Rep. Larry Butler

Maddy summaryHB 5092 prevents landlords from imposing sudden rent hikes when a rental property is sold to a new owner. It directly affects renters in properties transferred within the previous 12 months and landlords who purchase such properties. The bill caps rent increases for these properties at either 5% or the annual consumer price index (CPI) rise - whichever is higher - unless the new owner completed major renovations costing over $50,000 per unit. If renovations were done, the new owner must justify a higher increase through a fair rent commission review; otherwise, the standard cap applies. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a public reporting system for double utility poles, which are two poles located within six feet of each other due to incomplete replacement work. It requires the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to launch an online reporting platform by July 1, 2026, where any person can submit reports with location details and photographs. The commissioner will compile quarterly lists of these reports and share them with electric distribution companies, telephone companies, and municipal electric utilities starting October 31, 2027. The legislation defines specific utility pole types and establishes clear timelines for implementing the reporting infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 5370 establishes a five-year medical respite pilot program to provide supportive care for homeless individuals requiring medical recuperation but not hospitalization. The program, operating in four selected cities from 2026-2031, will offer up to four care units with 24-hour supervision, healthcare referrals, and case management to help participants secure housing. It requires a planning group with hospitals and homelessness nonprofits to design the program and pursue funding, along with two mandatory reports evaluating participant numbers, Medicaid cost savings, and expansion recommendations. The bill directly affects homeless individuals in participating cities by connecting medical care with housing support services.

Maddy summaryHB 5162 amends Connecticut's bond authorization for the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), expanding the use of $38 million in funds to cover both emergency mortgage assistance and down payment assistance under the state's homeownership loan program. This change directly affects CHFA and Connecticut homeowners participating in the homeownership loan program (sections 8-283 to 8-289 of state statutes). The bill modifies existing funding rules to permit the same $38 million to capitalize down payment assistance, which was previously ineligible under this specific bond authorization. The amendment takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5275 requires construction contractors to be jointly responsible for paying unpaid wages owed to workers by their subcontractors on covered projects. It directly affects construction workers, contractors, and subcontractors working on most private construction, renovation, or rehabilitation projects (excluding public works and small residential homes). The key provision makes contractors liable for subcontractors' unpaid wages, effective October 1, 2026, while allowing contractors to include wage payment clauses in contracts - provided these don’t limit workers’ legal rights. The bill also updates wage recovery procedures under existing law, ensuring workers can seek double wages plus fees for unpaid compensation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires eligible Connecticut school districts to provide free breakfasts to all students and free or reduced-price lunches to students already qualifying under federal meal programs, starting July 1, 2026. It applies to local/charter schools and magnet operators participating in federal School Breakfast or Lunch Programs but not using the federal Community Eligibility Provision. Schools providing these meals will receive state grants from the Department of Education to cover costs, replacing previous funding mechanisms. The policy directly affects school districts serving students in grades K-12 who meet federal eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 5144 appropriates funds to cover the cost difference between federal reimbursement rates for reduced-price school meals and full-price meals. It directly affects public school districts participating in federal meal programs by allowing them to provide free breakfasts to all students and free lunches to students already eligible for reduced-price meals. The bill’s key mechanism is reimbursing districts for the gap between what the federal government pays and the actual cost of serving these meals. This policy change ensures schools can maintain these meal programs without charging eligible students, as specified in the bill’s purpose statement.

Maddy summarySB 158 authorizes the state to issue up to $2 million in bonds to fund capital improvements and technology upgrades at StayWell Health Center in Waterbury. The State Bond Commission would issue these bonds, with proceeds directed to the Department of Economic and Community Development, which would then provide a grant-in-aid to the health center. The bill directly affects StayWell Health Center, enabling facility modernization and technology enhancements. This is a funding mechanism, not a new policy, focused solely on providing capital support for the Waterbury facility.

Maddy summarySB 188 revises the hospital tax calculation to base it on the number of Medicaid, Medicare, and uninsured patients served by a hospital, rather than the current method. This directly affects hospitals subject to the tax, as their tax liability would now be determined by these specific patient counts. The bill replaces the existing calculation formula with a new one that uses these patient categories as the sole basis for determining tax amounts. This policy change represents a concrete adjustment to how hospital tax obligations are computed.

Maddy summaryHB 5605, now Public Act 25-50, amends the Workers' Compensation Act with minor revisions. The bill's title indicates it updates existing provisions but does not specify the exact changes in the provided context. As a procedural bill without described policy details, it directly affects workers' compensation claims and related administrative processes in Connecticut. The summary cannot detail specific mechanisms or affected parties because the context lacks the bill's substantive text. The bill was signed into law on June 23, 2025.