Rep. Jane Garibay

Maddy summaryHB 5143 requires homemaker-companion agencies to provide mandatory training to their employees. New employees must complete 10 hours of initial training within 90 days of hire, covering topics like CPR, safety, abuse reporting, and dementia care. Existing employees must complete 10 hours of annual continuing education from a state-approved training list, and agencies must maintain records of all training for state review. This bill directly affects homemaker-companion agencies and their staff, aiming to improve service quality and client safety through standardized training.

Maddy summaryHB 5141 requires assisted living services agencies in managed residential communities to provide annual training to all their employees about residents' fear of retaliation. The training must cover residents' rights to file complaints, examples of potential retaliation, and ways to prevent it. This law, effective October 1, 2026, applies specifically to licensed agencies providing assisted living services and does not require training to be conducted by social workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands absentee voting eligibility in Connecticut to allow any eligible voter who will not appear at their polling place on election day to vote by absentee ballot, removing previous restrictions based on specific reasons like military service, illness, or religious observance. It also strengthens accountability by requiring individuals who distribute five or more absentee ballot applications to register with municipal clerks and maintain records of recipients, while prohibiting candidates and political committees from mailing unsolicited absentee ballot applications without clear eligibility warnings. Additionally, the bill mandates that absentee ballot envelopes include a sworn statement confirming the voter will not appear at their polling place, and requires the Secretary of the State to post notices online clarifying that applications are for personal or immediate family use only. These changes aim to increase voting access while implementing safeguards to prevent misuse of the absentee voting system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires healthcare facilities and schools to cover medical costs and pay full salary for staff injured during work-related assaults or aggressive incidents. It creates a system for reporting patient violence in digital health records (with patient appeal options) and ensures absences due to such incidents don’t count against paid leave. Directly affects healthcare workers, teachers, and school staff who face workplace violence while performing job duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-level civil rights enforcement mechanism allowing Connecticut residents to sue individuals or entities, including government officials, for depriving them of constitutional rights. It creates a new cause of action similar to federal civil rights laws, permitting courts to award damages, attorney fees, and injunctive relief when violations are proven. The bill also empowers the Attorney General to investigate and intervene in cases involving civil rights violations, seek civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation, and accept assurances that unlawful practices will stop. Additionally, it clarifies that these actions do not waive sovereign immunity and maintains existing rights to file complaints with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

Maddy summarySB 319 requires Connecticut state agencies and municipalities to transition from gas-powered to electric landscaping equipment by 2030. Starting in 2027, state departments must replace gas equipment with electric models as existing tools wear out, and by 2029, contractors bidding on state property maintenance must use electric equipment. The bill bans gas-powered leaf blowers on state-owned properties by 2030, with exceptions for emergencies, fire hazard reduction, and specific land management activities. To support the transition, the bill reactivates a fund for municipalities, mandates equipment demonstrations, and creates a loan program for commercial landscapers to purchase electric tools.

Maddy summaryHB 5140 mandates a study of senior citizens' needs in the state, focusing on long-term care, transportation, housing assistance, nutritional support, and socialization opportunities. The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity must complete this study in consultation with the Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services and report findings to the legislature by January 1, 2027. This bill does not create new programs or allocate funds but aims to inform future resource allocation based on identified senior needs.

Maddy summaryHB 5283 authorizes Connecticut municipalities to ban pet shops from selling dogs, cats, and rabbits. The bill amends state law to allow local governments to prohibit these sales in pet shops (defined under section 22-327) without requiring them to do so. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and directly affects pet shops currently selling these animals and local governments choosing to adopt such restrictions. The policy change provides municipalities with a specific legal mechanism to regulate pet shop sales, focusing on dogs, cats, and rabbits.

Maddy summaryHB 5035 requires all public K-12 school districts in the state to ban students from using wireless communication devices (like cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches) during the school day, except for instructional purposes or specific exceptions. The law mandates devices be powered off and stored securely, with exceptions for students needing them under individualized education plans (IEPs) or for medical reasons approved by healthcare providers. It also prohibits access to social media during school hours unless for classroom instruction. School districts must create and share policies with parents about these rules, including emergency communication procedures and disciplinary steps for violations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 5036 creates a standardized, automated online system (the "smart solar permitting platform") to streamline building permits for residential solar installations under 12 kilowatts. The bill requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Administrative Services to develop or implement this platform by July 2028, enabling instant permit issuance for compliant rooftop solar systems after automated review against building codes. Municipalities must adopt this platform or an equivalent alternative by January 2029, update fee schedules to reflect reduced administrative costs, and submit compliance reports. This directly affects homeowners installing small solar systems and local governments handling solar permitting, reducing approval times from days or weeks to near-instantaneous for eligible projects.