Sen. Martha Marx

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities to issue permits before any large commercial warehouse can be used to house or shelter people for more than 24 hours. To get a permit, applicants must prove the facility meets strict standards, including providing sanitary facilities, clean water, proper sleeping arrangements, temperature control, and enough personal storage space for each person. The law also mandates that each individual housed in the warehouse has at least 200 square feet of space and that the building complies with state health and safety codes. Local governments can choose to ban this type of use entirely, and permits can be revoked if the facility fails to meet requirements.

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 summaryThis bill requires Connecticut municipalities to allow the construction of middle housing developments near transit stations or highways on lots currently zoned for industrial use or previously zoned for residential use. It also permits such developments on lots zoned for general residential use, provided the municipality uses a streamlined review process. To encourage adoption, the bill awards municipalities additional points toward state housing goals for each approved middle housing unit, and it prevents towns from repealing these zoning rules during certain affordable housing moratorium periods.

Maddy summaryHB 5396 allows religious organizations to develop affordable housing on their owned land with streamlined approval. It requires that at least 30% of units be rent- or mortgage-qualified for 40 years at or below 30% of 60% of state or area median income. The bill mandates "summary review" for such projects, bypassing standard zoning restrictions on density and height, while requiring a decision within 90 days. Exemptions include properties owned less than three years, flood zones, oil/gas sites, or historic areas needing demolition approval.

Maddy summaryHB 5387 requires all employers in Connecticut (including public and private entities) to include a wage range and general description of benefits in every public and internal job advertisement. It mandates that employers provide applicants with the wage range for a position upon request or before discussing compensation, and give current employees the wage range for their role when hired, changing positions, or upon request. The bill prohibits employers from banning wage discussions, requiring secrecy waivers, or retaliating against employees who discuss pay. It also bans asking about salary history during hiring, except where permitted by federal or state law. This law takes effect October 1, 2026, aiming to increase pay transparency for job seekers and workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in retail, food services, hospitality, and long-term health care to provide employees with advance notice of their work schedules. It applies to larger employers, such as those with 500 or more employees globally or food service businesses with 500+ employees and 30+ locations. The law mandates that employers give employees at least 14 days' notice of their scheduled shifts, with exceptions for new hires and last-minute changes that must be communicated as soon as possible. Employers must also obtain written statements from new employees about their availability and desired work hours, and they must pay overtime if schedule changes result in additional hours worked beyond the original estimate.

Maddy summarySB 341 limits when health insurance companies (contracting health organizations) can demand repayment from healthcare providers for administrative errors. It reduces the time frame for such demands from 18 to 12 months after a clean claim is submitted, with exceptions for fraud, incorrect billing, duplicate payments, or federal/state program overlap. The bill requires insurers to provide providers with 30 days' written notice detailing the demand, including the amount and basis, and establishes a 15-day deadline for insurers to rule on appeals - automatically favoring providers if they miss this deadline. Healthcare providers directly affected by payment disputes gain stronger protections against late demands and clearer appeal pathways. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 151 prohibits local municipalities from imposing specific zoning restrictions that limit housing options, effective October 1, 2026. It directly affects local governments (by restricting their zoning authority), homeowners (especially those seeking to add accessory units or operate home-based businesses), and housing developers. Key provisions ban requirements like minimum lot sizes over 5,000 square feet for single-family homes, caps on multifamily units, excessive parking mandates, and restrictions on cottage food operations or home child care in residential zones. The bill exempts historic properties, agricultural land, and conservation areas, and does not override essential safety codes. This aims to increase housing density and affordability by removing common barriers to diverse housing types.

Maddy summarySB 365 requires all licensed hospitals in the state to provide immediate opioid use disorder treatment in emergency departments starting January 1, 2027. Specifically, hospitals must offer buprenorphine medication (a standard treatment for opioid addiction) without requiring patients to be admitted, provide naloxone (an overdose reversal drug) at discharge, and connect patients to local treatment programs. This directly affects patients presenting to emergency rooms with opioid use disorder symptoms. The law aims to streamline access to life-saving care during acute crises by removing barriers to initial treatment.

Maddy summarySB 245 eliminates tax exemptions for new data center projects in the state by ending eligibility for tax breaks under Chapters 203 and 219 of the law. It directly affects data center owners, operators, or colocation tenants planning to establish new facilities after July 1, 2026. The bill repeals a provision allowing applications for tax exemptions, making such applications ineligible after the effective date. Existing agreements remain unaffected, as the change only prohibits new applications starting July 1, 2026. This is a procedural tax code adjustment with no new funding or programs.