HB 6974 Connecticut House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF FUNDS IN THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT FUND.

HB 6974 changes how Connecticut allocates funds from its Tobacco Settlement Fund. Starting July 1, 2025, the bill shifts all annual disbursements from this fund to the state's General Fund for the 2025 fiscal year. Beginning July 1, 2026, it allocates $32 million annually to the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund (for tobacco-related health programs) with the remainder going to the General Fund. This replaces the previous funding structure that allocated $12 million to the Trust Fund for fiscal years 2023-2024. The bill directly affects state budget allocations between health programs and general state spending.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 14, 2025 Last action Apr 25, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill PH Joint Favorable Substitute · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to clarify the timeline for tobacco settlement fund disbursements and adjust the funding amounts allocated to the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund. The original version had a confusing structure where funding to the Trust Fund was set at $32 million starting in 2023, but the amended version establishes a two-phase approach: $12 million annually from fiscal year 2023-2024, then $32 million annually starting fiscal year 2026. All funds go to the General Fund in fiscal year 2025.
Scope change
The scope of fund disbursement timing and amounts was modified to create a phased funding approach rather than immediate full funding.
FISCAL

Initial annual disbursement to Tobacco and Health Trust Fund changed from $32 million to $12 million for fiscal years 2023 and 2024.

New provision added for fiscal year 2026 and beyond, establishing $32 million annual disbursement to the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund.

TIMELINE

Fiscal year 2025 disbursement to General Fund was clarified with specific language to remove ambiguity about the transition period.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
REF. BY HOUSE TO COMMITTEE ON Finance, Revenue and Bonding
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
lower
Feb 14, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Health
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.