Sen. Martin Looney

Maddy summaryThis bill removes sales tax on clothing under $100, school supplies, and appliances, and eliminates a 1% tax on meals sold by grocery stores. It creates new tax credits for homeowners (increasing the existing credit), caregivers of elderly or disabled family members, and renters earning $75,000 or less for primary residence costs. These changes directly lower tax burdens for Connecticut residents, particularly lower- and middle-income households. The bill modifies sales tax rules and expands income tax credits to improve affordability.

Maddy summarySB 298 reallocates state funds across multiple agencies for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It reduces $3.4 million from Temporary Family Assistance (TANF) funding for the Department of Social Services while appropriating $1.7 million to the Labor Department for unemployment program IT upgrades and $1.7 million to the Department of Education for Adult Education. The bill allocates $1.5 million to five school districts (Newington, Wethersfield, Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Middletown) for high-acuity school-based mental health programs and $750,000 for a teacher residency program operated by the Capitol Region Education Council. These changes directly affect TANF recipients, school districts, mental health providers, and teacher training initiatives.

Maddy summarySB 342 requires health insurers and health care providers to use consistent reimbursement rates for outpatient services, regardless of where care is delivered (e.g., office, hospital, or telehealth) or the provider's affiliation. It prohibits insurers from automatically downcoding claims using algorithms without clinical review by a qualified peer. The bill mandates equal reimbursement rates for similar services within the same geographic area and includes a requirement for contracts to clearly state compliance with these rules. These changes directly affect insurers, hospitals, and clinics by standardizing payment practices for covered outpatient benefits starting July 2026.

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 300 creates a new exemption from debt collection for funds in joint bank accounts where a person has no legal ownership interest (equitable interest). Specifically, it adds a provision protecting "any part of the balance of an account deemed a joint account" if the debtor lacks equitable interest in it. This directly affects individuals who co-own accounts with others (e.g., a spouse or family member) but did not incur the debt. The exemption applies to funds in such accounts, preventing creditors from seizing those specific amounts during collection efforts. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

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 establishes financial protections for nursing homes owned by private equity firms and bans mandatory arbitration agreements for residents. It requires nursing homes with private equity owners to submit detailed financial and ownership information to state officials annually, including audited financial statements and purchase agreements. The law also mandates that these facilities secure performance bonds equal to 90 days of operating costs and prohibits the sale of nursing home property for five years without state approval to ensure operational stability. Additionally, the bill declares any arbitration agreements required by nursing homes as void and against public policy, preventing facilities from forcing residents to sign them as a condition of care.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes the approval of a collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut Board of Trustees and the Graduate Employee Union representing student workers. The agreement establishes wage increases and adjusts health insurance costs for graduate employees over a four-year period from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2030. Specifically, it mandates annual raises ranging from 3.85% to 4.5% for salaries and per-credit rates while also requiring graduate employees to pay a higher share of their health insurance premiums. Additionally, the deal includes increases for university fee credits and a larger funding pool for childcare assistance.

Maddy summaryThis resolution approves a four-year agreement between the State of Connecticut and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition covering approximately 42,000 state employees. The deal includes a 2.5% general wage increase and annual increments for most workers in fiscal years 2026 through 2028, with a wage re-opener clause for the final year. The agreement also incorporates specific provisions for salary adjustments, healthcare savings, and various fringe benefits costs totaling over $722 million across the four-year period.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution approves a settlement agreement regarding a lawsuit against the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, directly affecting state funding and the treatment of individuals in forensic psychiatric facilities. The key provision requires the state to use General Fund money to help patients who are clinically ready transition from Whiting Forensic Hospital to community-based mental health services. By signing this bill, the Senate authorizes approximately $3.5 million in costs for the 2027 fiscal year and $7 million for 2028 to cover these transitions and related legal fees. If the General Assembly does not approve the agreement within the specified timeframe, the settlement becomes unenforceable.