Sen. Saud Anwar

Maddy summarySB 256 requires private equity entities (firms that pool investment capital to buy residential properties) to wait 75 days after a single-family or two-family home is listed for public sale before purchasing it. The bill mandates that if the listing price changes, the 75-day clock restarts. Private equity buyers must also provide written notice confirming the waiting period was observed. Violations may result in civil penalties up to $250,000, enforced by the Attorney General. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5369 establishes a task force to study how affordability is calculated in housing appeals, specifically examining the current 10% threshold that determines when affordable housing appeals are unavailable under state law. The task force, composed of housing experts, municipal representatives, and legislative leaders, will evaluate this threshold and propose alternatives by January 1, 2027. It directly affects housing developers, municipalities, and affordable housing advocates who navigate the appeals process under section 8-30g of the general statutes. The bill does not change existing law but creates a process for reviewing the affordability calculation method.

Maddy summaryHB 5035 requires all public K-12 school districts in the state to ban students from using wireless communication devices (like cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches) during the school day, except for instructional purposes or specific exceptions. The law mandates devices be powered off and stored securely, with exceptions for students needing them under individualized education plans (IEPs) or for medical reasons approved by healthcare providers. It also prohibits access to social media during school hours unless for classroom instruction. School districts must create and share policies with parents about these rules, including emergency communication procedures and disciplinary steps for violations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 5226 requires Connecticut municipalities with populations over 15,000 to establish fair rent commissions by January 1, 2028, and all municipalities containing mobile manufactured home parks must join a regional fair rent commission. These commissions will handle rent complaints for non-seasonal mobile home spaces, investigate excessive charges, and hold public hearings to address issues affecting mobile home residents and park owners. The bill creates a framework for regional commissions (managed through regional councils) and mandates specific member requirements, including resident representation. It directly affects mobile home park residents, landlords, and local governments responsible for implementing the new commission structure. The changes take effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Medicaid prescription drug coverage rules by changing step therapy requirements. It mandates that step therapy (requiring patients to try lower-cost drugs first) follow manufacturer and FDA guidelines when available. If no such guidelines exist, step therapy cannot exceed 30 days, after which prescribing doctors may bypass the requirement if they determine the initial treatment is ineffective for the patient. The bill directly affects Medicaid patients and their healthcare providers, streamlining access to prescribed medications under the Medicaid program.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-funded bridge program designed to help vulnerable individuals maintain access to food, housing, and healthcare benefits while they transition through changes in federal work requirements. The program would target veterans, homeless persons, adults with autism, foster care aging out, and older adults at risk of losing Medicaid or nutrition assistance, requiring state agencies to develop a plan by October 2026. Key provisions include supplementing existing job support programs, providing temporary state-funded assistance equivalent to current benefits, recommending long-term housing solutions, and documenting employability for potential federal waivers. The plan must be submitted to legislative committees by January 2027 along with funding estimates and implementation timelines.

Maddy summaryHB 5225 prohibits pharmacies, drug distributors, and manufacturers from selling, dispensing, transferring, or delivering drugs or devices intended for lethal injection executions. It directly affects licensed healthcare entities (like hospitals, pharmacies, and medical suppliers) that might otherwise provide these items to correctional facilities. The law specifically bans such transactions unless the correctional facility has no knowledge the drugs will be used for execution. Exemptions cover routine pharmacy operations (e.g., emergency stock for nursing homes) but exclude any supply for execution purposes. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 6 establishes a $600 annual tax credit per dependent child for eligible taxpayers with up to three children, phased out for higher-income households (e.g., $100k+ for single filers). It mandates all public school districts to provide free breakfast and lunch to every student in the 2027 fiscal year, funded by state grants. The bill also prohibits certain convicted individuals (e.g., for specific sex offenses) from sharing a home with a minor child unless they are the biological or adoptive parent, with exceptions for finalized adoptions. Additionally, it requires correctional facilities to notify child welfare agencies when such individuals are released, triggering case reviews for children under protective services.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes security measures around election sites, including polling places, early voting locations, and ballot drop boxes, by restricting the presence of law enforcement, prohibiting face-obscuring masks, and banning firearm possession within 250 feet of these locations. The law defines election sites broadly to cover various voting activities and sets specific exceptions for law enforcement acting under official warrants, emergency situations, or with state official permission. Violations of these provisions are classified as class C felonies and result in loss of voting rights, while the bill includes exemptions for lawfully carried firearms on private property and for certain school-related activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in Connecticut to inform job applicants and employees when automated systems are used to make employment decisions, such as hiring, firing, or performance evaluations. Companies deploying these systems must disclose what personal data is being collected, how long it will be kept, who will access it, and provide options for applicants to opt out of data processing. The law also mandates that employees receive written notice before any employment decision is made, explaining the purpose of the automated system and the nature of the decision being made. Developers of these systems must provide necessary information to employers to ensure compliance, unless they have a contract assuming those responsibilities. The protections apply to various automated processes including resume screening, online interview analysis, and predictive assessments used in workplace decisions.