Sen. Gary Winfield

Maddy summaryThis bill confirms the Governor's nomination of Justine L. Whalen to serve as a Judge of the Superior Court in Connecticut. The resolution approves her appointment for an eight-year term, which begins after confirmation by both legislative chambers and follows the retirement of the previous judge, Cesar A. Noble. By passing this measure, the General Assembly completes the judicial appointment process for Whalen, who is based in Branford. This action directly affects the state's judiciary by adding a new judge to the Superior Court bench.

Maddy summaryThis bill confirms the Governor's nomination of Patrick T. Ring to serve as a judge on the Superior Court. The resolution officially approves his appointment for an eight-year term, which begins after confirmation by both legislative houses and follows the retirement of Judge David P. Gold. By passing this measure, the General Assembly completes the judicial appointment process for Mr. Ring.

Maddy summaryThis bill confirms the Governor's nomination of Phillip Miller, a resident of Glastonbury, to serve as a judge on the Superior Court. The resolution approves his appointment for an eight-year term, which begins once both legislative chambers pass the measure. By confirming this nomination, the bill directly affects the composition of the Superior Court and fills the vacancy left by the Honorable Robert A. D'Andrea. This procedural action follows standard legislative steps to finalize judicial appointments in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill confirms the Governor's nomination of Sean O. Kehoe to serve as a Judge of the Superior Court. The resolution approves his appointment for an eight-year term, replacing the outgoing judge Robin L. Wilson. By passing this measure, the legislature formally grants Kehoe the authority to preside over cases in that court. This action directly affects the state's judicial branch by adding a new judge to the roster.

Maddy summaryThis bill confirms the Governor's nomination of Felice N. Gray-Kemp to serve as a Judge of the Superior Court. The resolution officially approves her appointment for an eight-year term, replacing the outgoing judge Elpedio N. Vitale. By passing this measure, both the House and Senate formally grant her the authority to act as a judge within the state's judicial system.

Maddy summaryThis bill confirms the Governor's nomination of Sean P. McGuinness to serve as a judge on the Superior Court. The resolution approves his appointment for an eight-year term, which begins once both the House and Senate finalize the confirmation process. This action replaces the outgoing judge, Theodore R. Tyma, and directly affects the composition of the state's Superior Court bench. By passing this measure, the General Assembly completes the judicial selection process for McGuinness.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes parole eligibility rules for individuals convicted of crimes committed after July 1, 1981, who were under 26 years old at the time of the offense. It creates two main categories: those who may be eligible for parole after serving half their sentence, and those convicted of serious violent crimes who must serve 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible. The legislation requires the Board of Pardons and Paroles to hold hearings for certain offenders before releasing them on parole and mandates that the board document specific reasons for denying parole if a hearing is not held. The bill applies to people already incarcerated as of October 1, 1990, and sets specific conditions for residential placement and supervision during parole.

Maddy summarySB 256 requires private equity entities (firms that pool investment capital to buy residential properties) to wait 75 days after a single-family or two-family home is listed for public sale before purchasing it. The bill mandates that if the listing price changes, the 75-day clock restarts. Private equity buyers must also provide written notice confirming the waiting period was observed. Violations may result in civil penalties up to $250,000, enforced by the Attorney General. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Correction to allow incarcerated individuals housed with the general population to have at least three in-person visits per week and mandates that all communication services, including voice, video, and email, be provided free of charge to inmates. It also prohibits the department from using communication services to replace authorized in-person visits and ensures that the state cannot profit from providing these communication services. Additionally, the bill establishes a process for releasing any remaining funds from an inmate's trust account upon their release, allowing the money to be disbursed via cash, check, or electronic card without any fees. These changes aim to improve visitation access and ensure formerly incarcerated individuals receive their held funds without cost.

Maddy summaryHB 5225 prohibits pharmacies, drug distributors, and manufacturers from selling, dispensing, transferring, or delivering drugs or devices intended for lethal injection executions. It directly affects licensed healthcare entities (like hospitals, pharmacies, and medical suppliers) that might otherwise provide these items to correctional facilities. The law specifically bans such transactions unless the correctional facility has no knowledge the drugs will be used for execution. Exemptions cover routine pharmacy operations (e.g., emergency stock for nursing homes) but exclude any supply for execution purposes. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.