Rep. Craig Fishbein

Maddy summarySB 668 would create a reciprocal licensing agreement between Connecticut and other New England states for skilled trades (like plumbing, electrical work, or carpentry). This bill would allow licensed workers from one New England state to obtain licensure in Connecticut without retaking exams, directly benefiting skilled trade workers seeking employment across state lines. The agreement would be implemented by amending Connecticut’s general statutes to adopt this mutual recognition framework. The bill focuses on streamlining licensing processes, not on new regulatory standards.

Maddy summarySB 667 (2025) requires that all completed and signed absentee ballot applications become public records under Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This bill amends statutes 9-140 and 9-150b to mandate disclosure of these applications, making them accessible for public inspection. It directly affects voters who submit absentee ballot applications, as their completed forms would no longer remain confidential. The key provision changes the status of these applications from private to public records, aligning them with other documents subject to FOIA requests. This is a procedural change focused on transparency, not altering voting procedures or ballot secrecy.

Maddy summarySB 666 requires the Secretary of the State to create procedures for auditing two specific election-related items: (1) same-day voter registration applications that are accepted, and (2) confirmation notices sent to and returned by local election officials. This bill directly affects state election administrators and local registrars of voters who handle voter registration. The key mechanism is mandating these audits to verify the accuracy of registrations and confirmations processed on election day. The bill focuses solely on establishing this audit process, without changing voter eligibility rules or election procedures.

Maddy summarySB 649 authorizes up to $50,000 in state bonds to fund a garden at York Correctional Institution, directly benefiting inmates by providing fresh produce grown on-site. The bill directs the Department of Correction to use bond proceeds for establishing and maintaining the garden, with no other stated purposes. Key provisions include empowering the State Bond Commission to issue the bonds under existing law and limiting the total funding to $50,000. This is a straightforward funding measure focused on creating a practical facility for inmate nutrition, with no additional policy changes or broader implications outlined.

Maddy summarySB 662 requires Legislative Commissioners to analyze and document any potential conflicts between proposed bills and the state constitution. It applies to all bills introduced in the legislature, mandating that commissioners identify constitutional concerns without making final judgments on their validity. This procedural change aims to provide legislators with factual information about constitutional risks when drafting or voting on legislation, helping them fulfill their oath of office.

Maddy summarySB 653 prohibits unsolicited mailing or delivery of absentee ballot applications to voters. It requires election officials to audit same-day voter registrations and verify that absentee voters reside at the address on their applications. The bill mandates photo ID for in-person and absentee voting, with free ID and free photocopy access at public libraries (state-reimbursed), and requires matching signatures on absentee ballots to application signatures. It also sets minimum prison terms for certain election law violations. These changes directly affect voters, election administrators, and individuals violating election laws.

Maddy summarySB 658 requires Connecticut's Secretary of the State to create a process for local election officials to verify that the signature on a voter's returned absentee ballot envelope matches the signature on their original absentee ballot application. This applies directly to voters who request absentee ballots and election officials handling those ballots. The bill mandates that election officials use this verification method before counting absentee ballots. The goal is to ensure signature consistency as part of the absentee voting process, with the Secretary of the State developing the specific procedure.

Maddy summarySB 655 requires election moderators to attach physical vote tally sheets and tabulator tapes (the raw vote data from counting machines) to election results when delivering them to the Secretary of the State within three days of an election. The Secretary of the State must then publish digital scans of these documents on their official website. This bill directly affects local election officials and the Secretary of the State’s office by mandating greater transparency in election documentation. It provides the public with immediate access to the underlying data supporting official vote totals, rather than just the final results. The law focuses on making election record-keeping more accessible, not altering voting procedures or outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 665 requires Connecticut's Secretary of the State to create procedures for auditing signed statements from voters who do not present specified forms of photo identification at polling places. This affects voters who choose to sign a statement instead of showing ID and election officials who must implement the audit process. The bill mandates that these signed statements be verified for accuracy before the voter casts their ballot, adding a pre-voting check for this specific voter ID alternative. The law does not change existing voter ID requirements but establishes a new administrative step for those electors who use the signature waiver.

Maddy summarySB 678 removes legal limits on how much landlords can charge for security deposits in Connecticut. Currently, state law restricts security deposit amounts, but this bill would eliminate that restriction. The change directly affects renters (who pay deposits) and landlords (who collect them), allowing landlords to set deposits at any amount without statutory limits. The bill does not introduce new requirements or protections, only repealing the existing cap on deposit amounts.