Sen. Christine Cohen

Maddy summarySB 3 requires the state to cover the full cost of health care premium increases for people enrolled in Access Health CT who have household incomes between 500% and 600% of the federal poverty level. This directly affects moderate-income residents who rely on Access Health CT for health insurance, ensuring they do not face higher out-of-pocket costs due to premium hikes. The bill mandates a state appropriation from the General Fund to pay for these increases, rather than shifting the cost to enrollees. It aims to maintain affordability amid federal subsidy reductions, without creating new programs or altering eligibility criteria.

Maddy summarySB 2 exempts small businesses (with less than $10 million in annual revenue) from sales and use taxes on electricity and natural gas purchases. It redirects revenue from an additional 1% sales tax on meals: 50% to the state Tourism Fund and 50% to the municipalities where the meals were purchased. The bill aims to lower operating costs for small commercial and industrial businesses, which could reduce prices passed on to consumers. These changes directly affect small businesses and local governments through tax adjustments and new revenue allocation.

Maddy summarySB 7 updates Connecticut's base funding level for public schools (called "Foundation") to increase annually from $11,525 (2014-2026) to $15,500 (2031+) with inflation adjustments. It also revises the "Regional bonus" calculation for towns sending students to regional schools or paying high school tuition. The bill's primary mechanism creates a 13-member working group (including school officials, teachers, students, and community representatives) to study the state's equalization aid formula and recommend improvements for equity and fiscal soundness. This group will examine how state education funding is distributed, aiming to address disparities between school districts. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, with the working group established immediately upon passage.

Maddy summarySB 388 establishes the "Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Fund" as a permanent state fund to manage payments received from Connecticut's Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and Mohegan Tribe. The bill requires transferring $152.38 million annually from Connecticut's General Fund to this new fund starting July 1, 2026, using revenue from tribal agreements. Funds will be distributed to Connecticut towns through the Office of Policy and Management following existing grant guidelines (Section 3-55j), with payments made in three installments each year. This directly affects Connecticut towns receiving these grants, which were previously managed under a different funding mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 5434 requires that political parties must have received at least 1% of the votes for a specific office in the last election to be recognized for including their designation on candidate nominating petitions. This bill defines a "minor party" as one that is not a major party and whose candidate received at least 1% of the votes for the relevant office in the previous election. It affects candidates and political parties seeking to run under a party label on petitions for state or local offices, ensuring only parties with demonstrated voter support can be listed. The law, effective January 1, 2027, updates the process for applying for nominating petitions to include this threshold requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 5046 modifies existing tuition waiver policies at Connecticut's community colleges and universities to specifically support public safety personnel. It waives tuition for current police officers (with 5+ years service) and firefighters (with 5+ years service), as well as for their dependents if the officer or firefighter was killed in the line of duty. The bill also expands waivers to include students enrolled in state fire school programs and police academy coordination courses. These changes apply to Connecticut State Community College and Connecticut State University System programs, effective July 1, 2026. The policy directly affects active and retired public safety workers and their families by reducing education costs.

Maddy summarySB 215 changes how banks determine when certain accounts or funds are deemed abandoned. It presumes deposits, time deposits, investments, checks, and safe deposit box contents are abandoned if owners don’t show activity for 3 years (5 years for safe deposit boxes). Owners can prevent this presumption by making transactions, writing to the bank, or having tax forms (1099s) not returned by the postal service within the timeframe. The bill directly affects individuals or entities with dormant bank accounts in Connecticut, modifying existing abandonment rules effective October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 8 creates a new Supplemental Graduate Student Loan Program administered by Connecticut's Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority. It provides state-funded loans to graduate students enrolled in eligible programs (requiring a bachelor's degree) starting July 1, 2026, with funding secured through a $10 million state bond issue. The program uses a dedicated account to issue loans for graduate education, with repayment terms established by the loan authority. This directly affects Connecticut graduate students seeking financial support for advanced degree programs.

Maddy summaryHB 5144 appropriates funds to cover the cost difference between federal reimbursement rates for reduced-price school meals and full-price meals. It directly affects public school districts participating in federal meal programs by allowing them to provide free breakfasts to all students and free lunches to students already eligible for reduced-price meals. The bill’s key mechanism is reimbursing districts for the gap between what the federal government pays and the actual cost of serving these meals. This policy change ensures schools can maintain these meal programs without charging eligible students, as specified in the bill’s purpose statement.

Maddy summaryHB 5064 establishes a state grant program to fund agricultural preservation and improve farmland access. The program provides financial assistance to farmers and agricultural entities for projects that protect working farmland from development and help new or existing farmers access land. Key provisions include grant funding for conservation easements, farmland acquisition, and initiatives supporting beginning farmers. This law, now Public Act 25-141 after being signed by the governor on July 1, 2025, directly benefits agricultural landowners and operators seeking to preserve farmland or expand farming operations.