Rep. Geraldo Reyes

Maddy summarySB 195 creates a pilot program to establish four overdose prevention centers across Connecticut municipalities, directly serving people with substance use disorder. These centers provide free drug testing strips, overdose education, counseling, safe consumption under medical supervision, and referrals to treatment services. The bill grants legal protection to healthcare providers who administer overdose reversal drugs (like naloxone) at these centers, shielding them from liability or disciplinary action. The pilot requires local government approval and includes an advisory committee with diverse stakeholders to guide implementation and safety measures.

Maddy summaryHB 5032 adjusts Connecticut's state budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year by modifying specific funding levels in the General Fund. It revises appropriations for numerous state agencies, including the Governor's Office, Secretary of the State, Department of Veterans Affairs, and others, showing updated budget figures for personnel, operations, and specific programs. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects state agency budgets without creating new policies or programs. This is a procedural budget adjustment, not a substantive legislative change.

Maddy summaryHB 5114 would create a refundable tax credit for renters in the state who pay personal income tax. It allows eligible renters to claim a credit equal to a portion of their rent payments for a primary residence, based on the property tax assessed on that rental property. This credit directly reduces the renter's tax liability and, because it's refundable, could provide a cash refund even if the renter owes no tax. The bill affects renters with primary residences in the state who pay income tax, targeting those whose rent payments correlate with the property tax burden on their landlord's property.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Connecticut's organic materials composting requirements by gradually lowering the waste volume threshold for businesses that must separate and recycle food scraps. It affects food wholesalers, supermarkets, industrial processors, resorts, and schools located within twenty miles of composting facilities, starting with larger generators in 2014 and progressively including smaller operations by 2025. The law requires these entities to separate organic materials from other waste and ensure they are sent to authorized composting facilities with available capacity, while also establishing a voluntary pilot program for municipalities to begin similar separation efforts. Facilities that compost on-site or treat materials through permitted equipment are exempt from these requirements, and composting facilities must report fees charged for receiving organic materials to the state environmental agency.

Maddy summaryHB 5305 increases payment rates for adult day care services in Connecticut by 10% starting July 1, 2026, specifically to fund transportation services. It mandates annual cost-of-living adjustments (based on the consumer price index) beginning July 1, 2027, for these services. The bill directly affects adult day care centers and elderly clients who rely on these transportation services, ensuring providers receive adjusted funding to cover transportation costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new lump sum death benefit of $100,000 for surviving families of first responders who die from firefighter cancer while performing their duties. It creates a dedicated "Fallen Hero Fund" to finance these payments and expands the definition of firefighter cancer to include various types of cancer affecting multiple body systems. The law applies to first responders including firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians, and ensures these benefits are paid in addition to any other compensation or survivor benefits they may receive.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state grant program to provide diapers at no cost to children three years old or younger from households with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. The program would be administered by the Department of Social Services and funded through a one million dollar appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. Funds would support partnerships between hospital organizations and nonprofit diaper distributors to deliver diapers statewide. The bill also requires recipients to submit reports on distribution numbers, unmet need estimates, health impacts, and future funding recommendations by September 1, 2027.

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 summaryHB 5423 requires the executive director of the Court Support Services Division to submit a report by July 1, 2026, to judicial and appropriations committees on the previous year's usage of court support services and recommendations for expanding these services. The bill does not create new programs or change existing laws but mandates this annual report to inform future decisions about juvenile justice support resources. It directly affects the Judicial Branch's Court Support Services Division and the relevant legislative committees. This procedural bill focuses solely on requiring transparency and planning, not on implementing new policies.

Maddy summarySB 380 establishes the Office of Postsecondary Success within the Department of Education to support scholarship programs for students pursuing higher education. The office will fund existing "promise programs" (scholarships paired with mentoring and career support) at $3,000 per enrolled student, require annual reporting on student outcomes like graduation and job placement, and work to create eight new promise programs by 2031, prioritizing students in designated alliance districts. It also mandates tracking student data - including net cost of attendance, demographics, and academic progress - to improve program effectiveness. The bill directly affects students in Connecticut’s public colleges and universities, particularly those from low-to-moderate income backgrounds.