Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 2, 2025

SB 1425: AN ACT CONCERNING MOTOR VEHICLE PROTECTION PRODUCTS.

SB 1425 standardizes terms for motor vehicle protection products like extended warranties. It requires providers to clearly explain coverage details - including what’s included (e.g., tire repairs from potholes, windshield chips, key replacements, and lease-end damage coverage), exclusions, duration, and transfer rules - before sale. The law applies to consumers purchasing these products and the companies offering them, effective October 1, 2025. It does not cover portable electronics insurance or apply to manufacturers directly providing service.

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 2, 2025

HB 6964: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY TREATMENT TO AND TRANSPORTATION OF AN ANIMAL THAT IS INJURED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF ITS DUTIES UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PEACE OFFICER.

HB 6964 establishes a task force to study how to provide emergency treatment and transportation for animals (like police dogs) injured while performing duties under a peace officer. The task force will examine appropriate circumstances for care, required training for emergency medical personnel, available veterinary facilities, equipment sanitation, and scope of practice issues. Composed of appointed members including police officers, EMS providers, and legislative leaders, it must submit a report by January 1, 2026. This procedural bill does not create new law but directs a study to inform potential future policy changes.

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 2, 2025

HB 7188: AN ACT CONCERNING HOMELESSNESS AND THE CHESS PROGRAM.

HB 7188 establishes the "CHESS" (Connecticut Housing Engagement and Support Services) initiative to improve housing stability and health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness with complex health conditions. It requires the Social Services Commissioner to adjust Medicaid funding rates for CHESS providers to match supportive housing program rates, prioritize housing vouchers for newly enrolled unhoused participants, and prevent reimbursement decreases for providers serving both programs. The bill also creates a new oversight committee with housing, human services, and homelessness advocacy representatives to review CHESS services and require quarterly agency reports. This bill directly affects homeless individuals with health needs and the state agencies managing Medicaid and housing support services.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 2, 2025

HB 7115: AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE HEALTH CARE COST GROWTH BENCHMARK PROGRAM.

HB 7115 revises Connecticut's Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark Program by requiring health insurance payers to report aggregated health care spending data annually. It introduces an opt-in process for self-funded employer health plans, allowing employers to submit their data to payers (who then include it in their reports), with forms provided within 15 days of claim administration. The state's Office of Health Strategy must publish annual reports on spending trends, including primary care costs, insurance market segments, and factors like inflation. This affects insurance payers (who report data), self-funded employers (who can opt-in to share data), and the state (which analyzes and publishes findings).

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SB 1242: AN ACT FUNDING SMALL HARBOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

SB 1242 creates a state-funded grant program for small harbor improvement projects in Connecticut, excluding harbors in New Haven, New London, and Bridgeport. It authorizes $20 million in state bonds (allocated across fiscal years 2022-2026) to fund competitive grants for dredging, infrastructure upgrades, and environmental compliance in small harbors. Municipalities and private entities can apply for grants covering costs like federal matching requirements, environmental management, or gaps in federal funding, with municipalities prioritized. The Connecticut Port Authority will administer the program under Section 13b-55d, established by this bill.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 5240: AN ACT REQUIRING THE PLACEMENT OF TRAFFIC CONES AROUND CERTAIN LANDSCAPING VEHICLES WHEN PARKED ON A PUBLIC HIGHWAY.

HB 5240 requires landscaping businesses to place traffic cones around vehicles with trailers when parked on public highways. The cones must meet federal standards outlined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and be positioned per those guidelines. Violating this rule is classified as an infraction, punishable by a $100-$300 fine, not a criminal offense. The law takes effect on October 1, 2025, and directly affects commercial landscaping operators using trailer-equipped vehicles on public roads.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 6914: AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE HARBOR MANAGEMENT ACT.

HB 6914 revises Connecticut's Harbor Management Act to clarify that state and municipal officials must consider written recommendations from harbor management commissions (e.g., in comment letters) when making regulatory decisions or approving development in a harbor's jurisdiction. This applies only to recommendations derived from an already-approved harbor management plan, which already binds officials to follow its content unless they demonstrate cause for deviation. The bill does not create new regulations but ensures existing plan recommendations are formally considered in future decisions. It has no fiscal impact on state or municipal budgets, as confirmed by the bill analysis.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SB 1319: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CYBERSECURITY TASK FORCE.

SB 1319 establishes a state cybersecurity task force to study and develop recommendations on coordinating cybersecurity efforts across government and private sectors. The task force, composed of 23 members including state agency commissioners, legislative leaders, and municipal representatives with cybersecurity expertise, must address eight key areas like state agency coordination, critical infrastructure needs, municipal support, federal collaboration, and public awareness. It is required to submit a final report to the legislature by January 1, 2027, detailing findings and recommendations. This bill directly affects state agencies, municipalities, and private sector entities involved in cybersecurity, but has no fiscal impact as noted in the official analysis.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 7074: AN ACT CONCERNING THE UNIFORM STATE-WIDE POLICE PURSUIT POLICY.

HB 7074 establishes a uniform, state-wide policy for police vehicle pursuits in Connecticut. The policy requires that officers may pursue a moving vehicle only if they believe the occupant committed a serious crime punishable by more than one year in prison, and it specifies factors to consider when starting or ending a pursuit - such as public safety risks, traffic conditions, and whether the vehicle occupant can be apprehended later. Officers must immediately notify supervisors when beginning a pursuit, and the policy must be updated every five years. This bill affects all Connecticut police departments and officers, standardizing pursuit procedures across the state.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 7116: AN ACT CONCERNING INSURANCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.

HB 7116 bans specific restrictive clauses in health care contracts between insurers and providers, effective July 1, 2025. It prohibits "all-or-nothing clauses" (requiring full network inclusion), "anti-steering clauses" (blocking incentives for cheaper providers), "anti-tiering clauses" (restricting network tiers), "gag clauses" (preventing price/quality disclosure), and "revenue neutrality clauses" (requiring insurers to cover provider losses). This directly affects health carriers, health plan administrators, and health care providers by requiring them to remove these clauses from new or renewed contracts. The law maintains existing privacy protections under federal law while aiming to increase transparency in health care pricing and network options.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SB 1480: AN ACT CONCERNING PRIVATE EQUITY AND REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST OWNERSHIP OF HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES.

SB 1480 requires hospitals and nursing homes to be free of new ownership by private equity companies or real estate investment trusts (REITs) to qualify for Medicaid reimbursement in Connecticut, effective October 1, 2025. This directly affects healthcare facilities seeking state Medicaid payments, as new ownership by these entities would disqualify them from receiving reimbursement for patient care. The bill’s key mechanism is tying Medicaid eligibility to ownership structure, preventing private equity or REIT ownership of these facilities after the effective date. It does not apply to existing ownership but blocks new investments by these entities from qualifying for state healthcare funding.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SB 1470: AN ACT CONCERNING TWICE ANNUAL REPORTING BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ON MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER SERVICES.

SB 1470 requires the Department of Social Services to submit twice-annual reports (every six months) on Medicaid reimbursement for certified community health workers (CHWs), replacing the previous annual reporting schedule. The reports must detail program design, access strategies, workforce growth efforts, and health equity impacts for HUSKY Health beneficiaries. This applies to CHWs providing services like health navigation, prenatal support, and care coordination. The bill removes a sunset provision that would have ended reporting once the program was fully operational, ensuring ongoing oversight.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results