Sen. Derek Slap

Maddy summaryThis bill removes sales tax on clothing under $100, school supplies, and appliances, and eliminates a 1% tax on meals sold by grocery stores. It creates new tax credits for homeowners (increasing the existing credit), caregivers of elderly or disabled family members, and renters earning $75,000 or less for primary residence costs. These changes directly lower tax burdens for Connecticut residents, particularly lower- and middle-income households. The bill modifies sales tax rules and expands income tax credits to improve affordability.

Maddy summaryHB 5334 amends Connecticut's wetlands and watercourse protection laws by clarifying key terms and expanding protections. It defines "riparian area" as land bordering watercourses (delineated by the ordinary high-water mark) and specifies "natural vegetative cover" as native plants (excluding lawns and invasive species). The bill explicitly excludes "water-dependent uses" (like marinas, fishing facilities, and waterfront industries) from "regulated activity," meaning these operations won't require permits for direct water access. This change aims to balance environmental protection with economic activities that rely on water resources, directly affecting property owners, developers, and businesses near waterways.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands absentee voting eligibility in Connecticut to allow any eligible voter who will not appear at their polling place on election day to vote by absentee ballot, removing previous restrictions based on specific reasons like military service, illness, or religious observance. It also strengthens accountability by requiring individuals who distribute five or more absentee ballot applications to register with municipal clerks and maintain records of recipients, while prohibiting candidates and political committees from mailing unsolicited absentee ballot applications without clear eligibility warnings. Additionally, the bill mandates that absentee ballot envelopes include a sworn statement confirming the voter will not appear at their polling place, and requires the Secretary of the State to post notices online clarifying that applications are for personal or immediate family use only. These changes aim to increase voting access while implementing safeguards to prevent misuse of the absentee voting system.

Maddy summaryHB 5127 prohibits healthcare and veterinary providers in Connecticut from promoting or facilitating medical credit cards to patients. Specifically, it bans providers from advertising these cards using their name/logo, receiving financial incentives for doing so, helping patients apply for them, or charging medical credit cards for services before they’re provided or for add-on products without written consent. The law also prevents providers from charging medical credit cards for services that are covered by insurance (like HUSKY Health) unless the patient has declined coverage. These provisions take effect on January 1, 2027, directly affecting providers who previously offered or promoted such credit options.

Maddy summaryHB 5283 authorizes Connecticut municipalities to ban pet shops from selling dogs, cats, and rabbits. The bill amends state law to allow local governments to prohibit these sales in pet shops (defined under section 22-327) without requiring them to do so. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and directly affects pet shops currently selling these animals and local governments choosing to adopt such restrictions. The policy change provides municipalities with a specific legal mechanism to regulate pet shop sales, focusing on dogs, cats, and rabbits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all presidential elector candidates to sign a pledge committing to vote for the party's or write-in candidate's nominees for President and Vice President if they are elected. It mandates that the Secretary of State reject any electoral college ballots that do not align with the signed pledge and allows for the replacement of electors who refuse to comply or vote inconsistently with their pledge. The legislation also specifies procedures for filling vacancies in the electoral college and outlines how electors must cast their votes and submit official certificates.

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 creates a new state-funded program to help veterans and other vulnerable individuals maintain food assistance benefits despite recent federal changes to work requirements. It establishes a $40 million state account to fund transitional benefits of up to $194 per month for 12 months, along with job training and case management services for those at risk of losing benefits. The legislation also requires the Department of Social Services to implement staggered benefit distributions to reduce processing delays and mandates that veterans receive the same benefit levels they had before federal work requirements were introduced. Additionally, the bill authorizes the commissioner to seek federal waivers for individuals in high-unemployment areas and standardizes utility allowance calculations for SNAP recipients.

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.