Rep. Craig Fishbein

Maddy summarySB 798 allows police departments to charge fees when redacting sensitive information from bodycam or dashboard camera footage before releasing it to the public. The fee applies only to portions of the footage containing legally restricted data that cannot be disclosed under state or federal law. This policy change clarifies that agencies may recover costs for the redaction process itself. It directly affects individuals making public records requests for police video evidence.

Maddy summaryHB 5782 creates a task force to identify occupational and professional licenses in the state that only require a fee, without any additional requirements like education, training, or certification. The task force will review all such licenses where the state collects a fee but imposes no other standards. This is a procedural bill focused solely on gathering data about these specific licenses, not changing licensing rules or affecting individuals directly. The bill does not enact new policy but sets up a process to catalog current fee-only licenses for potential future review.

Maddy summarySB 796 prohibits the Secretary of the State from using the name, image, or likeness of any candidate for public office or elected official (including the Secretary) in election education campaigns during the 90 days before a primary or general election. This applies specifically to public awareness materials about voting or elections developed by the Secretary's office. Violations carry a $10,000 penalty per incident, with the Secretary personally liable for payment. The bill aims to prevent campaign influence in nonpartisan voter education during critical election periods.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending the state constitution to incorporate existing statutory budget rules into the constitution itself. It would require specific revenue transfers, set a cap on general fund spending, and limit state bond borrowing under current law. These provisions - currently in statutes like sections 3-20, 2-33c, and 3-21 - would become constitutional requirements, making them harder to change without a new amendment. The bill directly affects state budgeting processes and fiscal decision-making by embedding these constraints into the state's foundational document.

Maddy summaryHB 5786 establishes a pilot program for three municipal police departments to install systems that allow officers to launch GPS tracking devices onto fleeing vehicles during pursuits. This would enable police to track stolen vehicles without high-speed chases, with funding provided via grants for implementation. Participating departments must report usage to the Police Officer Standards and Training Council, which will summarize results and recommend future action to legislative committees. The bill directly affects auto theft investigations and aims to reduce pursuit-related risks through this specific technological tool.

Maddy summaryHB 5512 repeals Connecticut's Baby Bonds program, which provided financial assistance to families with newborns, and redirects any remaining funds to the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund. The bill amends existing law to transfer leftover funds from the Baby Bonds Trust into this new fund, ending the program as a standalone initiative. These redirected funds will support the development of state early childhood care and education programs. The change affects the program's current participants by terminating its benefits and shifts resources toward broader early childhood services.

Maddy summaryThis bill would cap all occupational and professional license fees at $100. It applies to any license required for professions like contractors, healthcare workers, or cosmetologists. The law would prevent state agencies from charging more than $100 for these licenses, directly affecting individuals and businesses seeking or renewing such credentials.

Maddy summaryHB 5381 would amend Connecticut law to require full funding for the state's special education excess cost grant. It directs the Department of Education to provide funding equal to its most recent estimates for all towns receiving this grant. The bill directly affects school districts and towns that administer special education programs by ensuring they receive the full amount they need to cover excess costs. This change replaces current partial or estimated funding with a guaranteed, fully funded grant amount under Section 10-76g of the general statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 5433 modifies a housing law to include all accessory apartments (like converted garages or in-law units) in the calculation for a 10% threshold exemption. This change affects property owners and developers who build accessory apartments, as it expands which units count toward the threshold requiring an affordable housing appeals process. Currently, some accessory apartments with property deed restrictions were excluded from this calculation; the bill removes that exclusion. The key provision ensures all accessory apartments - regardless of any property-level restrictions - are counted when determining if a development must comply with the affordable housing appeals procedure.

Maddy summaryHB 5431 requires able-bodied adults receiving public assistance (including medical assistance) to work or volunteer to continue receiving benefits, unless exempt under federal law. The bill directly affects individuals currently enrolled in state public assistance programs who are able-bodied and not already exempt. Key provisions mandate participation in work or volunteer activities as a condition for benefit eligibility, with exemptions aligning to federal standards. This policy change modifies existing benefit conditions without creating new programs or altering federal rules.