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.

Maddy summaryHB 6454 limits the "Passport to the Parks" motor vehicle registration fee to a single charge per household, regardless of how many vehicles a household owns. This bill directly affects households with multiple vehicles that would otherwise pay the fee for each vehicle. The key mechanism amends statute 14-49b to require only one fee assessment per household. The change simplifies billing for this specific park access fee without altering the fee amount or eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 6460 prohibits payment card networks (like Visa or Mastercard) from including sales and use taxes in the transaction amount used to calculate interchange fees. This directly affects merchants, particularly small businesses, who pay these fees on every credit or debit card sale. The key provision requires that interchange fees be calculated only on the pre-tax purchase price, not the total amount including tax. This change would lower fees for merchants on taxed items, as they would no longer pay fees on the tax portion. The bill aims to reduce costs for businesses without altering tax collection rules.

Maddy summaryHB 6519 reduces the employee contribution rate for Connecticut's Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program from 0.5% to 0.4% of an employee's subject earnings. This change directly affects Connecticut employees who pay into the program, lowering their required contribution. The bill amends Section 31-49g of the general statutes to implement this rate reduction. It does not alter benefit amounts, eligibility, or employer obligations. The policy change simplifies the contribution structure without introducing new program features.

Maddy summarySB 857 appropriates $1.5 million from the General Fund to the Department of Education for fiscal years ending June 2026 and 2027, specifically for a grant-in-aid to the Waterbury Promise program. The bill directly supports underserved students in Waterbury public schools by funding this educational initiative. Key provisions include the two-year funding period and the allocation method through the Department of Education. This is a concrete financial support measure with no additional policy changes beyond the specified funding.