Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 27, 2026

SB 304: AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

SB 304 requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to study the state's economic development programs. The study must examine three years of participation data, program quality controls, spending relative to program use, and funding breakdowns by account. The commissioner must submit a report to the legislature's Commerce Committee by January 1, 2027. This bill does not create new programs or change funding - it only mandates an analysis of existing department operations. It directly affects the Department of Economic and Community Development and the legislature that will review the findings.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 27, 2026

SB 20: AN ACT INCREASING THE PER DIEM RATE FOR MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF LABOR RELATIONS.

SB 20 increases the daily payment rate for members and alternate members of the State Board of Labor Relations from $150 to $300 per day. This bill directly affects individuals serving on the State Board of Labor Relations who attend board meetings or perform related duties. The key provision amends section 31-102 of the general statutes to establish the new rate, effective upon enactment. The change applies only to the per diem compensation for board service and does not alter other aspects of the board's operations or responsibilities.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 27, 2026

SB 330: AN ACT COMPENSATING SPOUSES FOR STATE-FUNDED HOME CARE.

SB 330 allows spouses (and others) to be paid for providing personal care to elderly individuals enrolled in Connecticut's state-funded home-care program. It directly affects married seniors aged 65+ who qualify for the program but aren't eligible for Medicaid, meet income/assets limits, and are at risk of unnecessary nursing home placement. The bill adds a provision (replacing part of existing law) authorizing the Social Services Commissioner to establish training and documentation rules for compensated caregivers, including spouses. This changes the program by explicitly permitting spouse caregivers to receive payment for services they provide, rather than requiring them to be unpaid family members. The policy takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 5172: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR THE INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF RADAR SPEED SIGNS ON FOREST ROAD IN THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN.

HB 5172 appropriates funding for the installation and maintenance of radar speed signs along Forest Road in New Haven. The bill directly affects residents and drivers on Forest Road by providing resources to reduce speeding. It authorizes the Department of Transportation to use the allocated funds for this specific safety improvement during the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The sole purpose stated is to increase safety on this road segment through visible speed monitoring.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 5419: AN ACT REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO EXPAND ELIGIBILITY FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN YOUTH.

HB 5419 requires the Department of Children and Families to update its policies to expand postsecondary education funding eligibility for foster youth still under department care at age 18 and adopted youth adopted before age 18. It specifically extends eligibility to youth whose education was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing them to qualify for funding under existing programs (A) 28-1 and (B) 25-2. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not require continued case management for youth older than 21 who receive funding. This change directly affects vulnerable youth transitioning from foster care or adoption who faced pandemic-related barriers to education.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 5416: AN ACT CONCERNING FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS.

HB 5416 restores veterans' access to full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by requiring Connecticut to seek a federal waiver exempting veterans from work requirements. It also establishes the Connecticut Farmers' Market/Veteran Nutrition Program, providing veterans aged 60+ at nutritional risk (identified through elderly housing, meal sites, or municipal committees) with vouchers for fresh, Connecticut-grown produce at local farmers' markets. The bill mandates that veterans receive SNAP benefits equivalent to what they would have received before a 2008 federal change eliminated their work requirement exemption. These provisions directly affect Connecticut veterans who qualify under the new program criteria.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 5398: AN ACT CONCERNING THE REVIEW OF HEALTH CARE ENTITY TRANSACTIONS, THE EXPANSION OF EQUITABLE RELIEF AND ENFORCEMENT TOOLS AVAILABLE UNDER THE CONNECTICUT ANTITRUST ACT AND THE INCLUSION OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN HOSPITAL PRICEMASTER FILINGS.

HB 5398 requires Connecticut's state government to review healthcare entity transactions (like hospital mergers or partnerships) that could reduce competition. It expands antitrust enforcement tools under the Connecticut Antitrust Act and mandates hospitals disclose additional pricing details in their public "price master" filings. The bill directly affects hospitals, hospital systems, medical foundations, and other healthcare organizations that form affiliations or partnerships. Key provisions include new state review requirements for transactions and specific pricing transparency rules for hospital billing.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 27, 2026

SB 262: AN ACT CONCERNING THE FEES CHARGED BY A NOTARY FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF A NOTARIAL ACT.

SB 262 increases the maximum fee a notary public may charge for performing a notarial act from $5 to $10, effective October 1, 2026. It also maintains the existing 35-cent-per-mile travel charge for notaries traveling to perform services. This bill directly affects notaries who provide services like document certification and their clients who pay these fees. The change is a straightforward adjustment to the statutory fee structure with no additional provisions or requirements.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 27, 2026

SB 19: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN CERTAIN RURAL AREAS.

SB 19 allocates state funds from the General Fund to the Department of Education for school-based mental health services in rural areas of the northwest part of the state during fiscal year 2027. It directly affects schools in these specific rural communities by providing funding to offset recent decreases in federal support for mental health programs. The key provision is a direct state appropriation to maintain these critical services where federal funding has declined. This bill focuses on concrete financial support for existing school mental health programs in designated rural regions, without altering eligibility or service requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 5335: AN ACT CONCERNING THE SAFETY CAPACITY OF BURR POND STATE PARK IN TORRINGTON.

This bill requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to establish and publicly post a safety-based visitor capacity limit for Burr Pond State Park by January 2027. The limit must consider factors like lifeguard staffing, parking spaces, restroom capacity, highway traffic safety for pedestrians and emergency vehicles, and vehicle entry counts. The agency must coordinate traffic controls with law enforcement and can close the park to new visitors when capacity is reached. The policy directly affects park visitors and local road users, aiming to protect public safety at the park and surrounding highways.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 27, 2026

SB 313: AN ACT CONCERNING WAKESURFING ON CERTAIN LAKES IN THE STATE.

SB 313 prohibits operating wake boats (vessels with specialized devices like ballast tanks to create large wakes) within 200 feet of shore for wakesurfing or wakeboarding on most state lakes. It directly affects recreational boaters using these specialized vessels on lakes statewide, while allowing municipalities to enforce stricter distance requirements. The bill explicitly exempts lakes bordering Warren, Washington, and Kent, which already have separate bans on wake boats. This establishes a uniform minimum distance for safety and environmental protection without banning wakesurfing entirely.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 27, 2026

SB 314: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS USED IN CERTAIN RESEARCH.

SB 314 (2026) requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Agriculture to examine whether to establish standards for breeders of companion animals used in medical research. The study must assess if hospitals, universities, and labs should be barred from purchasing animals from breeders violating USDA pet dealer rules. The commissioner must submit a report with recommendations to the Environment Committee by January 15, 2027. This bill does not create new regulations but mandates a review to inform future policy. It directly affects research institutions and animal breeders operating under USDA oversight.

Bill results