Maddy summaryHB 5491 establishes a new property tax exemption for Connecticut veterans who have a service-connected permanent and total disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill allows these veterans to exempt their primary residence from taxation, or if they lack a home, one motor vehicle garaged in the state. To qualify, veterans must submit proof of their disability rating to their local town assessor, with retroactive refunds available for up to three years if they missed the initial filing deadline. Additionally, the act modifies an existing lower-level disability exemption, increasing the property value threshold for veterans with non-permanent-and-total disabilities and adjusting amounts based on age and disability severity.
Rep. Jane Garibay
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Connecticut's laws to ban the sale, purchase, and cultivation of specific invasive plants based on recommendations from the Invasive Plants Council. It adds a new list of prohibited species that will become illegal to trade starting October 1, 2024, while also extending existing bans on other plants and adding a new restriction on callery pear trees effective in 2027. The law allows exceptions for moving plants for research, education, or eradication purposes and prohibits municipalities from passing conflicting local ordinances. Anyone caught violating these rules faces a fine of up to one hundred dollars for each plant involved.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to submit a report by January 1, 2025, regarding the protection of land and water rights in the Upper Farmington River Valley. The report must specifically address potential conservation actions needed if the Department of Public Health approves requests to abandon certain waters currently used as drinking water sources. The legislation directly affects environmental officials, the state legislature, and the communities within the Upper Farmington River Valley watershed. Its primary mechanism is mandating an official assessment to determine how to safeguard these water resources in the event of future changes to their status.