Sen. Cathy Osten

Maddy summarySB 919 authorizes the state to issue up to $1 million in bonds to fund the development of plans and designs for removing Old Papermill Pond Dam. The funds would be provided as a grant-in-aid to the town of Sprague through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. This bill specifically covers the planning and design phase, not the physical removal of the dam. The legislation directly affects Sprague town by providing financial support for preliminary work on the dam removal project.

Maddy summarySB 861 requires the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to increase the Clean Water Fund grant for Norwich Public Utilities' wastewater treatment facility project by 5%. This directly affects Norwich Public Utilities by providing additional state funding for their ongoing wastewater infrastructure project. The bill’s key mechanism is a specific, automatic adjustment to the existing grant amount under the Clean Water Fund program. The change aims to support the facility’s operations without altering broader environmental regulations or introducing new requirements.

Maddy summarySB 873 establishes an education ombudsman position within Connecticut's state government to serve as a neutral, independent resource for resolving education-related concerns. The bill creates this office under Title 10 of Connecticut's general statutes, directly affecting students, families, and school districts seeking assistance with educational issues. It does not alter existing education policies but provides a formal channel for addressing complaints and facilitating resolution. This procedural bill focuses solely on creating the ombudsman role, with no substantive policy changes detailed.

Maddy summarySB 876 requires schools to conduct exit interviews with students who withdraw without graduating. It mandates collecting specific information about each student, including their trauma history, family interactions with child welfare agencies, future plans, bullying experiences affecting academics, and potential for skills training. Schools must then compile this data into a report submitted to the state Department of Education for evaluation. The bill directly affects students leaving school early and aims to inform state-level service improvements based on collected withdrawal data.

Maddy summarySB 929 authorizes the state to issue up to $400,000 in bonds to fund the completion of recreational fields and meeting areas at American Legion Post 85 in Sprague. The funds would be provided as a grant-in-aid through the Department of Economic and Community Development to the American Legion Post 85. This bill directly affects the Post 85 facility by providing state funding for specific infrastructure improvements, with no broader policy changes beyond this targeted project.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to remove the requirement for employers or payers to withhold personal income tax from lump-sum pension payments and annuity distributions. It directly affects individuals receiving these retirement payouts and the entities responsible for processing them. The change would allow recipients to take the full amount of their lump-sum payments without any tax being taken out at the time of distribution. Recipients would then be responsible for paying any applicable taxes through their regular annual tax filings rather than having taxes withheld upfront.

Maddy summarySB 926 authorizes up to $250,000 in state bonds to fund a planning grant for rehabilitating Raymond Hill Church in Montville. The funds would be provided by the Department of Economic and Community Development to the town of Montville specifically for planning the church's rehabilitation. This bill directly affects Montville town and Raymond Hill Church by providing targeted funding for planning, not construction, of the rehabilitation project. It is a procedural authorization for bond issuance to support a specific local historic site.

Maddy summarySB 910 authorizes the state to issue up to $1.5 million in bonds to fund specific road improvements on Thompson Hill Road in the Town of Columbia. The funds would be provided as a grant to the town for projects including drainage, bridge repairs, and roadbed work. This bill directly affects the Town of Columbia by providing state financial support for local infrastructure maintenance. The legislation does not create new policies but allocates existing bond authority for a defined, local transportation project.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $10 million in bonds to fund improvements to Doubleday Road in the Town of Columbia. The funds would be used by the Department of Transportation to provide a grant to the town for specific road upgrades, including drainage, bridge repairs, and roadbed improvements. The legislation directs the State Bond Commission to approve the bond issuance under existing state statutes. This measure directly affects the Town of Columbia by providing financial resources for local infrastructure projects.

Maddy summarySB 920 authorizes up to $5 million in state bonds to fund the rehabilitation and upgrade of sewer and water utility infrastructure. The project connects Norwich Public Works through the former Norwich State Hospital property (in Norwich and Preston) and extends to the Preston Incinerator site. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will use bond proceeds to provide grants for upgrading sewer lines, water lines, pump stations, and related equipment. This bill directly affects residents and operations in Norwich and Preston by improving utility infrastructure in these specific locations.