Rep. Geraldo Reyes

Maddy summaryHB 5480 eliminates the use of incineration for processing municipal solid waste, requiring communities to adopt new waste processing technologies instead. It directly affects municipalities that currently use incineration for waste management. The bill mandates replacing incineration with newer technologies designed to create local jobs and lower waste processing costs for cities and towns. The key provision is a statutory change to prohibit incineration as a waste processing method, directing a shift toward alternative systems. The bill's stated purpose emphasizes cost reduction and job creation through this transition.

Maddy summarySB 775 would exempt veterans from paying fares on state-owned or state-controlled bus public transportation systems. To qualify, veterans must present a valid driver's license or state ID displaying veteran status. The bill directly affects veterans who use these specific state-operated bus services. This policy change removes existing fare requirements for eligible veterans without altering other transportation rules.

Maddy summaryHB 5479 appropriates unspecified funds from the General Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, to support the Encompass Transportation Program. The bill directly affects elderly and disabled residents in the greater Hartford area by funding their existing transportation services. It provides continued operation and administration of this program through the Department of Social Services. The bill does not create new policies but ensures ongoing funding for a current service. This is a straightforward funding measure with no new eligibility rules or program changes.

Maddy summaryHB 5352 would prohibit students identified as biological males from competing on public school female-only athletic teams or using female-only locker rooms and facilities in interscholastic and intramural sports. The bill directly affects transgender and gender-diverse students in public schools who are assigned male at birth but participate in girls' sports or access girls' facilities. It amends state law to require schools to restrict participation and facility access based on biological sex, specifically for athletic teams and locker rooms designated for females. The policy change applies to all public school athletic programs and facilities covered under the state's education statutes.

Maddy summarySB 580 requires the state Department of Education to create a sample policy banning cell phone use by students during school hours for all K-12 public schools. This model policy would serve as a template for schools to adopt, directly affecting students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The bill does not mandate an immediate statewide ban but provides schools with a recommended framework to limit phone use during instructional time. Schools would have the option to implement this model policy or develop their own approach. The bill focuses on creating a standardized resource, not directly altering current school rules.

Maddy summaryHB 5222 creates special "Donate Life" license plates for vehicle owners who choose to purchase them. A fee charged for these plates covers administrative costs and provides funding to a state nonprofit focused on organ and tissue donation. The bill aims to raise public awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation through this voluntary plate program.

Maddy summaryHB 5106 would allow Connecticut public school students in grades K-12 to miss school for Three Kings Day without it counting as an unexcused absence. The bill requires the State Board of Education to update school absence definitions to specifically include Three Kings Day as an excused absence. This change directly affects students, families, and schools by formally recognizing the cultural and religious observance. The bill does not alter school schedules or funding, only updating absence policy to align with the holiday's significance.

Maddy summaryHB 5104 removes a requirement that police departments and fire departments in Connecticut must demand U.S. citizenship for employment as officers or firefighters. It directly affects lawful permanent residents (green card holders) under federal law who are currently barred from these public safety roles due to citizenship rules. The bill amends state statutes to prohibit such citizenship requirements, permitting eligible residents to be hired as police officers or firefighters. This changes existing hiring practices without creating new benefits or funding, focusing solely on removing a barrier to employment.

Maddy summaryHB 5070 prohibits open alcoholic beverage containers in the passenger area of any motor vehicle while it is on state highways. This law directly affects drivers and passengers in all vehicles operating on public roads within the state. The key provision makes it illegal to possess an open container of alcohol in the part of the vehicle where people sit, regardless of whether the vehicle is moving. The stated purpose is to reduce alcohol-related traffic crashes and fatalities by addressing open containers as a contributing factor.

Maddy summaryHB 5036 requires colleges and universities to include non-affiliated victims (those not students or employees) in investigations of intimate partner violence when the accused is a student or employee. Specifically, schools must notify victims about investigations, allow them to participate, explain roles in the process, and share findings discovered during the investigation. This bill directly affects victims of intimate partner violence who are not connected to the educational institution where the accused is enrolled or employed. The policy changes aim to ensure these victims have a voice in proceedings that impact them, without altering the investigation's legal standards.