Rep. Craig Fishbein

Maddy summarySB 25 appropriates funding from the General Fund for the preapprenticeship grant program under Connecticut law for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It directly affects students who successfully complete the preapprenticeship program by guaranteeing each such student receives at least $1,000. The bill's key mechanism is authorizing the Department of Education to distribute these funds to eligible program completers. This is a funding measure, not a new policy, ensuring existing program resources are fully supported. The bill specifies the funds must be used for the program established under section 10-21p of Connecticut's general statutes.

Maddy summarySB 10 appropriates $4.7 million from the General Fund for the 2027 fiscal year to increase compensation for court-appointed conservators (guardians for vulnerable individuals) handling indigent cases. This funding aligns conservator pay with the state's minimum wage increase, as recommended by a working group. The bill directly affects conservators managing cases involving low-income individuals who cannot afford legal representation. It provides a specific, concrete funding mechanism to update compensation rates without altering broader legal procedures.

Maddy summarySB 16 allocates $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Health for the Easy Breathing Asthma Program during the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill directly funds this program, which supports asthma management services for residents. It provides no new policy requirements or program changes - only a specific funding appropriation to sustain existing services. The bill is purely financial, with no additional mechanisms or beneficiary details specified.

Maddy summarySB 81 requires the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to develop a plan for privatizing state DMV operations and submit it to the transportation committee by October 1, 2026. The plan would detail how private companies might handle services like driver's license processing and vehicle registration, currently managed by state employees. The bill's stated purpose is to save state funds and improve efficiency through potential privatization. This legislation does not implement privatization but mandates a formal plan for legislative consideration.

Maddy summarySB 36 lowers the annual vehicle registration fee for Connecticut residents from $24 to $20 ("Passport to the Parks Fee"). It simultaneously raises the nonresident annual parking pass fee at all state parks, forests, boat launches, and recreational facilities from $112 to $175. The bill directly affects Connecticut residents (receiving a $4 annual reduction) and nonresidents (paying $63 more annually for parking access). These specific fee adjustments are implemented through amendments to existing statutes governing vehicle registration and park access fees.

Maddy summarySB 48 authorizes the state to issue up to $250,000 in bonds to fund automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) for public schools. The Department of Education will distribute grants to schools using these bond proceeds to purchase AEDs, which are life-saving devices for cardiac emergencies. This bill directly affects all public schools in the state by providing funding to equip them with critical cardiac response equipment. The measure focuses solely on creating a funding mechanism, with no new requirements or regulations for schools beyond the grant program.

Maddy summarySB 26 provides state funding to reimburse municipalities for increased election costs caused by early voting. It appropriates money from the General Fund for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to cover any cost increases municipalities face in administering early voting. The bill directly affects local governments that operate elections, ensuring they are financially compensated for these specific administrative expenses. This is a straightforward reimbursement mechanism, not a policy change to early voting itself.

Maddy summarySB 35 requires state reimbursement to school districts for all extra costs incurred providing special education services beyond standard funding. It directly affects local and regional school boards by ensuring they receive full payment for these "excess costs" instead of partial reimbursement under current rules. The bill amends existing law to mandate that districts be paid 100% of the difference between actual special education costs and the state's allocated grant amount. This changes the current system to fully cover these expenses, making districts "whole" as stated in the bill's purpose.

Maddy summarySB 15 allocates $6 million from the General Fund to the Department of Aging and Disability Services for elderly nutrition programs during the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funding directly supports existing state nutrition services for seniors, including meal programs and related assistance. This bill is a straightforward budgetary measure with no new policy requirements or eligibility changes. It specifically increases financial resources for the department to maintain or expand current elderly nutrition services.

Maddy summarySB 28 requires the state budget for fiscal year 2027 to appropriate funds directly from the General Fund to support nine regional fire training schools, rather than using specific taxes or fees like insurance premium surcharges. This bill directly affects the nine regional fire training schools by securing their funding through standard state budget appropriations. The key provision mandates that funding must come from the General Fund in the state budget, eliminating reliance on targeted revenue sources. The bill does not change the schools' operations but specifies how their funding will be allocated. This is a procedural budgetary measure with no new policy requirements.