Rep. Lezlye Zupkus

Maddy summaryHB 5357 repeals the "Passport to the Parks" program, which previously required an additional fee for access to Connecticut state parks. It shifts funding for state parks from this dedicated program to the General Fund, eliminating the separate park access fee. This change aims to reduce motor vehicle licensing fees while making park funding more transparent. The bill directly affects all visitors to Connecticut state parks by removing the additional fee required under the repealed program.

Maddy summaryHB 5373 repeals a requirement that state government vehicle fleets transition to electric vehicles, as established in Public Act 2022-25. This bill directly affects state agencies and departments that operate vehicle fleets by removing the mandate for electrification. The key provision simply eliminates the existing requirement, with the stated purpose of reducing demand on the electric grid. No new requirements or funding are introduced; the bill only reverses the prior mandate.

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 5355 creates a standardized process for setting and adjusting special education tuition costs paid by local school districts. It requires the Department of Education to base costs on each provider's current and prior year budgets, set uniform rates across student placements (except for customized services), and cap annual increases to the current cost plus a budget-reviewed adjustment. For-profit providers must include a predetermined profit margin in their costs. The bill directly affects school districts funding special education, special education providers (public and private), and the Department of Education, which must post all set costs online. The stated purpose is to reduce local costs through a transparent, capped tuition system.

Maddy summaryHB 5284 would increase penalties for reckless driving and negligent homicide involving motor vehicles by amending chapter 248 of the general statutes. The bill directly affects drivers convicted of these specific offenses, raising the severity of punishments like fines, license suspensions, or jail time. It does not change the definitions of these crimes but focuses solely on enhancing penalties. The stated purpose is to reduce dangerous driving incidents on state roads.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes a state law requiring school boards to use specific reading curriculum models into an optional choice. It directly affects all local school boards by removing the legal obligation to implement certain reading programs. The key change amends statute 10-14hh to make adoption "permissive rather than mandatory." This gives school districts greater flexibility in selecting reading instruction approaches without state-imposed requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5277 allows sponsoring associations (like industry groups or trade organizations) to create multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) to provide health insurance coverage for their members. This bill amends state law to let these associations design and manage group health plans covering multiple businesses within the association, rather than requiring each business to create its own separate plan. The key change is streamlining access to group health insurance for smaller businesses or organizations that might otherwise struggle to form or afford such coverage. It directly affects sponsoring associations and their member businesses by offering a new, centralized way to secure health insurance for employees.

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 summaryHB 5293 streamlines the Certificate of Need (CON) process for healthcare providers seeking approval to build new facilities or offer certain services. It sets strict timelines for processing applications, requires automatic approval if deadlines are missed, and creates an expedited review path for specific high-need services. The bill also reduces redundant paperwork by eliminating unnecessary information requests during applications. These changes aim to reduce delays in healthcare facility approvals, improving patient access to care by accelerating the approval process.

Maddy summaryHB 5286 increases penalties for individuals who make threats to schools by amending sections 53a-180 to 53a-180d of the general statutes. It directly affects anyone who makes threats (including false ones) against school systems, aiming to deter such behavior through harsher consequences. The bill does not change what constitutes a threat but raises the severity of penalties for violations. This focuses on strengthening legal consequences for threatening school safety, not altering threat definitions or reporting procedures. The bill was introduced by Rep. Zupkus and referred to the Judiciary Committee.