Rep. Craig Fishbein

Maddy summaryHB 5024 eliminates a 1% sales tax on meals sold by restaurants, caterers, and grocery stores in Connecticut. The bill amends state law to remove this additional tax from the standard sales tax rate applied to qualifying food purchases. This change directly affects businesses operating as eating establishments, caterers, or grocery stores that sell prepared meals. The legislation aims to reduce the tax burden on these specific food service providers by removing the separate 1% surcharge. The bill is currently under review by the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 5028 removes the "Combined Public Benefits Charge" from electricity bills for residential and business customers of electric distribution companies. This bill directly affects all end-use electricity customers in the state by eliminating this specific fee from their monthly bills. The key mechanism shifts the funding source for these public benefits programs from customer bills to the state General Fund. The bill does not change existing public benefits programs but changes how their costs are paid. This is a direct billing change with no impact on program eligibility or service levels.

Maddy summarySB 82 eliminates all application fees charged by state occupational licensing boards and caps annual license renewal fees at $100 for all professions requiring state licensing. This directly affects individuals seeking or renewing licenses for occupations like plumbers, cosmetologists, electricians, or contractors. The bill requires licensing boards to remove all upfront application costs and limits renewal fees to a maximum of $100 per year. It makes no exceptions for specific professions or fee structures, applying uniformly across all state-licensed occupations. The policy change aims to reduce upfront and recurring costs for workers entering or maintaining licensed careers.

Maddy summaryHB 5008 establishes a $2,080 tax credit per full-time equivalent employee for small businesses meeting the U.S. Small Business Administration's definition (typically businesses with fewer than 500 employees). This credit would directly reduce the state tax liability for qualifying small businesses, providing a concrete financial incentive tied to employee count. The bill amends state tax law to implement this credit, which applies to businesses that meet federal SBA criteria. This policy change specifically targets small business employment costs without altering broader tax structures.

Maddy summarySB 17 appropriates $1.5 million to fund the removal of harmful chemicals (PFAS) from fire trucks and equipment. It provides grants to municipalities, independent fire companies, and state agencies for this purpose, including reimbursement for removal work completed before July 1, 2023. The funding is allocated for the 2026-2027 fiscal year through the Department of Emergency Services. This bill directly affects local fire departments and state emergency services by covering costs associated with replacing PFAS-containing equipment.

Maddy summaryHB 7231 allows Sunday hunting on private lands, directly affecting landowners and hunters who use private property for recreational hunting. It lifts the previous prohibition on Sunday hunting in these areas, changing existing restrictions. The bill became law on July 8, 2025, after being signed by the governor as Public Act 25-138.

Maddy summarySB 1266 requires fair rent commissions to publicly post their bylaws online and hold all commission hearings open to the public. This law directly affects fair rent commissions (which handle housing rent disputes) and ensures residents can access commission rules and attend hearings. The key mechanisms mandate that bylaws be posted on a public website and that all hearings occur in open sessions, not behind closed doors. This increases transparency in the rent-setting process without changing rent amounts or tenant protections. The bill became law on June 30, 2025 (Public Act 25-121).

Maddy summarySB 1284 gives local governments new authority to regulate recreational vehicles (like ATVs and dirt bikes) and prohibit "street takeovers" through municipal ordinances. It allows towns to set fines (up to $2,000 for repeat offenses) and seize vehicles for violations, while requiring notice to owners before forfeiture and protecting innocent owners/lienholders. The bill also defines "street takeover" and lets municipalities ban such gatherings, imposing fines and impounding vehicles used in violations until fines are paid. Violations could lead to driver's license suspensions for repeat offenses under linked state law. These changes take effect in July 2025 for vehicle rules and October 2025 for street takeover provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 5271 prohibits gambling-related advertising, marketing, and promotional activities at public colleges and universities in the state. It directly affects these institutions and gambling businesses that target students or operate on campus grounds. The bill bans all forms of gambling promotions, including casino ads, betting app campaigns, or event sponsorships, within campus facilities or student-focused communications. This policy change applies to all public higher education institutions and aims to limit gambling exposure for students and staff. The bill passed the House with amendments and is now under consideration in the Senate.

Maddy summaryHB 5269 regulates how online gaming companies advertise their services and the payment methods they can use for player accounts. It directly affects gaming companies operating in the state and players who use online gaming platforms. The bill establishes specific rules for advertising content and restricts certain payment mechanisms to ensure compliance with state gaming regulations. Key provisions define permissible payment methods for account funding and set standards for advertisement content to prevent misleading promotions. The bill focuses on operational requirements for online gaming services, not on gambling restrictions or player eligibility.