Rep. Jane Garibay

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 summaryHB 5329 creates Connecticut's Education Innovation Grant Program, which provides competitive funding to local school districts, charter schools, and approved nonprofits to develop and scale educational projects. The program prioritizes initiatives improving early literacy (birth-grade 8), high-dosage tutoring, college/career navigation, and family engagement. Grants support planning (up to 1 year) or implementation (up to 3 years), with waivers allowed for non-essential barriers (excluding safety, civil rights, or special education rules). Recipients must report annual outcomes, and districts receiving grants are exempt from counting those funds toward future education budget calculations.

Maddy summarySB 288 modifies rules for adding nursing home beds in Connecticut by creating specific exceptions to the existing bed moratorium. It allows new beds only for: (1) patients with AIDS or neurological rehabilitation needs, (2) continuing care facilities not using Medicaid, (3) relocating Medicaid beds per a strategic plan, (4) replacing facilities while closing existing ones, or (5) building small "nontraditional" facilities that reduce total beds. Nursing home operators seeking new beds must align with the Department of Social Services' strategic plan, prioritize person-centered care, and ensure no adverse impact on local bed availability. The bill directly affects nursing home providers applying for expansions or relocations under these new criteria.

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 summarySB 284 requires privately owned senior housing buildings (15+ stories, age-restricted, and federally mortgaged) in cities with 130,000-140,000 residents to install emergency power generators. These generators must provide 4-12 hours of electricity for heating, water, lighting, medical equipment in each unit, and passenger elevators during outages. The law applies specifically to multifamily housing projects meeting all three criteria: age-restricted, high-rise, and federally insured. It takes effect October 1, 2026, aiming to improve safety during power disruptions for vulnerable residents.

Maddy summarySB 287 requires home health aide agencies to provide free personal protective equipment (PPE) to their home health aide employees. The bill directly affects home health aide employees (both staff and contracted workers) who provide in-home care services. Agencies must supply necessary PPE like gloves, N95 masks, gowns, and hand sanitizers to ensure safe client interactions. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026, mandating this provision without additional costs to workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Connecticut municipalities to appoint agents who assist older adults with accessing community resources, benefits, and housing opportunities. Agents must be staff from senior centers or community members with aging experience, certify they have no conflicts of interest, and report any conflicts that arise during their term. Municipalities may jointly appoint agents to share costs through a formal agreement. The state Department of Aging and Disability Services must create and maintain a public directory of all appointed agents by January 2025.

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 summarySB 286 increases financial assistance for grandparents and other nonparent relatives legally responsible for raising children. It requires the state to pay these caregivers the same monthly rate as foster care payments per child, based on the child's age and medical needs. This change applies to families where a nonparent relative (like a grandparent) is the legal guardian. The policy takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects relatives raising children in foster-like care. The bill aligns state benefits for these relatives with foster care rates, ensuring equal financial support compared to unrelated caregivers.

Maddy summarySB 8 creates a new Supplemental Graduate Student Loan Program administered by Connecticut's Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority. It provides state-funded loans to graduate students enrolled in eligible programs (requiring a bachelor's degree) starting July 1, 2026, with funding secured through a $10 million state bond issue. The program uses a dedicated account to issue loans for graduate education, with repayment terms established by the loan authority. This directly affects Connecticut graduate students seeking financial support for advanced degree programs.