Rep. Craig Fishbein

Maddy summaryHB 5253 would amend state law to require the State Board of Education to include two active classroom teachers on its membership. These teachers must be certified, employed by a local or regional school district, and spend at least half their time teaching K-12 students in a classroom. The bill aims to ensure the board includes perspectives directly from educators currently working with students. This changes the board's composition by mandating specific teacher representation, rather than adding a new program or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 5289 allows nonexempt employees of the Division of Criminal Justice to work as adjunct professors at Connecticut community colleges. Currently, these state employees are restricted from outside employment, but the bill removes that barrier. The key provision amends chapter 67 of the general statutes to explicitly permit this dual role. It directly affects nonexempt staff in the Division of Criminal Justice who wish to teach part-time at community colleges. The bill makes a specific, limited change to employment rules without altering pay, benefits, or other policies.

Maddy summaryHB 5255 requires Connecticut's State Board of Education to issue professional teaching certification to any educator already certified in another state (including the District of Columbia), without additional requirements. This directly affects out-of-state teachers seeking to work in Connecticut schools. The key provision eliminates separate certification processes for qualified educators from other jurisdictions. The bill aims to address Connecticut's teacher shortage by expanding the pool of eligible educators.

Maddy summaryHB 5254 establishes a task force to study start times for regularly scheduled instruction in public schools. The bill creates the task force but does not change existing school schedules or implement new policies. It directs the task force to examine current start times and their impacts, with findings reported to the legislature. This is a procedural bill focused solely on gathering information, not enacting changes.

Maddy summaryHB 5281 prohibits insurance companies from using an applicant's or insured's credit history when determining homeowners insurance rates or coverage decisions. This directly affects homeowners who apply for or maintain homeowners insurance policies. The bill amends state law to ban credit history as a factor in underwriting or rating, replacing it with other risk assessment methods. The policy change is a concrete restriction on insurer practices, effective upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 5274 limits post-election audits by the State Elections Enforcement Commission to no more than 5% of candidate committees. This bill directly affects political candidate committees by reducing the number of audits they may face after elections or primaries. The key provision requires random audits to cover only 5% of all candidate committees, as stated in the bill's purpose. This is a procedural change to audit frequency, not a substantive policy shift.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exempt senior citizens from paying fees for recreational fishing licenses in the state. It directly affects residents aged 65 or older who engage in fishing, removing a cost barrier for this group. The key provision amends existing fishing license regulations to eliminate the fee requirement specifically for senior citizens. Non-senior citizens would still need to purchase and pay for a standard fishing license. The change applies only to license fees, not other fishing regulations or requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 5303) expands an existing property tax exemption for veterans by including the land beneath a home, not just the dwelling itself. It directly affects veterans with a service-connected permanent and total disability rating who currently qualify for the exemption. The key change amends state law to cover both the home and its surrounding land under the exemption, simplifying the coverage without altering eligibility criteria. The bill aims to provide broader tax relief for qualifying veterans' primary residences.

Maddy summarySB 574 requires the state to fund nine regional fire training schools using general state budget appropriations for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, rather than through specific taxes or increased fees like insurance premiums. This bill directs the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to receive these funds from the General Fund, ensuring consistent state support for firefighter training programs. The measure directly affects the fire training schools and the state budget process, without altering existing training requirements or creating new fees.

Maddy summarySB 584 requires every public school in the state to post its full course curriculum - including syllabi and all materials - online before each school year begins. This applies to all local and regional school boards and educational centers, making the materials easily accessible on each school's website for parents and guardians. The bill aims to increase transparency in what students learn, ensuring families can review course content in advance. It does not change educational standards or content, only mandates public access to existing course materials.