Rep. Joe Polletta

Maddy summaryHB 5131 would create a personal income tax deduction of up to $10,000 annually for taxpayers who pay principal and interest on postsecondary education loans. This deduction directly affects individuals with student loan debt who file state income taxes. The bill establishes this as a specific line-item deduction in the state tax code, reducing taxable income by the amount paid toward qualifying loans. It applies to both the principal and interest portions of the loan payments made during a taxable year. The policy change aims to provide tax relief for borrowers without specifying income thresholds or other eligibility conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 5051 would allow Connecticut taxpayers to deduct tips or gratuities and overtime pay from their state personal income tax, but only for amounts already deductible on federal income tax returns. This directly affects service industry workers (like servers or hospitality staff) and employees who regularly earn overtime, potentially reducing their state tax burden. The bill’s key mechanism is aligning Connecticut’s tax deduction with federal tax rules, meaning the state would mirror the federal treatment of these income types. It does not create new deductions but expands existing federal-eligible deductions to state tax filings. The bill is sponsored by Representatives Carney, Pavalock-D’Amato, Polletta, and Vail.