Sen. Herron Gaston

Maddy summaryHB 5149, effective July 1, 2026, prohibits students in Connecticut public schools (grades K-12) from possessing or using personal mobile electronic devices (like cell phones, tablets, or laptops) during the regular school day, except for students requiring device use for an individualized education program (IEP) or a Section 504 plan. School boards must create policies covering device storage, discipline for violations, and exceptions for special needs accommodations. The bill also prohibits school districts from using social media as the sole method to communicate with families about school matters. This directly affects all K-12 public school students and school districts across Connecticut.

Maddy summaryHB 5160 appropriates $33.5 million from the state's General Fund to the Department of Housing for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support programs assisting people experiencing homelessness. The bill directs the Department of Housing to use these funds for services and initiatives aimed at helping homeless individuals, including housing support and related assistance programs. It becomes effective on July 1, 2026, providing immediate funding for homeless assistance efforts without creating new programs or altering eligibility criteria.

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 348 extends workers' compensation coverage to public works department employees for their commutes to and from work under specific conditions. It adds public works employees to the list of workers whose "departure from place of abode directly to duty" and "return directly to place of abode after duty" count as employment time for coverage purposes. This applies when employees are subject to emergency calls off-duty, responding to direct work orders during excused nonessential staff periods, or following two or more consecutive mandatory overtime shifts. The law, effective October 1, 2026, directly affects state and municipal public works employees who perform construction, maintenance, or regulatory work on public infrastructure.

Maddy summarySB 371 requires children under 12 to wear a life jacket (defined per federal safety standards) while on any public dock, wharf, or pier in the state. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies statewide, overriding local regulations. It directly affects parents or guardians of young children visiting public waterfront areas. The bill establishes a clear safety requirement without specifying enforcement details.

Maddy summaryHB 5216 creates a state program called STIPEND that provides $1,000 weekly stipends to student teachers during their public school teaching experience in Connecticut. Teacher preparation programs must report enrollment and completion data to the Department of Education, which disburses funds directly to student teachers. If a student teacher doesn't work as a certified public school teacher for two years after graduation, they must repay 50% of the stipend received. The bill requires annual reports on employment rates of program participants to the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 5258 protects tenant organizing rights by requiring landlords to permit specific activities related to tenant organizations. The bill mandates that landlords allow tenants, tenant organizers, and their agents to distribute materials, conduct door-to-door surveys, hold meetings in common areas, and post information - without requiring prior permission - provided these activities are reasonable and lawful. It directly affects tenants seeking to form or join tenant organizations and landlords managing residential properties. Key provisions define "tenant organization" as tenant-led groups addressing housing issues and prohibit landlords from blocking these activities, except for standard community space reservation rules. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 286 increases financial assistance for grandparents and other nonparent relatives legally responsible for raising children. It requires the state to pay these caregivers the same monthly rate as foster care payments per child, based on the child's age and medical needs. This change applies to families where a nonparent relative (like a grandparent) is the legal guardian. The policy takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects relatives raising children in foster-like care. The bill aligns state benefits for these relatives with foster care rates, ensuring equal financial support compared to unrelated caregivers.

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 summarySB 285 creates a tax credit for family caregivers who provide unpaid care to eligible relatives. It allows caregivers with incomes under $50,000 (individual) or $100,000 (couple) to claim a credit covering 50% of qualifying expenses - such as home modifications, medical equipment, hiring aides, or respite care - up to $2,000 annually. Expenses like general home repairs (e.g., painting, plumbing) are excluded, and the total credit pool is capped at $1.8 million per year. The credit is nonrefundable, meaning it only reduces tax liability but cannot result in a cash refund.