Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 1510: AN ACT CONCERNING ASSORTED REVISIONS TO THE EDUCATION STATUTES.

SB 1510 modifies Connecticut's education statutes with three key changes. It increases retirement benefit rates for educators in "alliance districts" from 2% to 2.2% of average salary per year of full-time service, while adding special rules for early retirement in these districts. The bill also mandates that school grant programs report on student achievement and attendance outcomes, and requires at least 10% of grant funds to be allocated to small municipalities (population ≤7,500) or their school boards. Additionally, it establishes a permanent Connecticut School Reform Resource Center to provide professional development and research-based tools for schools statewide. These changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 1150: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR NO-COST DRIVER'S LICENSE AND IDENTITY CARD RENEWALS FOR VETERANS.

SB 1150 waives the standard renewal fees for driver's licenses and identity cards for veterans. Veterans with documented veteran status on their current license can renew without paying the typical fee (e.g., $96 for an 8-year license). If a veteran applies for renewal more than six months before expiration, they receive a voucher for a free renewal during that six-month window. This policy directly affects veterans who are current license holders and need to renew, while non-veterans continue to pay standard fees.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 1252: AN ACT ESTABLISHING PRIORITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ZONES.

This bill establishes "Priority Housing Development Zones" in municipalities, allowing certain housing types to be built without special permits. Zones must meet minimum density requirements (4 units/acre for single-family, 6 for townhouses, 10 for multifamily) and cover at least 10% of a municipality’s developable land (excluding parks, wetlands, historic districts, and steep slopes). It requires zoning commissions to permit these developments automatically while allowing adjustments to building standards like height or parking. The bill directly affects local governments adopting these zones and developers seeking to build multi-family or townhouse projects in designated areas.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 6728: AN ACT CONCERNING FREE RIDERSHIP FOR VETERANS ON MODES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ON VETERANS' DAY.

HB 6728 exempts Connecticut veterans from paying bus fares on Veterans' Day (November 11) when presenting a driver's license or ID card showing veteran status. This applies to state-owned or state-controlled bus services and requires veterans to have their status listed on IDs per existing DVA procedures (CGS §14-36h). The bill also mandates the Transportation Commissioner to study expanding this benefit to all public transit modes by 2030, with a report due by February 2026. The fiscal impact is projected as minimal due to low current participation (fewer than 15,000 veterans with status on IDs).

Topics ✓ Transportation ✓ Veterans

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 6874: AN ACT ESTABLISHING PROTECTIONS FOR VETERANS FROM BENEFITS CLAIM SHARKS.

This bill protects veterans by regulating individuals and businesses that assist with filing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit claims. It requires written agreements before any assistance, prohibits upfront fees (only allowing payment if the claim succeeds), and bans guarantees about specific benefit amounts. Businesses must also provide clear written disclosures stating they are not affiliated with the VA or federal veterans organizations and that free help may be available elsewhere. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and violations are treated as unfair trade practices under state law.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 6944: AN ACT REQUIRING A MUNICIPALITY TO INCLUDE CERTAIN INFORMATION IN ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN.

HB 6944 requires Connecticut municipalities to include specific details in their affordable housing plans, directly affecting all local governments. It mandates that municipalities update and submit these plans every five years, with high-income areas (top 80% of net equalized per capita income) needing a "priority plan" detailing how they'll use zoning and other tools to create "realistic opportunity" for affordable housing development. Key provisions include requiring that at least 20% of units in these plans serve very low-income households (50% of area median income), 50% be rental units, 75% non-age-restricted, and 80% include two or more bedrooms. The Secretary of Policy and Management reviews these plans, with approval required for municipalities to access discretionary state housing funding.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 6958: AN ACT MAKING CERTAIN TERMS IN ELECTRONIC BOOK AND DIGITAL AUDIOBOOK LICENSE AGREEMENTS OR CONTRACTS UNENFORCEABLE.

HB 6958 prohibits publishers from including certain terms in digital book and audiobook license agreements with libraries. It bans clauses that block libraries from lending digital materials (including interlibrary loans), limit how many times a book can be lent, prevent making preservation copies, or restrict sharing contract terms with other libraries. Libraries may still set reasonable limits on simultaneous users or use technology to control access periods. The law applies to new or renewed contracts after July 1, 2026, affecting public, school, and academic libraries in the state.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 7002: AN ACT CONCERNING SOLAR INSTALLATIONS IN CERTAIN COMMON INTEREST OWNERSHIP COMMUNITIES.

HB 7002 prevents homeowner associations in single-family detached homes from unreasonably blocking solar panel installations on roofs. It applies to properties without shared walls (like typical single-family homes in communities), but excludes units in buildings with common walls (such as townhouses). Associations must process installation applications within 60 days, cannot unreasonably deny requests, and must approve applications if they don't respond in time. The law requires homeowners to follow community rules for installations but removes arbitrary restrictions on solar energy adoption. It takes effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Energy

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 1313: AN ACT INCREASING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WITHIN ONE-HALF MILE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT STATIONS.

SB 1313 requires municipalities to automatically approve new housing developments with a minimum density of 15 dwelling units per acre within a half-mile radius of passenger rail, commuter rail, or bus rapid transit stations. This applies to all new housing projects meeting the density and location criteria, eliminating the need for special permits, public hearings, or variances. The bill also sets parking limits (one spot for studios/one-bedroom units, two for larger units) and mandates decisions on applications within 65 days, while exempting certain areas like wetlands and steep slopes. It directly affects local zoning regulations, developers seeking transit-oriented projects, and municipalities that must revise their rules by October 2026 to comply.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 6950: AN ACT CONCERNING THE INCOME THRESHOLD FOR TENANTS RENTING A DWELLING UNIT IN A SET-ASIDE DEVELOPMENT.

HB 6950 amends Connecticut law to change income thresholds for tenants in "set-aside developments" (affordable housing projects with deed restrictions). It requires that 15% of units in such developments be reserved for households earning ≤60% of median income, with the remaining units for ≤80% median income. The bill also adds a provision allowing tenants whose income later exceeds these thresholds to continue renting their unit for up to three years without rent increases tied to their new income level. This directly affects low-to-moderate-income renters in designated affordable rental buildings, providing temporary stability when their income rises slightly above the original qualifying limit. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 7010: AN ACT CONCERNING PARAEDUCATORS.

HB 7010 provides health and retirement benefits support for paraeducators (school support staff) in Connecticut. It creates two subsidy programs: (1) a health savings account subsidy for paraeducators enrolled in high-deductible plans, and (2) a subsidy for school boards covering 10% of health insurance premiums to reduce employee payroll deductions. The bill also requires school boards to cover the full employee share of retirement contributions (capped at municipal retirement levels), with the state reimbursing 50% of that cost annually. These changes take effect July 1, 2025, using existing education funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 6889: AN ACT CONCERNING EVICTIONS FOR CAUSE.

HB 6889 protects specific tenants from no-cause evictions in multi-unit buildings (5+ units) or mobile home parks. It applies to seniors (62+), people with qualifying disabilities, or tenants who've lived there 13+ months. Landlords may only evict for reasons like nonpayment, serious lease violations affecting health/safety, or specific "for personal use" scenarios (requiring 90-day notice and proof no other units are available). The bill also requires rent increases for protected tenants to be "fair and equitable," with disputes resolved through local commissions or courts. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Housing

Bill results