Rep. Craig Fishbein

Maddy summaryHB 5394 updates Connecticut's relocation assistance rules for people displaced from homes due to government actions like redevelopment or code enforcement. It sets a $4,000 limit for payments to help displaced homeowners cover rent for up to four years or a down payment on a new safe, decent home (with a $2,000 matching requirement for larger down payments). Landlords become financially responsible for relocation costs if tenants are displaced due to local code enforcement, and towns/cities can place liens on landlords' property to recover these payments. This bill directly affects displaced homeowners, tenants, landlords, and municipalities managing relocation programs, replacing outdated provisions with clearer payment standards effective October 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5289 changes how municipalities must publish legal notices currently required by law. It replaces the requirement for daily newspaper publication with an option to use weekly newspapers, while mandating that all notices must also be published on the municipality’s official website. Municipalities must retain a physical copy of each online notice for one year. This affects all towns, cities, and boroughs (municipalities) that require legal notice publication in newspapers under existing statutes, ordinances, or charters. The bill does not change the required notice timing or the rule for selecting newspapers based on local circulation.

Maddy summarySB 260 prohibits dog owners from allowing dogs to roam freely on others' property or public highways without control (except during hunting season), directly affecting dog owners and keepers. It imposes escalating penalties: $350 for a first violation, $500 for subsequent violations, and a class C misdemeanor for a third violation within a year. The bill also specifies that owners who knowingly let a dangerous dog roam and cause injury face fines up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail. Key mechanisms include requiring owner control, establishing prima facie evidence for violations, and enabling animal control officers to seek court injunctions.

Maddy summarySB 222 allows high school students to count participation in interscholastic sports as credit toward their physical education graduation requirement. This change directly affects students seeking to fulfill PE requirements and local school boards responsible for granting credit. The bill modifies state statute to require school boards to grant PE credit for athletic program participation, replacing an existing medical exemption clause. The provision takes effect on July 1, 2026, providing a new pathway for students to meet graduation PE requirements through sports involvement.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new lump sum death benefit of $100,000 for surviving families of first responders who die from firefighter cancer while performing their duties. It creates a dedicated "Fallen Hero Fund" to finance these payments and expands the definition of firefighter cancer to include various types of cancer affecting multiple body systems. The law applies to first responders including firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians, and ensures these benefits are paid in addition to any other compensation or survivor benefits they may receive.

Maddy summarySB 194 requires cardiac screening for student athletes participating in high-intensity sports like football, basketball, and soccer. Starting July 1, 2027, schools must provide parents with a screening form asking about chest pain, fainting, or family history of sudden cardiac death. Students reporting these risk factors must get an EKG test and doctor's written clearance before participating. The bill also mandates schools to implement a cardiac awareness program for athletes and coaches, outlining warning signs and medical response protocols, with parent consent forms distributed annually. This directly affects student athletes in specified sports and their families through new health screening and education requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5221 reestablishes a permanent Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee as a standing body of the General Assembly. The committee, composed of six Senate members (appointed by leadership) and six House members (appointed by leadership), will review state agency programs for effectiveness and conduct investigations into matters referred to it. It can access state records, recommend policy changes, and issue annual reports to the legislature. This procedural bill directly affects the legislature and state departments by creating a formal mechanism for oversight, without changing substantive policies or impacting citizens.

Maddy summarySB 131 requires the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to study the needs of manufacturers in the state. The study must be completed by January 1, 2027, with results reported to the General Assembly's commerce committee. This bill does not create new regulations or funding but mandates an analysis to inform future policy decisions. It directly affects state administrative processes and the legislative committee overseeing commerce, without altering existing laws for manufacturers.

Maddy summarySB 118 prohibits the sale of baby food products (excluding infant formula) containing toxic heavy metals - arsenic, cadmium, lead, or mercury - above federal limits set by the FDA, starting January 1, 2027. It requires manufacturers to test each production batch monthly using accredited labs, publicly post test results on their websites with product details, and include a QR code on packaging linking to the results and FDA health guidance. The law directly affects baby food manufacturers in Connecticut and empowers consumers to report violations to the Consumer Protection Commissioner. Key mechanisms include mandatory testing, public disclosure of metal levels, and QR code transparency for shoppers.

Maddy summaryHB 5386 requires employers with 50 or more employees (including state/local governments) to provide employees with detailed written or electronic pay statements showing hours worked, gross earnings (separating regular and overtime pay), deductions, and net pay. It also mandates that these employers create and post a multilingual guide online explaining pay codes like shift differentials, hazard pay, or holiday pay, including dispute resolution contact information. The guide must be provided to employees at hire and included on each pay statement, with updates for new pay codes. This law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies to all covered employers in Connecticut.