Sen. Julie Kushner

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 250-foot security perimeter around election sites, including polling places, early voting locations, and ballot drop boxes, where federal or state law enforcement officers are generally prohibited from entering unless specific exceptions apply. The law also bans individuals from wearing face-obscuring masks within the perimeter, prohibits requiring identification near election sites, and makes it a class C felony punishable by voter disenfranchisement to violate these restrictions. Additionally, the bill criminalizes possessing firearms or deadly weapons within 250 feet of election sites, with exceptions for unloaded weapons in locked containers on vehicles and certain school-related activities. These provisions take effect on July 1, 2026, and apply to all elections, primaries, and referendums.

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 summaryHB 5342 bans the distribution of AI-generated or manipulated images, audio, or video (called "deceptive synthetic media") during the 90 days before an election if it misleads people into thinking a real person said or did something they didn’t. It specifically targets content intended to harm a candidate or influence election results without the depicted person’s consent. The bill allows exceptions for news organizations (like TV stations or newspapers) that add clear disclaimers (e.g., "This video has been manipulated") and cite the original source, provided they follow specific formatting rules. This law directly affects political campaigns, social media platforms, and media distributors during election seasons, aiming to prevent deceptive content from swaying voters.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Connecticut's organic materials composting requirements by gradually lowering the waste volume threshold for businesses that must separate and recycle food scraps. It affects food wholesalers, supermarkets, industrial processors, resorts, and schools located within twenty miles of composting facilities, starting with larger generators in 2014 and progressively including smaller operations by 2025. The law requires these entities to separate organic materials from other waste and ensure they are sent to authorized composting facilities with available capacity, while also establishing a voluntary pilot program for municipalities to begin similar separation efforts. Facilities that compost on-site or treat materials through permitted equipment are exempt from these requirements, and composting facilities must report fees charged for receiving organic materials to the state environmental agency.

Maddy summaryHB 5389 requires Connecticut's Department of Public Health to create a practical, evidence-based toolkit for healthcare providers treating menopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause symptoms. The toolkit, developed with UConn Health Center's input, will cover symptom identification, treatment options (including hormone therapies), insurance coverage details, and continuing education modules. It directly affects providers in fields like obstetrics, primary care, mental health, and dentistry who diagnose or treat these conditions. The toolkit must be distributed to all relevant providers by January 1, 2027, with development beginning by October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5306 allows courts to reduce sentences for individuals convicted of felonies who were survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, provided the abuse was a contributing factor to their offense. Defendants must submit documented proof (such as court records, protective orders, or counselor affidavits) demonstrating their survivor status and the abuse's role in the crime. Courts must then determine if the abuse was a contributing factor before applying sentence reductions. This applies to all felony convictions where the abuse contributed to the offense, without requiring it to be the sole cause, and takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill replaces Connecticut's existing anti-discrimination statute with new provisions specifically addressing pregnancy-related discrimination. It directly affects pregnant employees and employers by requiring reasonable accommodations (like modified schedules, breaks, or light duty) and prohibiting termination or denial of leave due to pregnancy. Key mechanisms include defining "pregnancy" broadly to cover childbirth and lactation, clarifying "reasonable accommodation," and establishing standards for "undue hardship" based on employer resources. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and explicitly prohibits employment discrimination based on pregnancy in hiring, promotion, or terms of employment. (Note: The bill title mentions "nondisclosure agreements," but the text focuses solely on pregnancy protections; the title appears inaccurate based on the provided content.)

Maddy summarySB 257 limits landlords' reasons for evicting certain tenants, including those aged 62+ with a household member over 62, tenants with qualifying disabilities (or household members with such disabilities), or tenants who have lived in the unit for 12+ months. Landlords may only evict for specific reasons like nonpayment of rent, serious health/safety violations, or material lease breaches - not for the landlord (or family member) moving in, unless strict conditions are met (e.g., 90 days' notice and no available units). Rent increases for these protected tenants must be "fair and equitable" and can be challenged through local commissions or court. The law applies to buildings with five+ units or mobile home parks and takes effect October 1, 2026.