Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Social Services to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for healthcare providers starting July 1, 2026, with the goal of reaching at least 75% of Medicare rates by June 30, 2029. The law establishes a five-state benchmark using average rates from Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Oregon to determine increases for services without corresponding Medicare rates. Additionally, the bill mandates annual rate adjustments after 2029 based on Medicare rate comparisons, the five-state benchmark, or changes in the Medicare Economic Index to account for inflation. A separate oversight council must review provider reimbursement rates annually and report to the legislature with recommendations on necessary funding to maintain adequate compensation for healthcare providers.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 5279 expands workers' compensation coverage for post-traumatic stress injury (PTSD) by adding "witnessing a serious physical injury" as a qualifying event. It directly affects eligible public safety and healthcare workers - including police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, correctional employees, telecommunicators, and health care providers - who witness such injuries while on duty. The bill amends existing law to include this new qualifying event (effective October 1, 2026), specifying it covers serious physical injuries that do not result in death or permanent disfigurement. This change ensures these workers can access PTSD-related workers' compensation benefits for trauma stemming from witnessing non-fatal but severe injuries.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities with populations over 25,000 to collect current home addresses and basic identifying information (name, date of birth, license number) from nonresident owners of rental properties. It directly affects individual owners who don't live at the property, as well as corporations, partnerships, or trusts owning rental units, and project-based housing providers under federal housing programs. Owners must report this information to the municipal tax assessor and update it within 21 days of any address change; failure to comply results in fines of $250-$1,000. The collected data remains confidential and is used primarily for service of legal notices related to property maintenance or code compliance.
Maddy summarySB 328 requires Connecticut nursing homes to allocate revenue so that administrative and general costs (e.g., management salaries, facility maintenance) do not exceed the state-wide median allowable cost for such expenses. This policy directly affects nursing home facilities receiving Medicaid reimbursement by limiting how much they can spend on non-patient care operations, thereby directing more funds toward direct patient care. The bill establishes specific cost categories (including direct care, indirect care, and administrative costs) and sets maximum allowable levels for administrative spending. It aims to ensure nursing homes prioritize resident care through structured cost reporting and Medicaid rate adjustments tied to quality metrics. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, with annual reporting requirements for facilities.
Maddy summarySB 327 expands emergency Medicaid coverage to include specific medical conditions requiring immediate care, such as high-risk pregnancies, severe diabetes complications, diabetic ketoacidosis, renal failure needing dialysis, certain fractures, hypertensive emergencies, unstable seizure disorders, active cancer treatment, ventilator dependency, labor/delivery, and acute psychiatric care. It directly affects low-income residents who need emergency medical treatment but may not qualify for regular Medicaid. The bill requires the state Commissioner to implement this expanded coverage starting July 1, 2026, and establish an online advance application system by July 1, 2027, for outpatient emergency care. This system will include clear information on covered conditions on the Department of Social Services website and in department materials. The law aims to ensure timely access to critical emergency care without requiring hospital emergency department visits for qualifying conditions.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases the asset limits for Connecticut's HUSKY C health program, which provides coverage to low-income residents. It raises the maximum allowable assets from $1,600 to $5,000 for unmarried individuals and from $2,400 to $7,500 for married couples. The change, effective July 1, 2026, directly affects current and future HUSKY C beneficiaries who previously exceeded the lower thresholds. The Commissioner of Social Services must also report by July 2027 on eligibility changes and any increased state costs resulting from the new limits.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Connecticut's unemployment insurance rules to allow striking workers to receive benefits after a labor dispute has lasted for 14 consecutive days, starting in 2027. Currently, workers who lose jobs due to strikes are generally ineligible for unemployment benefits, but this change would apply only to disputes beginning on or after December 14, 2027. The law already permits benefits for workers locked out by employers or those not involved in the strike, such as non-union employees at a temporarily closed business. The bill requires workers to meet standard eligibility criteria like being able and available to work, and it would require updates to the state's unemployment insurance system to track strike duration.
Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the enforceability of noncompete agreements in Connecticut by limiting which workers can be bound by such contracts. It directly affects employees and independent contractors by establishing wage thresholds that determine whether a noncompete is valid. Under the new rules, noncompete agreements are automatically unenforceable for workers earning less than twice the state minimum wage, and for independent contractors earning less than five times the minimum wage. Additionally, noncompetes cannot restrict workers from working in geographic areas or performing job types where they had no significant presence or activity in the two years before leaving their job. The law also clarifies that certain agreements like nonsolicitation, nondisclosure, and business sale contracts are not considered noncompetes and remain unaffected.
Maddy summarySB 345 requires employers to provide reasonable break times and private, non-toilet spaces (with refrigeration access) for nursing employees to express breast milk during work hours, including before or after shifts. It also prohibits discrimination against employees using these rights and defines "undue hardship" based on business size and resources. The bill establishes a task force to study workplace heat safety standards and recommend best practices, including examining other states' approaches. This law applies to all employers in the state, including government entities, and takes effect October 1, 2026.
Maddy summaryHB 5316 prohibits real estate investment trusts (REITs) from acquiring or increasing operational control over hospitals or health systems, and bans hospitals/health systems from entering into sale-leaseback transactions involving their main hospital campus property. "Operational control" is defined as influencing daily operations or appointing key leadership, while a "sale-leaseback" involves selling and leasing back the main campus. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, directly affecting REITs and hospitals/health systems that might engage in these transactions. It targets specific real estate financing practices without altering hospital ownership or care standards.