Rep. Jason Rojas

Maddy summaryThis bill allows any individual to voluntarily turn in firearms they own to a police department or the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. While existing laws already permit the surrender of assault weapons with advance arrangements, this measure clarifies that all other firearms can be relinquished at any time without prior scheduling. The legislation also updates related statutes to ensure consistency in how these voluntary turn-ins are processed and to maintain existing rules about transferring assault weapons to licensed dealers or through inheritance.

Maddy summarySB 299 requires redemption centers in Connecticut to obtain a license from the Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner starting July 1, 2026, with a $2,500 application fee. It restricts centers from accepting containers that were previously redeemed, damaged, not originally sold in Connecticut, or listed as unavailable by deposit initiators. Centers must track redemptions over 1,000 containers per person daily (or 4,000 for nonprofits), keep records for two years, and submit quarterly reports to the state. This bill directly affects redemption center operators, beverage dealers (who must accept eligible containers), and consumers redeeming containers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Federal Cuts Response Fund" to help the state address reductions in federal funding for state programs. It transfers $330,811,954 from the state's Budget Reserve Fund into this new fund, which can be used by the Office of Policy and Management to respond to federal policy changes (like P.L. 119-21) that reduce funding for state programs. Unspent funds can carry over to the next fiscal year, but the state legislature must be notified of all spending or transfers and has 24 hours to disapprove any action. Any remaining balance in the fund must be returned to the Budget Reserve Fund by June 30, 2027, ending the fund's operation.

Maddy summaryThis resolution approves an arbitration award between Connecticut's Judicial Branch and three employee unions: SEIU Local 2001, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, and the Union of Professional Judicial Employees. The award includes a 2.5% general wage increase effective July 2025, annual increments for employees, and lump-sum payments, impacting judicial branch salaries and benefits. The agreement costs approximately $8.07 million in fiscal year 2026 and $8.60 million in 2027, with retroactive application to July 1, 2025. It directly affects over 1,000 judicial employees represented by these unions through adjusted compensation.

Maddy summaryHB 5110 requires peer-to-peer car sharing platforms (like Turo or Getaround) to charge the standard 9.35% sales and use tax on vehicle rentals, aligning them with traditional car rental businesses. This applies to vehicles shared through such platforms under existing tax laws (sections 12-408 and 12-411 of the general statutes). Revenue from this tax will be directed into the Special Transportation Fund. The bill directly affects car-sharing platforms and their users by applying uniform tax treatment to peer-to-peer rentals.

Maddy summaryHB 5112 exempts taxpayers from state personal income tax on debt relief received for student loans or medical debt. It directly affects individuals who have had these debts forgiven by state or federal programs. The bill amends tax law to exclude the amount of debt relief (from both state and federal sources) from taxable income. This creates a concrete policy change: taxpayers no longer owe state income tax on forgiven student or medical debt amounts.

Maddy summaryHB 5111 exempts burial and cremation-related personal property (like caskets or urns) and services from state sales and use taxes. The bill expands the existing exemption for burial/cremation items from an unspecified limit to a $10,000 cap, while also explicitly removing sales tax from the services themselves. This directly affects individuals and families arranging funerals or cremations by reducing out-of-pocket costs for these essential end-of-life services. The policy change takes effect upon enactment, removing tax liability for qualifying burial and cremation expenses.

Maddy summaryHB 5098 allocates additional state funds to the Department of Transportation for the 2027 fiscal year to expand bus rapid transit routes connecting Hartford to Storrs. The bill requires new bus stations in East Hartford, Manchester, and Rockville as key stops along the route. This expansion directly serves residents and commuters in communities east of the Connecticut River, aiming to improve regional transit access. The funding mechanism specifies a concrete policy change: adding these specific stations to the existing bus rapid transit system.

Maddy summaryHB 5108 authorizes the state to issue up to $20 million in bonds to fund grants for municipal commercial facade improvements. The bill directly affects cities and towns that receive these grants through the Department of Economic and Community Development. Key provisions include using bond proceeds to support downtown beautification projects, with the goal of boosting foot traffic and local economic activity. This policy change provides concrete state funding for municipal-led facade upgrades without specifying eligibility criteria or project requirements.

Maddy summarySB 95 creates a $500 credit against personal income tax for employees working at defense contractors or their direct suppliers/subcontractors. To qualify, individuals must earn under $125,000 annually as single filers or under $250,000 as married couples filing jointly. The credit directly benefits lower-to-moderate income workers in the defense supply chain by reducing their state tax burden. This is a specific tax incentive targeting employees in defense-related industries, not a general tax cut. The bill establishes this credit through an amendment to existing tax law.