Sen. Rob Sampson

Maddy summaryHB 5367 allows property owners (or their authorized agents) to request immediate police removal of unauthorized occupants from residential properties. To qualify, owners must prove the person entered without consent, was told to leave, isn’t a tenant, family member, or owner, and there’s no pending lawsuit. The request requires a signed affidavit verifying these conditions and the owner’s title, after which police must serve a "vacate" notice or arrest the occupant. Unauthorized occupants harmed by wrongful removal can sue for triple the fair market rent, plus legal fees. The bill directly affects property owners seeking to evict trespassers and unauthorized occupants facing removal.

Maddy summarySB 337 modifies how landlords handle tenants' belongings after an eviction judgment. It requires landlords to store possessions for at least 15 days, provide clear written notice about reclaiming items (including costs), and make reasonable efforts to notify tenants before selling unclaimed property. If tenants don’t claim belongings within 15 days, landlords must sell them at public auction after posting notices, with proceeds covering storage costs and returning any excess to the tenant. The bill directly affects tenants facing eviction and landlords managing abandoned property, ensuring transparency in handling personal effects.

Maddy summarySB 301 requires Connecticut's Department of Banking to study signature guarantee programs at state financial institutions. The study must assess program availability and consumer access issues, specifically how easily people can obtain guarantees for transactions like stock transfers. The department must submit a report to the banking committee by January 1, 2027. This bill does not change existing rules but mandates a review to identify potential barriers for consumers.

Maddy summarySB 279 exempts veterans from paying the "Passport to the Parks" fee when registering or renewing a motor vehicle registration in Connecticut. Specifically, veterans who provide documentation of their service status to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles will not have to pay the $24 fee for a triennial registration or $16 fee for a biennial registration. This exemption applies only to the "Passport to the Parks Fee" and does not affect other registration fees. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026, and directly benefits veterans who register vehicles under the state's motor vehicle registration system.

Maddy summarySB 333 defines "advance rental payment" as a prepayment for rent not yet due (up to the remaining lease term), excluding security deposits. It sets security deposit limits at two months' rent for tenants under 62 and one month's rent for tenants 62 or older, requiring landlords to refund excess amounts when a tenant turns 62. The bill also prohibits landlords from charging application fees, move-in/move-out fees, or other pre-tenancy charges beyond security deposits, advance payments, key deposits, or tenant screening reports. These changes directly affect residential landlords and tenants in rental agreements across the state.

Maddy summarySB 334 requires fair rent commissions in municipalities with 15,000 or more residents (as determined by the latest census) to consist of exactly 50% landlords and 50% tenants, effective January 1, 2027. These municipalities must establish such commissions or join a joint or regional commission by January 1, 2028. The commissions will investigate rental charges (excluding seasonal rentals) and address complaints about excessive rent to prevent unfair pricing. This requirement applies to all municipal, joint, and regional fair rent commissions created under the law.

Maddy summarySB 100 reduces the two lowest personal income tax rates for eligible taxpayers. It eliminates the 2% tax rate for single filers earning under $100,000 annually and lowers the 4.5% rate to 3% for those in that bracket. Similarly, it removes the 2% rate for married couples filing jointly earning under $200,000 and reduces the 4.5% rate to 3% for them. The bill directly affects low-to-moderate income earners by decreasing their tax burden on the lowest income levels. These changes apply to taxable income falling within the specified thresholds under the state's income tax code.

Maddy summarySB 253 repeals existing limits on security deposit amounts for residential rentals in the state. It removes the previous rule that capped deposits at two months' rent for tenants under 62 and one month's rent for tenants 62 or older. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and no longer restricts how much landlords may charge as a security deposit. This directly affects landlords and tenants in residential rental properties, as landlords can now set deposit amounts without statutory limits. The bill focuses solely on eliminating these maximums, not on other security deposit procedures like return timelines or interest requirements.

Maddy summarySB 252 establishes a Regulation Sunset Commission to review Connecticut state agency regulations and recommend outdated or unnecessary ones for repeal. The commission, appointed by legislative leaders and including the Office of Policy and Management secretary, will examine regulations via the eRegulations system, hold public hearings, and submit annual reports starting January 2027. It also creates an online portal (available by January 2027) for the public to request regulation amendments or repeals. This bill directly affects state agencies whose regulations are reviewed and the public who can submit input, without mandating changes but providing a structured process for evaluation.

Maddy summarySB 242 requires the Consumer Counsel to study whether electric customers could switch providers within 3 business days of notifying their utility, with the change reflected on their next bill. The study must consider input from electric distribution companies and be completed by January 15, 2027, for the legislature. This bill does not change current switching rules but assesses the feasibility of faster transitions for consumers. It directly affects electricity customers seeking to switch providers and the utilities managing those transitions.