Rep. Craig Fishbein

Maddy summaryHB 6392 changes how Connecticut's Psychiatric Security Review Board evaluates the release or confinement of people found not guilty by reason of insanity (acquittees). It requires the Board to prioritize "protection of society" over the individual's well-being when making discharge or release decisions. Key changes include mandating hearings for all temporary leave requests (ending self-release under personal charge), doubling the waiting period for both temporary leave (to 12 months) and conditional release (to 12 months), and requiring "clear and convincing evidence" for less restrictive placements. These provisions directly affect acquittees and the Board's procedural standards.

Maddy summaryHB 6331 prohibits public colleges and universities in the state from maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices, requiring diversity statements, or considering a person's race, color, sex, sexual identity, or other unchangeable traits in admissions, scholarships, grading, or hiring decisions. The bill directly affects students, faculty, and staff at all public institutions of higher education. Key provisions include banning DEI offices, eliminating diversity statement requirements, and preventing the use of protected characteristics in key decisions. This policy change would remove existing DEI structures and require institutions to adjust their processes to avoid considering these factors.

Maddy summaryHB 6329 prohibits publicly funded college women's sports teams in Connecticut from competing against teams that include any player assigned male sex at birth, except for exhibition events. This directly affects all publicly funded intercollegiate women's athletic programs and their opponents in competitive events. The bill's key provision bans such competition unless the event is strictly for exhibition purposes. It does not apply to non-publicly funded teams or to exhibition-only competitions.

Maddy summaryHB 6362 would allow parents incarcerated in foreign countries for nonviolent crimes to be transferred to a Connecticut state prison to serve the remainder of their sentence closer to their children, who reside in Connecticut. The bill requires the state to facilitate this transfer when reasonably possible, prioritizing the safety and needs of the children involved. This provision directly affects nonviolent offenders in foreign prisons who have minor children living in Connecticut, aiming to reduce family separation while maintaining safety standards. The law does not guarantee transfer but creates a process for consideration based on specific criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 6366 amends Connecticut's statute (section 53-203) to clarify that recklessly discharging a firearm is unlawful. It explicitly allows intentional discharges for lawful self-defense, aligning with the stated purpose of protecting that right. The bill directly affects individuals who discharge firearms, including in self-defense situations. Key provisions add reckless discharge as a violation and define the scope of lawful self-defense under the statute.

Maddy summaryHB 6326 requires businesses selling consumer goods or services to accept cash as a payment method. It directly affects retail stores, restaurants, and service providers by mandating cash acceptance alongside other payment options. The bill amends general statutes to establish this requirement, ensuring cash remains a legally accepted form of payment for everyday transactions. This policy change focuses on maintaining cash accessibility without restricting other payment methods.

Maddy summaryHB 6416 would reduce the minimum wage rate for most workers under 18 in Connecticut from 85% to 75% of the adult minimum wage, affecting young workers in jobs covered by this provision. It eliminates a previous 90-day temporary rate limit, meaning the lower 75% rate would apply permanently to eligible minors (excluding emancipated minors). This change directly lowers pay for teenage workers in qualifying positions compared to the current 85% rate. The bill aims to adjust wage requirements specifically for youth employment without altering the adult minimum wage.

Maddy summarySB 243 requires municipalities with a fair rent commission to post the commission's bylaws on their official website. This applies to any city or town that has established such a commission. The bill mandates this online posting as a standard transparency measure, making the commission's rules publicly accessible without changing the commission's actual authority or rent policies. The purpose is simply to ensure bylaws are easily available to residents online.

Maddy summaryHB 5797 appropriates an unspecified sum from the General Fund to the Office of Policy and Management for the Governor's Horse Guards during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill directly affects the Governor's Horse Guards, a ceremonial unit within the state government, by providing dedicated funding for its operations. This is a procedural appropriation bill with no new policy provisions or broad impacts; it solely allocates existing funds to maintain an existing ceremonial honor guard. The bill’s purpose is explicitly stated as "to fully fund" this unit, with no additional mechanisms or changes to laws.

Maddy summaryHB 5853 prohibits biological males from participating on female athletic teams in school sports. It directly affects female athletes in interscholastic (school-to-school) and intramural (within a school) athletic events. The bill amends state law to ban biological males from competing on teams designated for females. This policy change applies to all public and private K-12 schools participating in these athletic programs.