Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco

Maddy summarySB 672 updates election oversight and campaign finance rules. It requires the State Elections Enforcement Commission to refund non-qualifying contributions from the Citizens' Election Program directly to contributors after returning funds to candidate committees. The bill mandates the Commission investigate election complaints before results are certified, moves it into the Office of State Ethics, and requires all active complaints to be publicly accessible online. It also allows candidate committees to accept contributions via mobile applications and electronic payments. These changes directly affect candidate committees, contributors, and the Commission's operations.

Maddy summarySB 685 repeals laws that allowed certain criminal records to be automatically erased without court involvement. This affects individuals with past convictions who previously qualified for automatic record clearance under the repealed statutes (public acts 21-32 and 21-33). The bill removes the automatic erasure process, meaning people seeking to clear their records would now need to pursue other legal avenues, such as court petitions or specific eligibility pathways. The change directly alters how criminal record clearance is handled in the state, eliminating the automatic mechanism.

Maddy summarySB 717 makes specific surcharges on vehicle registrations optional for Connecticut drivers, including the federal Clean Air Act fee and the Passport to the Parks fee. Registrants must now actively agree to pay these surcharges instead of having them automatically added. The bill also caps standard vehicle registration fees at the actual cost incurred by the Department of Motor Vehicles for processing. This directly affects all Connecticut vehicle owners who register or renew their registrations, potentially reducing their costs if they opt out of the surcharges.

Maddy summarySB 718 would prevent new applicants from obtaining a "drive-only" motor vehicle operator's license if they cannot prove legal U.S. residency or provide a Social Security number. This requirement applies specifically to individuals seeking this type of license who lack these two documents. The bill amends Section 14-36m of state law to mandate this verification during the licensing process. It directly affects applicants unable to meet these residency or SSN requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers to pass any law during a special session. It directly affects legislators who would need broader consensus to enact special session legislation, replacing the current simple majority requirement. The key mechanism changes the voting threshold for special session bills from a majority to a supermajority, applying to all public or special acts passed during such sessions. This is a procedural change to the state constitution, not a substantive policy.

Maddy summarySB 716 amends state law to require that all funds in the Special Transportation Fund be used exclusively for transportation systems and projects, such as roads, bridges, and public transit infrastructure. It directly affects state budget allocations by prohibiting the use of these funds for non-transportation purposes, like general government operations or unrelated programs. The key mechanism is a specific amendment to section 13b-69 of the general statutes, mandating that revenue collected for transportation construction and maintenance must be spent solely on those activities. This bill does not change funding levels or create new programs - it strictly enforces the fund’s existing purpose.

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 summaryHB 5283 (2025) amends Connecticut's Parentage Act to replace all references to "person who gave birth," "person giving birth," and similar phrases with the term "mother." This bill directly affects the legal terminology used in Connecticut's parentage laws, which govern parental rights and responsibilities. The key mechanism is a straightforward substitution of language throughout the statute to standardize the term as "mother." The bill's stated purpose is to "protect the rights of women" by requiring this specific terminology. This is a procedural change to legal language, not a substantive policy shift.

Maddy summarySB 605 requires the Secretary of the State to submit certain interpretations of election law (such as declaratory rulings or written orders under Section 9-3 of the general statutes) to the standing legislative regulation review committee for approval before they take effect. This directly affects the Secretary of the State, who administers election law, and the legislative committee responsible for reviewing these interpretations. The key mechanism is a mandatory pre-approval step, replacing the current process where such interpretations would become effective immediately upon issuance. The bill aims to ensure legislative oversight of how election law is interpreted by the Secretary of the State.

Maddy summaryHB 5130 requires all public schools in the state to display a physical copy of the U.S. Constitution in a visible location for students. It directly affects every public school district and its students by mandating this display in every school building. The bill also adds funding provisions to help school districts without resources purchase and display the Constitution. The stated purpose is to ensure students can learn about the constitutional foundation of U.S. rights and liberties.