eligibility under specific home and community-based service programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the asset limits for Connecticut's HUSKY C health program, which provides coverage to low-income residents. It raises the maximum allowable assets from $1,600 to $5,000 for unmarried individuals and from $2,400 to $7,500 for married couples. The change, effective July 1, 2026, directly affects current and future HUSKY C beneficiaries who previously exceeded the lower thresholds. The Commissioner of Social Services must also report by July 2027 on eligibility changes and any increased state costs resulting from the new limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Correction and other state facilities that detain offenders to adopt and follow national standards for preventing, detecting, and responding to sexual abuse. It mandates specific policies including zero tolerance for abuse, enhanced privacy protections for transgender individuals, improved surveillance coverage, and specialized training for staff and volunteers. The legislation also establishes reporting requirements, mandates investigations within 30 days of abuse reports, and requires regular compliance certifications to be submitted to state oversight committees.

Maddy summaryHB 5046 modifies existing tuition waiver policies at Connecticut's community colleges and universities to specifically support public safety personnel. It waives tuition for current police officers (with 5+ years service) and firefighters (with 5+ years service), as well as for their dependents if the officer or firefighter was killed in the line of duty. The bill also expands waivers to include students enrolled in state fire school programs and police academy coordination courses. These changes apply to Connecticut State Community College and Connecticut State University System programs, effective July 1, 2026. The policy directly affects active and retired public safety workers and their families by reducing education costs.

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 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 summaryThis bill creates a new Academic Research Funding Commission within the Executive Department to distribute research grants to faculty at Connecticut colleges and universities. The commission will include 13 members appointed by various state officials, including university leaders, legislative leaders, and industry representatives, with co-chairs from the vice presidents of research at UConn and Yale. Its primary function is to award grants that help offset research funding reductions caused by cuts from federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. The commission will operate without compensation for its members, who will receive expense reimbursements, and will establish its own procedures through bylaws.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the University of Connecticut to join the Association of Research Universities by mandating the hiring of at least ten top-tier research faculty members by June 2029. The legislation requires the university to submit annual progress reports to the state legislature and allocates $35 million in state funding for faculty salaries and benefits. Additionally, it grants the State Bond Commission authority to issue up to $20 million in state bonds to finance infrastructure improvements like laboratory space and equipment needed to support the new faculty. These provisions aim to enhance the university's research capabilities and competitive standing while establishing accountability through regular reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5167 requires laboratories testing private residential wells and semipublic wells (like those serving schools or community centers) to report water quality results to local health authorities and the state Department of Public Health within 30 days of testing. It removes the previous requirement for the Commissioner of Public Health to approve disclosures, allowing direct sharing of results with well owners, adjacent property owners, and prospective buyers who have signed purchase contracts. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies to all such wells in Connecticut. This change streamlines access to water quality information for affected property owners and buyers without altering confidentiality protections for other uses.

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.