SB 1495 requires the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) commissioner to specifically assess whether surplus state property could host renewable energy facilities, in addition to existing considerations like open space or mission support. This update modifies existing law (section 4b-21 of the general statutes) by adding renewable energy siting to the list of purposes DEEP must evaluate when reviewing property no longer needed by state agencies. The bill directs DEEP to notify the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) secretary in writing about this potential use within 30 days of receiving property notification. It does not create new fiscal obligations, as DEEP and OPM already have the capacity to handle this review.
SB 1487 requires transportation network companies (like Uber and Lyft) and third-party delivery services to register annually with Connecticut's Transportation Commissioner. Companies pay registration fees based on driver count: $5,000 for under 50 drivers, $10,000 for 50-199 drivers, and $30,000 for 200+ drivers. The bill also mandates real-time messaging between companies and drivers in both English and Spanish during rides. Companies operating without valid registration face fines up to $50,000.
HB 7109 implements recommendations from Connecticut's Transforming Children's Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee. It directs state agencies to use federal grant funds to develop new payment models that reward providers for improved child behavioral health outcomes, create better care coordination systems, and require at least one hour of in-person supervision for every ten hours of behavioral therapy provided to children under 26 with autism spectrum disorder. The bill also mandates a review of Yale University's IICAPS program for children at risk of hospitalization and updates definitions of "behavioral therapy" to clarify supervision requirements. Additionally, it directs health officials to examine private insurance coverage for urgent crisis center care for children.
This bill restricts noncompete agreements that prevent workers from joining competitors after leaving a job. It makes such agreements unenforceable for employees earning less than three times the state minimum wage and for independent contractors earning less than five times the minimum wage. Noncompetes are also void if they cover geographic areas where the worker never worked or types of work they didn't perform in the past two years. For higher-earning workers, noncompetes may only last up to one year (or two years if the worker is paid during the restriction period).
HB 7104 modifies eligibility rules for Temporary Family Assistance (TFA) by disregarding specific income sources when determining eligibility. It adds two key provisions: (1) income from approved pilot cash transfer programs (studying direct cash payments) is disregarded for up to 24 months, and (2) stipends from approved job training programs (like those run by the Office of Workforce Strategy or rehabilitation services) are disregarded for up to 36 months. This directly affects TFA applicants and recipients whose family members participate in these programs, preventing such income from reducing or eliminating their benefits. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and requires the Department of Social Services to maintain a public list of approved programs.
HB 7138 creates a legal presumption that a property owner is liable for the cost of removing a fallen tree or limb on a neighbor's land, but only if three conditions are met: an arborist documented the tree was diseased/decayed/damaged and likely to fall within five years, the neighbor provided certified written notice requesting repairs, and the owner failed to fix the issue within 90 days. Owners can rebut this presumption by proving the tree wasn't dangerous or that the fall resulted from an act of nature (e.g., lightning or fire), not the tree's condition. The law exempts owners aged 64+ with incomes below HUD's area median from liability. It also clarifies that insurance companies may deduct amounts recovered under this law from policyholder payouts for covered losses.
HB 6074 establishes a Connecticut student loan reimbursement program for eligible residents who graduated with an associate or bachelor's degree from a state institution, hold a professional license, and meet income limits (under $125,000 for single filers or $175,000 for married couples/head of household). Participants must be Connecticut residents for at least five years and have outstanding student loans. The program requires participants to complete 50 hours of unpaid volunteer service annually with approved nonprofits, municipal governments, or the military, or apply for a hardship waiver. Applications will be processed on a first-come basis, with the program effective July 1, 2025.
SB 1341 revises how local government civil service boards classify employees in departments using merit systems. It requires boards to complete this classification within 90 days of commissioners' initial appointment and clarifies that boards may exempt certain high-level positions (like the policy officer and one deputy) from competitive exams. This procedural change affects local government departments operating under merit system rules, streamlining their initial staff classification process without altering hiring standards for most positions. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.
SB 376 eliminates the requirement that veterans must have served during a declared war to qualify for tuition waivers at Connecticut's community-technical colleges and state universities. This change directly affects veterans who were previously ineligible for these benefits solely due to not meeting the wartime service condition. The bill amends state statutes by removing the phrase "performed service in time of war" from the eligibility criteria for veterans (as defined in state law). The waiver will now be available to all qualifying veterans domiciled in Connecticut, effective July 1, 2025.
SB 1230 requires Connecticut state agencies to spend at least 15% of their annual print and digital advertising budget on in-state news publishers (defined as entities producing original news for 12+ months) starting July 1, 2026. It directly affects state agencies (excluding public universities) purchasing such advertising, with exemptions for ads targeting out-of-state audiences (e.g., tourism or economic development). Agencies may request waivers if compliance conflicts with ad purpose, and must report spending and waiver requests annually to the Commissioner of Administrative Services. The law mandates the commissioner to establish guidelines by June 2026 and submit annual reports to the legislature on ad spending and waiver decisions.
SB 12 establishes a working group to study state and local barriers (like zoning and building codes) preventing the construction of affordable single-family starter homes. It also creates a new funding incentive: school districts in municipalities meeting specific affordable housing thresholds (6-10%) will receive increased state grant money for school projects (5-20% higher, depending on the threshold). Additionally, the bill authorizes $50 million in state bonds to fund a four-year pilot program for construction projects that create jobs in affordable housing development, requiring union pension fund co-investment, project labor agreements, and workforce training. The law directly affects municipalities (via housing thresholds), school districts (via grant eligibility), and housing developers (via funding access).
SB 1401 creates "Disaster Savings Accounts" that allow homeowners to save money specifically for costs related to qualifying disasters like wildfires, floods, or hurricanes. Homeowners (as "qualified beneficiaries") who live in single-family residences can use these accounts to pay insurance deductibles or repair damage to their homes. Account holders (including the homeowner or joint account holders) can contribute unlimited funds, with tax deductions for contributions and a separate tax credit. The bill requires account holders to submit tax forms detailing contributions and withdrawals for eligible disaster-related expenses, while prohibiting financial institutions from tracking how funds are used.
