Rep. Joe Zullo

Maddy summaryHB 5572 regulates real estate wholesalers by requiring them to obtain a license from the Department of Consumer Protection (except for those entering only one wholesale contract annually). It directly affects real estate wholesalers and sellers who use their services. Key provisions mandate that all wholesale contracts include a 10-day period for sellers to review the contract with an attorney (without penalty) and a prominent warning statement advising sellers to consult a professional. The bill also limits closing dates to 70 days (with written extensions allowed), effective October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1386 prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on a dog's breed or classifying therapy animals as service animals. It also requires a study to evaluate whether penalties should be created for falsely claiming a dog is a service animal. The bill directly affects dog owners, insurance providers, and individuals relying on service animals. This legislation aims to prevent breed-based insurance discrimination while examining potential enforcement for misrepresentation.

Maddy summaryHB 6835 would adopt the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact (PALC), allowing physician assistants licensed in one participating state to practice in other member states without obtaining additional licenses. This bill directly affects physician assistants seeking to work across state lines and patients in states that join the compact. The key provision requires the state to formally join the PALC, establishing standardized licensing requirements to streamline practice authorization. By adopting the compact, the bill aims to reduce licensing barriers for PAs and expand access to care in participating states.

Maddy summaryHB 7239 establishes a state-funded program to help public school districts cover costs for minor repairs and maintenance of school facilities, including buildings, grounds, and essential infrastructure like HVAC and plumbing. It directly affects all public school operators (local districts, charter schools, regional centers) by providing annual grants based on a formula weighted toward schools with higher student needs and lower property wealth. The funding formula allocates 50% based on "total need students" (factoring in enrollment, free/reduced lunch eligibility, multilingual learners, and special education students), 20% equally to all districts, and 30% based on district property wealth. This aims to prevent costly future renovations by addressing maintenance needs early, while prohibiting funds from covering local matching requirements for other programs.

Maddy summaryHB 6338 allows property owners (or their authorized agents) to request immediate removal of unauthorized occupants by submitting a verified affidavit to a state marshal. It directly affects property owners seeking to evict non-tenants who are unlawfully occupying their property, and occupants who may be removed under this process. The law requires owners to prove the occupant is not a current/former tenant, not immediate family, has been asked to leave, and no related lawsuit is pending, using a specific affidavit form. Occupants wrongfully removed can sue for damages, including triple the fair market rent, and owners making false claims face penalties. The process aims to streamline removal while adding legal safeguards against misuse.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits restocking fees for returned consumer goods to a maximum of 5% of the original purchase price. It applies to businesses (including for-profit and non-profit entities) selling goods for personal, family, or household use within Connecticut, prohibiting them from charging more than this cap when accepting returns for regular inventory. Violations will be treated as unfair trade practices under Connecticut’s existing Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA), allowing the Department of Consumer Protection to enforce the rule. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1150 waives the standard renewal fees for driver's licenses and identity cards for veterans. Veterans with documented veteran status on their current license can renew without paying the typical fee (e.g., $96 for an 8-year license). If a veteran applies for renewal more than six months before expiration, they receive a voucher for a free renewal during that six-month window. This policy directly affects veterans who are current license holders and need to renew, while non-veterans continue to pay standard fees.

Maddy summaryHB 6915 bans the use of certain second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (containing brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, or difethialone) statewide starting October 1, 2025, affecting most residential, commercial, and general pest control uses. Key exceptions allow continued use for public health activities (e.g., water infrastructure protection, mosquito control), emergency rodent infestations requiring public health approval, specific facilities like medical waste sites and food production facilities, and agricultural operations in designated locations (warehouses, slaughterhouses, etc.). The bill also requires the Environmental Protection Commissioner to develop wildlife protection regulations and submit a 2027 report analyzing impacts on public health, agriculture, and federal compliance. This policy change directly affects pest control businesses, property managers, and agricultural operations while permitting limited uses for public health and critical infrastructure needs.

Maddy summaryHB 5451 allows Connecticut municipalities to reduce property taxes by up to $500 annually for eligible first-time homebuyers who secure a loan through the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA). It directly affects first-time homebuyers in Connecticut who use CHFA financing to purchase a home. The key provision gives local governments the authority to implement this tax abatement as a standalone policy, without requiring new state funding. This change aims to lower housing costs for qualifying buyers by reducing their annual property tax burden. The bill does not alter CHFA loan terms or create new state-level tax credits.

Maddy summaryHB 6549 authorizes hospitals to install climate-controlled devices on emergency department exteriors for the safe, voluntary surrender of infants. These devices must include a bassinet, an automatically locking exterior door, and an alert alarm to notify staff. The bill directly affects parents in crisis who might abandon infants and hospitals that choose to implement such devices. It provides a legal, safe alternative to infant abandonment by enabling immediate staff response without requiring parents to enter the facility.