Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 224: AN ACT EXEMPTING BALLOTS CAST AT ELECTIONS, PRIMARIES AND REFERENDA FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.

SB 224 exempts all ballots cast in elections, primaries, and referendums (including write-in ballots) from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), effective July 1, 2026. This means voters' choices will no longer be subject to FOIA requests, directly affecting individuals whose ballots would have been disclosed under current law. The bill explicitly states that audits or recanvasses under specific election statutes (chapters 147-153 of general statutes) remain permitted. It does not change how elections are conducted but alters public access to ballot records. The bill focuses solely on protecting ballot privacy, not on altering voting procedures or outcomes.

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 5217: AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION AS THE DEPARTMENT HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

HB 5217 changes state law to explicitly name the Commissioner of Education as the official head of the Department of Education, replacing previous language that listed them among multiple potential department heads. The bill amends statutes to clarify that the Commissioner directly leads the department, removing prior references to the State Board of Education as its administrative arm. This change takes effect July 1, 2028, and directly affects the Commissioner of Education and the Department of Education's internal structure. The bill focuses on defining leadership roles without altering educational programs or funding.

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 5242: AN ACT REQUIRING CERTAIN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES TO ALLOW TERMINALLY ILL QUALIFYING PATIENTS TO USE CANNABIS.

HB 5242 requires hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice facilities to allow terminally ill patients with a valid medical cannabis certification to use cannabis within those facilities, effective October 1, 2026. It mandates facilities to store cannabis in locked containers, document use in medical records, and prohibit smoking/vaping, while requiring patients to provide certification. The bill excludes emergency care settings and allows facilities to temporarily suspend compliance if federal agencies take specific enforcement actions. It directly affects terminally ill qualifying patients (with a 1-year or less life expectancy prognosis) and covered health care facilities, aligning with existing state medical cannabis laws.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 240: AN ACT CONCERNING INTERNET GAMING DISORDER.

SB 240 requires Connecticut's Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to create a public health plan addressing Internet gaming disorder. The plan must identify risks, prevent harm (especially for youth and vulnerable groups), link gaming disorder to gambling behaviors, and include data monitoring, public education, healthcare provider training, and treatment pathways. It mandates a report on this plan to the legislature by January 1, 2027. The bill directly affects state public health infrastructure and aims to reduce related health risks through coordinated prevention and treatment efforts.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 105: AN ACT ELIMINATING VARIOUS OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSE, PERMIT, CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION FEES.

SB 105 eliminates specific fees for occupational and professional licenses, permits, certifications, and registrations. It directly affects speech-language pathologists (removing their license fees), professionals regulated by the Department of Consumer Protection (removing their license, permit, certification, and registration fees), and teachers (removing teaching certificate fees). The bill removes these fees by amending general statutes to delete the associated charges. This is a concrete policy change focused solely on reducing costs for these regulated professions, as stated in the bill's purpose.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 5236: AN ACT CONCERNING WORKPLACE HEALTH, SAFETY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT WORKERS.

HB 5236 establishes a Public Transit Workplace Health, Safety and Violence Prevention Committee within the Department of Transportation, requiring equal representation from public transit bus operators and management at each transit district. The committee must create a comprehensive safety plan by January 2028, including protocols for passenger handling, mental/physical health protections (like required breaks and restroom access), violence prevention strategies, and standardized reporting systems for incidents and unsafe conditions. This plan must be reviewed annually starting in 2029. The bill directly affects all public transit bus operators and their management across the state’s transit districts by mandating structured safety improvements and accountability measures.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 5212: AN ACT REQUIRING ACCEPTANCE OF PERIODIC AND PARTIAL PAYMENTS ON CERTAIN MORTGAGE LOANS ISSUED BY CONNECTICUT BANKS AND CONNECTICUT CREDIT UNIONS.

HB 5212 requires Connecticut banks and credit unions to accept and credit periodic (full) and partial (less than full) payments on new residential mortgage loans issued on or after October 1, 2026. It directly affects borrowers with these loans and the financial institutions that issue them. The bill mandates that payments must be accepted and credited on the business day received if the borrower follows written payment instructions and provides sufficient account details. This applies only to loans for personal, family, or household use on residential properties, effective October 2026.

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 5218: AN ACT CONCERNING TEACHERS.

HB 5218 updates Connecticut's teacher employment contract rules, affecting all public school teachers (both tenured and non-tenured). It requires school boards to provide written notice of nonrenewal by May 1st each year for non-tenured teachers, with a 10-day window for them to request a hearing if they dispute the decision. For tenured teachers, termination must be for specific reasons (like incompetence, insubordination, or position elimination) and require written notice before a hearing, with the hearing scheduled within 15 days. The bill clarifies that non-tenured teachers cannot appeal position eliminations, and all hearings must follow strict timelines and just-cause standards.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 226: AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REVISIONS RELATED TO ELECTION PROCESSES.

SB 226 revises early voting rules for all elections in Connecticut, affecting voters who wish to cast ballots before election day. It establishes specific early voting periods: 15 days before regular elections (ending two days prior), 8 days before non-presidential primaries, and 5 days before special elections or presidential primaries (adjusted for holidays). The bill requires unaffiliated voters or new voters to register with a political party by noon the day before early voting at primaries. Additionally, it mandates that early voting locations must be certified to the Secretary of State, provide access to the state voter system, and remain consistent throughout the early voting period. These changes take effect July 1, 2026.

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 5233: AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE TOWN OF MANCHESTER.

HB 5233 authorizes the state to issue up to $5 million in bonds to fund water and sewer infrastructure improvements in the north end of Manchester. The funds will be provided as a grant to Manchester through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. This bill directly affects Manchester residents in the north end by enabling upgrades to their local water and sewer systems. The key mechanism is state bond financing, with the grant specifically targeting infrastructure improvements in that specific area of the town.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 5232: AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR A YOUTH BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL INDOOR TRAINING FACILITY IN THE TOWN OF MANCHESTER.

HB 5232 authorizes the state to issue up to $500,000 in bonds to fund a youth baseball and softball indoor training facility in Manchester. The funds would be provided as a grant to Manchester through the Department of Economic and Community Development for construction. This bill directly supports Manchester youth by creating a dedicated after-school facility for sports training, with no broader policy changes beyond this specific funding mechanism.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 5234: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FEE ON SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTIES.

HB 5234 would impose a fee on short-term rental properties (such as Airbnb listings) owned by individuals or businesses. The revenue generated from this fee would be distributed proportionally to local municipalities based on population or another specified formula. This bill directly affects property owners who rent accommodations for short periods, creating a new revenue stream for local governments to fund community services. The policy change is purely procedural, establishing the fee structure and distribution method without altering other regulations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results