Rep. Craig Fishbein

Maddy summaryHB 6013 requires local election officials to verify that the signature on the inner envelope of a returned absentee ballot matches the signature on the voter's original absentee ballot application. This applies directly to absentee voters who submit ballots by mail and to election officials processing those ballots. The bill mandates a specific verification process to confirm the person returning the ballot is the same person who requested it. The goal is to ensure ballot security by preventing unauthorized submissions.

Maddy summaryHB 6028 requires voters in Connecticut to present specific documentation before registering to vote and before casting a ballot. It mandates proof of U.S. citizenship and Connecticut residency during voter registration (including same-day registration), and a current photo ID displaying the voter's name and residential address when voting. The bill directly affects all Connecticut voters participating in elections, requiring them to provide these documents at two distinct points in the voting process. It replaces existing voter identification procedures with these specific requirements for both registration and ballot casting. The law aims to verify voter eligibility through these documented checks before allowing registration or voting.

Maddy summaryHB 6017 eliminates drop boxes as a method for returning absentee ballots in Connecticut. The bill amends Section 9-140b of the general statutes to remove this option, meaning voters would no longer be able to deposit absentee ballots in designated drop boxes. This change directly affects voters who currently use drop boxes to return absentee ballots, requiring them to instead return ballots by mail or in person at official locations. The bill focuses solely on altering the ballot return process without specifying alternative methods.

Maddy summaryHB 6015 changes penalties for specific felony violations of election laws by requiring a mandatory minimum one-year prison sentence for offenders. This means individuals convicted of certain election-related felonies must serve at least 12 months in prison with no possibility of probation or sentence reduction. The bill directly affects people who commit serious election law violations, such as voter fraud or ballot tampering. It replaces previous sentencing flexibility with a fixed one-year minimum term for these offenses. The law applies to felony violations covered under Title 9 of the general statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 6068 reduces by half the number of post-election audits the State Elections Enforcement Commission conducts on candidate committees. This directly affects political candidates and their campaign committees by cutting the frequency of financial reviews they undergo after elections or primaries. The bill amends Section 9-7b of the general statutes to implement this reduction. Its stated purpose is to decrease the administrative burden on campaign committees through fewer audits.

Maddy summaryHB 6012 reduces early voting periods to lower costs for local governments. It changes general election early voting from 14 days to 7 days and primary early voting from 7 days to 3 days. This directly affects municipalities, which would save taxpayer money by shortening the duration of early voting operations. The bill focuses solely on adjusting voting schedule length without altering voting methods or eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 6069 prohibits staff members of Connecticut's State Elections Enforcement Commission from engaging in partisan political activities. The bill directly affects Commission staff by banning actions like making political contributions, organizing political groups, handling campaign funds, participating in campaign events, giving public political endorsements, attending party conventions, circulating petitions, or displaying political materials. These provisions aim to ensure Commission staff remain nonpartisan in their official duties. The law requires staff to avoid all direct or indirect involvement in political campaigns or party activities while performing election enforcement work.

Maddy summaryHB 6018 requires voters to present a current photo ID displaying their name and address at polling places to cast a ballot. It directly affects voters without photo ID, including low-income individuals and some seniors who may not have standard identification. The bill establishes a program to waive fees for obtaining a government-issued photo ID (like a driver's license or state ID) specifically for voting purposes. This creates a concrete policy change by mandating ID presentation while removing cost barriers to obtaining compliant ID.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Connecticut law to require that appeals from decisions of a fair rent commission follow the standard procedures outlined in Section 4-183 of the general statutes. It directly affects tenants or landlords who challenge rent decisions through the appeals process. The bill makes no changes to rent regulations or commission authority - it only standardizes the appeal procedure. This is a procedural update, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 6174 would allow students in Connecticut schools or colleges to sue the state for injuries or illnesses caused by mandatory vaccinations or medicinal treatments required for enrollment. The bill creates a legal claim for actual damages (compensation for harm) if the state required the treatment as a condition of school admission, and punitive damages if the state mandated it without verifying safety through publicly available medical evidence. This applies specifically to students who received vaccinations or treatments under state-mandated school requirements. The bill does not change existing vaccination rules but adds a legal recourse for affected students.