Rep. Tami Zawistowski

Maddy summaryHB 5050 requires Connecticut's Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to create two key resources: a program offering technical and financial assistance to towns and cities that publish municipal budgets online, and standardized guidelines for best practices in online budget publication. This bill directly affects all Connecticut municipalities that currently publish or plan to publish budget and financial information online. The key mechanisms are OPM's new assistance program to support municipalities and the development of clear, consistent guidelines for how this information should be presented digitally. The goal is to improve public access to municipal financial data through standardized, user-friendly online platforms.

Maddy summaryHB 5447 caps annual property tax increases for local governments (including towns, school districts, and special districts) at the lower of 2% or the Consumer Price Index (with negative CPI treated as zero). It excludes tax revenue from new construction or value growth in the prior year, preventing penalties for natural tax base expansion. Local entities may exceed the cap via a supermajority vote or referendum, but must carry over unused cap amounts for one year and face reduced caps if they exceed the limit. The bill aims to stabilize property tax burdens for homeowners and businesses by linking increases to inflation while allowing flexibility for community needs.

Maddy summaryHB 6510 would allow state and local police to hold undocumented immigrants for up to 48 hours without a court warrant if they are charged with a class A, B, or C felony or a crime of family violence, based solely on an ICE detainer request. This directly affects undocumented immigrants facing these specific criminal charges. The bill's key provision removes the requirement for a judicial warrant to temporarily detain such individuals while ICE processes their custody request. It does not change immigration status or lead to deportation but extends law enforcement's hold period for coordination with federal authorities.

Maddy summaryHB 6549 authorizes hospitals to install climate-controlled devices on emergency department exteriors for the safe, voluntary surrender of infants. These devices must include a bassinet, an automatically locking exterior door, and an alert alarm to notify staff. The bill directly affects parents in crisis who might abandon infants and hospitals that choose to implement such devices. It provides a legal, safe alternative to infant abandonment by enabling immediate staff response without requiring parents to enter the facility.

Maddy summaryHB 6554 requires hospitals to disclose potential wait times for transporting patients to another facility or home. If wait times exceed two hours beyond the disclosed time or would result in arrival after 9 p.m., hospitals must provide alternative transportation. Hospitals must also waive any fees for delays caused by these transportation issues. This bill directly affects hospitals and patients during hospital discharge or transfer processes.

Maddy summaryHB 6602 requires the Commissioner of Developmental Services to create color-specific envelopes containing written guidance for first responders (police, EMTs, firefighters) on interacting with people who have cognitive or physical disabilities. These envelopes must include communication tips, space to hold ID documents, and information about the individual's disability. The bill also mandates a training curriculum for first responders on best practices for these interactions. It directly affects first responders and individuals with disabilities by aiming to improve communication and safety during emergency encounters.

Maddy summaryHB 6596 prohibits female genital mutilation (FGM) within Connecticut and requires the Department of Public Health to create an education program about its prevention. The bill explicitly bans the practice, directly affecting individuals who perform or facilitate FGM, including medical professionals and cultural practitioners. It also allows victims or their representatives to file civil lawsuits seeking remedies for harm caused by FGM. These provisions aim to prevent the practice through legal prohibition, public education, and civil enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 6635 reclassifies high tunnels and hoop homes as temporary agricultural structures under Connecticut's State Building Code, rather than permanent structures. This change directly affects farmers and agricultural operations that use these farm structures, as it removes requirements for permanent building permits and inspections. The key provision updates the building code to exempt these structures from standard permanent construction regulations. This simplifies compliance for agricultural producers while maintaining safety standards specific to temporary farm use.

Maddy summaryHB 6315 requires all state agencies to evaluate the collection costs of taxes and fees they administer and report findings to the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. The committee would then propose eliminating any tax or fee where the cost of collection exceeds the revenue generated. This bill directly affects state agencies responsible for tax/fee collection and taxpayers who pay those fees. It creates a formal process to identify and remove inefficient revenue streams, without specifying which taxes or fees would be impacted. The policy change focuses on budgetary efficiency rather than altering tax rates or structures.

Maddy summaryHB 6365 modifies how Connecticut's Psychiatric Security Review Board handles release decisions for individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity (acquittees). It requires the board to prioritize public safety as its primary concern over the acquittee's well-being when evaluating discharge, confinement, or conditional release. The bill mandates hearings for all temporary leave requests, prohibits acquittees from being released on their own charge, and extends waiting periods for both temporary leave and conditional release applications from six to twelve months. Additionally, it requires the board to use "clear and convincing evidence" when considering less restrictive placements.