Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 1246: AN ACT CONCERNING REVENUE ITEMS TO IMPLEMENT THE BIENNIAL BUDGET.

SB 1246 modifies Connecticut's tax rules for corporate operating losses, extending the carry-forward period from 20 to 30 years for losses incurred in tax years starting January 1, 2025. It limits deductions for losses from 2015-2024 to 50% of a company's net income in each subsequent year, while preserving the existing 20-year rule for older losses. The bill also creates a special provision allowing large corporate groups (with over $6 billion in unused pre-2013 losses) to elect to relinquish half their losses to use the remainder without the 50% cap until 2025. These changes primarily affect corporations with significant operating losses, directly altering how they can deduct past losses against future taxable income.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · House May 12, 2025

HB 7167: AN ACT CONCERNING EDUCATION FUNDING.

HB 7167 modifies Connecticut's school funding formula for towns maintaining public schools, effective July 1, 2025. It changes how equalization aid grants are calculated based on whether a town's fully funded grant exceeds its base grant amount. For fiscal year 2025, towns with higher fully funded grants receive 56.5% of their grant adjustment added to last year's aid, while towns with lower fully funded grants retain their 2024 aid level. Alliance districts (a specific classification) receive the highest of three options: the standard calculation, their base grant, or last year's aid. This directly affects all towns with public schools, particularly those in alliance districts, by altering their state education funding amounts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 1247: AN ACT AUTHORIZING AND ADJUSTING BONDS OF THE STATE.

SB 1247 authorizes the state to issue up to $733 million in bonds for capital projects across multiple state agencies, effective July 1, 2025. The funds will directly support specific infrastructure improvements, including $16 million for Capitol Area System upgrades, $20 million for solar installations on state property (excluding parks), $7.5 million for expanding the Middletown Veterans Cemetery, and $40 million for park renovations and ADA accessibility. Additional allocations cover building renovations for departments like Veterans Affairs, Emergency Services, and Mental Health, as well as $50 million for planning Whiting Forensic Hospital replacement. The bill specifies exact project types and dollar limits for each agency, with no general public funding or tax changes. This is a funding authorization bill focused on state facility modernization and environmental upgrades.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Veterans

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 1547: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR NONPROFITS.

SB 1547 requires state agencies to annually increase salary rates for employees of nonprofit human services providers (including those offering disability services like autism support and behavioral health care) by the previous year's inflation rate (based on the consumer price index for urban wage earners). It also mandates Medicaid rate adjustments for these nonprofits under the Department of Social Services, unless federal law prevents it. The bill requires biennial reports from the Office of Policy and Management on funding needs to sustain these inflation-linked increases. This directly affects nonprofits providing critical human services, ensuring their contract rates keep pace with inflation rather than eroding over time.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · House May 12, 2025

HB 7265: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A UNIFORM ENERGY STORAGE CAPACITY TAX.

HB 7265 establishes a working group to study the potential implementation of a uniform energy storage capacity tax in Connecticut. The group, composed of legislative committee leaders, state agency commissioners (Energy, Environmental Protection, and Revenue), and a Connecticut Green Bank representative, will examine tax calculation methods and recommend rates. The working group must submit its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 1, 2026. This bill does not create the tax itself but authorizes a study to inform future legislative decisions. The fiscal impact is stated as none, as the study will use existing agency resources.

in committee · Connecticut · House May 12, 2025

HB 7254: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES' IMPLEMENTATION OF CHANGES RESULTING FROM THE MEDICAID RATE STUDY.

HB 7254 requires Connecticut's Department of Social Services (DSS) to report annually, starting July 1, 2027, on how Medicaid reimbursement rates are being implemented following a prior study. It also mandates that the DSS Commissioner review Medicaid provider rates every five years beginning July 1, 2030, with discretion to adjust rates using a more recent Medicare base year to ensure fairness among providers. The bill does not change current funding levels but establishes a schedule for future rate reviews. This affects Medicaid providers (such as hospitals and clinics) who receive state reimbursement for services. The legislation has no direct fiscal impact but may lead to future adjustments in provider payments.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 1551: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT'S SPENDING ON ARTS AND HUMANITIES ACTIVITIES.

SB 1551 creates a new "culture and tourism account" within Connecticut's state budget, requiring that at least 10% of revenue from the sales tax on meals and beverages (subparagraph I of section 12-408) be deposited into it. This account will fund grants for arts organizations, promote tourism, and preserve historic sites and cultural resources. The bill directly affects arts groups, tourism businesses, and historic preservation entities by providing dedicated state funding. The tax change, which applies to sales occurring on or after July 1, 2025, redirects existing sales tax revenue to support these specific cultural and tourism initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 1554: AN ACT CONCERNING THE ELIMINATION OF THE PROPERTY TAX ON MOTOR VEHICLES AND THE PROVISION OF REIMBURSEMENT AND OTHER GRANTS TO MUNICIPALITIES.

SB 1554 eliminates Connecticut's property tax on motor vehicles through a phased approach, beginning in the 2028-2029 fiscal year by gradually exempting portions of vehicle assessed value until the tax is fully removed. Municipalities affected by lost revenue from this tax elimination will receive annual reimbursement grants calculated from state savings in retirement fund contributions. After the tax ends, remaining funds will be distributed as needs-based grants (using a 2015 study metric) and per capita payments to municipalities. The bill requires annual reports to the legislature detailing grant distributions and fiscal impacts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 1559: AN ACT CONCERNING CAPITAL CITY REDEVELOPMENT AND ESTABLISHING THE SOUTH MEADOWS DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.

This bill transfers ownership of Hartford's South Meadows site (300 Maxim Road and 100 Reserve Road) and associated funds from the MIRA Dissolution Authority to the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) effective June 30, 2025. It freezes property taxes on the site until development begins and directs $5 million from MIRA funds to a special account for CRDA's site-related activities. CRDA gains authority to manage remediation, development, and retain tax revenue generated from projects on the site. The transfer includes all tangible/intangible assets and permits CRDA to hire former MIRA staff for site operations.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 1550: AN ACT CONCERNING THE APPLICABILITY OF THE HOSPITAL TAX TO CHILDREN'S GENERAL HOSPITALS.

SB 1550 removes an exemption for children's general hospitals from Connecticut's hospital provider tax, requiring them to pay the same tax rates as other hospitals starting July 1, 2026. Currently exempt, these hospitals (defined as facilities licensed as short-term children's hospitals by the Department of Public Health) will now pay 6% on inpatient services and 10.4858% on outpatient services. The change generates an estimated $15.5 million annually in state revenue by ending their prior tax exemption. This affects only children's general hospitals, not specialty hospitals like psychiatric facilities, which remain separately defined under the law.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 1526: AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR STATE MARSHALS.

SB 1526 adds state marshals to the list of state employees eligible for group health insurance benefits under Connecticut's existing state-sponsored plan. This means state marshals will now receive the same health insurance coverage as other state employees, with the state covering most premium costs and employees paying a portion. The bill expands current coverage provisions (effective July 1, 2025) to include state marshals' surviving spouses and dependent children, mirroring the existing terms for other public safety employees like police and firefighters. It does not create new benefits but extends current coverage to this specific workforce category.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Connecticut · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 1555: AN ACT CONCERNING THE TEN-YEAR PLAN TO ERADICATE CONCENTRATED POVERTY IN PARTICIPATING CONCENTRATED POVERTY CENSUS TRACTS.

SB 1555 establishes a ten-year plan to reduce concentrated poverty in designated census tracts identified as "high poverty-low opportunity" as of January 2024. It creates an Office of Neighborhood Investment and Community Engagement within the Department of Economic and Community Development to oversee implementation, focusing on four municipalities with the highest concentration of such tracts. The bill requires participating areas to form community development corporations and sets a specific target: reducing poverty rates below 20% within ten years, alongside measurable improvements in education metrics, infrastructure, and housing conditions. The plan must include detailed timelines, responsible agencies, and benchmarks for educational outcomes like kindergarten readiness and college/career readiness. This initiative directly affects residents and local governments in 20+ targeted census tracts across four specific municipalities.

Topics ✓ Housing

Bill results