Rep. Tami Zawistowski

Maddy summaryHB 5034 creates a personal income tax deduction of up to $2,000 for volunteer firefighters, fire police officers, and ambulance members who receive stipends from their local municipality, fire department, or ambulance association. This deduction directly affects volunteer emergency personnel who earn these stipends as part of their service. The bill amends tax code to allow these individuals to subtract the stipend amount (capped at $2,000 annually) from their taxable income. The policy provides a concrete tax benefit for qualifying volunteers without changing broader tax rates or requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5028 creates a personal income tax deduction for volunteer firefighters and ambulance members who receive stipends from their municipality, volunteer fire department, or volunteer ambulance association. The deduction applies to stipends paid for "other duties performed," limited to $15,000 annually per recipient. This directly affects eligible volunteers whose income includes these stipends, reducing their taxable income. The bill modifies existing tax law to provide this specific deduction for qualifying volunteer service payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes law enforcement officers from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York to arrest individuals for boating or fishing violations that occur on the waters bordering these states. It allows officers from any of the three states to make arrests in the bordering waters and transfer the arrested person to the state where the violation took place for prosecution. The law specifically applies to interior bodies of fresh water located between Rhode Island and its neighboring states.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows certain former military reservists and Hmong Laotian special guerilla units members to receive official veteran status for the purpose of obtaining specialty license plates and driver's licenses. It requires these individuals to submit service documentation to the Department of Veterans Affairs, which must verify their eligibility within thirty days before notifying the Motor Vehicles Commissioner. The law also clarifies that receiving these plates does not guarantee eligibility for other veteran benefits and mandates that plates be returned if the owner is dishonorably discharged.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for the Independent Consumer Advocate, a role designed to protect the interests of customers served by the Metropolitan District of Hartford County. The new provisions allow the Advocate to independently represent consumers in matters involving rates, water quality, and wastewater services, with all related costs covered by the district. To ensure independence, the Advocate must be a lawyer appointed by an external Consumer Counsel rather than the district's board, and the Advocate has the right to access district records and legal experts. The bill also requires the Advocate to submit quarterly activity reports and hold an annual public forum to gather feedback from the community.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the appeals process for the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program in Connecticut, affecting employees denied benefits and individuals facing penalties. It establishes a 21-day window for filing appeals with the Labor Commissioner, allowing the commissioner to decide based on existing documents or to hold a hearing with witnesses if necessary. The law also outlines the steps for further appeal to the Superior Court, specifying how records are transferred and ensuring the court reviews only the certified administrative record without retrying facts.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary task force to study how well current laws are enforced regarding roaming livestock, specifically focusing on interactions between pigs and cattle. The group will include representatives from both legislative chambers, law enforcement, the agriculture department, and experts in livestock management. Members must submit a report with their findings and recommendations by January 1, 2025, after which the task force will end. The legislation does not change existing laws but instead sets up a review process to improve enforcement of current regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 5190 updates Connecticut's historic home rehabilitation tax credit program to provide a 30% tax credit for owners who renovate eligible historic buildings. To qualify, the home must be listed on the National or State Register of Historic Places, and the owner must spend at least $15,000 on approved construction costs while pledging to live there as their primary residence for five years. The Department of Economic and Community Development will administer the program by reviewing renovation plans before work begins and issuing vouchers based on verified expenses after completion. This bill replaces the previous version of the law and will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipal tax collectors to waive interest on delinquent property taxes if the delay is caused by an error made by the tax assessor or tax collector, rather than by the taxpayer. To qualify for this waiver, the tax collector and assessor must jointly confirm the error, and the decision must be approved by a vote of the municipality's legislative body. The law also mandates that tax collectors provide clear public notice regarding due dates, delinquency dates, and the applicable interest rate before taxes become late. Effective October 1, 2024, this change ensures that taxpayers are not penalized with interest when the government agency makes a mistake in calculating or collecting their taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HB 5058, adopts the Nurse Licensure Compact into Connecticut law to allow nurses to hold a single license that permits them to practice in any other state that has also joined the agreement. Starting in October 2025, the state will issue multistate licenses to qualified nurses, eliminating the need to apply for separate permits in each neighboring jurisdiction. The agreement establishes a system where nurses must meet uniform standards and allows state boards to share information about disciplinary actions or investigations to protect public safety. While the bill simplifies the process for nurses to work across state lines, it also ensures that any violations of nursing laws in one participating state can be enforced by the boards in all other member states.