Rep. Geraldo Reyes

Maddy summaryHB 7212 prohibits state law enforcement officers, bail commissioners, school security personnel, and related agencies from cooperating with federal immigration authorities in specific ways. It directly affects police departments, correctional facilities, school security, and court personnel by banning actions like sharing release dates, home/work addresses, or allowing ICE interviews in custody facilities. Key provisions forbid providing "ICE access" (such as notification of release times, nonpublic data, or facility use for immigration enforcement) while clarifying that routine fingerprinting or database checks for arrests remain permitted. The bill aims to limit state-level collaboration with federal immigration enforcement under the defined restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to change the term lengths for state legislators. Currently, members of the state legislature serve two-year terms. The amendment would establish a new cycle where, after each U.S. Census redistricting, the first two elected terms would be four years long, followed by a two-year term. If approved by voters in the November 2026 election, this change would affect all state senators and representatives elected in subsequent cycles. The resolution must first pass the legislature with a three-quarter vote to appear on the ballot.

Maddy summaryThis symbolic resolution (HR 10) recognizes the cultural heritage of Taíno descendants in Connecticut. It affirms their historical and ongoing contributions to the state without conferring tribal status, land claims, or sovereignty. The resolution supports collaboration with Taíno cultural organizations to promote awareness and language revitalization, with no fiscal impact on state or municipal budgets. (House Favorable, Committee Report: March 26, 2025)

Maddy summaryHB 7229 modifies Connecticut election law to improve absentee voting access for people incarcerated in state correctional facilities. The bill requires the Secretary of State to create a special absentee ballot application form for correctional facilities, which must include a space for the inmate's facility mailing address. Municipal clerks must mail absentee voting sets to incarcerated applicants within 24 hours of receiving their applications (or immediately if submitted in person), and the Department of Correction must ensure ballots reach inmates transferred between facilities. This directly affects incarcerated voters by streamlining the process to receive and return absentee ballots without requiring them to leave custody.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot program for overdose prevention centers in four Connecticut municipalities. These centers would allow people with substance use disorders to safely consume drugs under medical supervision while receiving counseling, drug testing strips, referrals to treatment, and basic services like showers. Municipalities must approve locations, and centers must employ licensed health providers who cannot face disciplinary action for participating. The program includes an advisory committee to address operational issues like needle disposal and legal protections for staff and participants.

Maddy summaryHB 7012 establishes a 10-member working group to address antisemitism in public schools, effective July 1, 2025. The group will assist schools by helping update safety policies, providing educator training on antisemitism, and developing curriculum resources about Jewish heritage and Holocaust education - aligning with existing social studies requirements. It directly affects students, families, educators, and school personnel in public schools across the state. The working group must submit its first report by February 1, 2026, to the education committee.

Maddy summaryHB 7014 requires all public school boards in the state to create a formal policy by January 1, 2026, for evaluating requests to remove or restrict access to library materials. The policy must include a standardized complaint process, a review committee (with school staff and librarians), and clear timelines for decisions, with all final decisions posted online. The bill explicitly prohibits removing library materials based on an author's race, gender identity, political views, religious content, or sexual health topics (unless material is developmentally inappropriate for grade level). School boards must update these policies every five years, and the bill has no fiscal impact as it uses existing resources.

Maddy summarySB 1236 exempts certain solar installation and maintenance work from standard electrical licensing requirements in Connecticut, effective October 1, 2026. It directly affects solar contractors, installers, and workers performing specific solar-related tasks, such as mounting racks, installing panels, and setting ground supports. The bill creates a new exemption (section 17) allowing licensed solar contractors and their employees to handle uncrating, hoisting, placement, and anchoring of solar equipment without full electrical licensing. This streamlines the process for small-scale residential solar installations by removing licensing barriers for defined installation activities. The change applies only to work limited to these specific solar tasks, not broader electrical work.

Maddy summarySB 1194 establishes rules for electric utilities to purchase zero-carbon energy (like nuclear, hydro, and renewable sources) through state-approved solicitations. It limits total annual energy purchases to 12 million megawatt hours and sets minimum/maximum contract terms (3-10 years for nuclear/hydro, up to 20 years for renewables). Utilities must get approval from the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for these agreements, ensuring they provide reliable, cost-effective service at reasonable prices. The bill also allows utilities to use purchased energy for "standard service" (basic electricity for all customers) if approved by the authority, with specific requirements for pricing and usage. This directly affects electric utilities, ratepayers, and the regulatory authority.

Maddy summaryThis resolution asks Congress to amend the Jones Act to exempt domestic liquefied natural gas (LNG) transportation between U.S. ports. It specifically targets the requirement that vessels moving cargo between U.S. ports must be built, owned, and crewed by Americans, which currently limits LNG tanker availability. The resolution argues this exemption would address high LNG costs (up to 30% higher) and supply shortages affecting Connecticut (65% of electricity from natural gas) and Puerto Rico (23% of electricity). As a memorial resolution, it does not change law but formally requests congressional action to modify the Jones Act for domestic LNG transport.