Budget & Taxes

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 187: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE SALES AND USE TAXES IMPOSED ON MEALS SOLD BY AN EATING ESTABLISHMENT, CATERER OR GROCERY STORE.

SB 187 redirects the additional 1% sales tax collected on meals sold by restaurants, caterers, and grocery stores to the specific local municipalities where the tax was paid. This changes the current system by ensuring the tax revenue stays in the community where the sale occurred, rather than going to the state. The bill directly affects local governments, providing them with new funding from this tax stream without altering the tax rate or burden on businesses or consumers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects existing 1% meal tax revenue to local municipalities, increasing their funding without changing tax rates or burden, directly advancing local fiscal management.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax

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in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 5012: AN ACT ELIMINATING THE QUALIFYING INCOME THRESHOLDS FOR THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX DEDUCTIONS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

HB 5012 eliminates income limits that previously restricted who could deduct Social Security benefits from their state personal income tax. It directly affects residents receiving Social Security benefits who file state tax returns, removing the requirement that their income must fall below a certain threshold to qualify for this deduction. The bill amends Section 12-701 of the general statutes to remove these qualifying income thresholds entirely. This change means more Social Security recipients will automatically qualify for the tax deduction regardless of their income level.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEliminates income thresholds for Social Security tax deductions, providing tax relief to beneficiaries (often lower/middle income retirees).95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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in committee · Connecticut · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 5115: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PERSONAL INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR CERTAIN LOSSES INCURRED AS A RESULT OF CRYPTOCURRENCY INVESTMENT FRAUD OR WIRE FRAUD.

HB 5115 would allow Connecticut taxpayers to deduct losses from cryptocurrency investment fraud or wire fraud on their state income tax returns, effective January 1, 2027. The deduction applies only to losses that are already counted as taxable income under federal tax law. It directly affects Connecticut residents who suffered financial losses due to these specific fraud types and reported the losses on their federal tax returns. The bill adds this deduction to existing state tax provisions, creating a new category for these losses without changing other tax rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax deduction for fraud victims, reducing state tax revenue through relief for affected residents, aligning with tax relief indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 5171: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR THE CONNECTICUT-GROWN FOR CONNECTICUT KIDS PROGRAM.

This bill allocates $___ from the General Fund to the Connecticut Department of Agriculture for the Connecticut-Grown for Connecticut Kids program during fiscal year 2027. It directly supports local farms and food growers by providing funding for incentives to supply produce to schools and community programs. The key mechanism is a dedicated annual appropriation to sustain the program's operations. This policy change ensures ongoing financial support for connecting Connecticut-grown food with local children's nutrition initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates General Fund funds to sustain agricultural program supporting schools and community food access, directly advancing state budget appropriations for essential public services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 49: AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX.

SB 49 eliminates the highway use tax by amending Section 12-493a of the general statutes to remove this tax provision from state law. It directly affects vehicle owners who previously paid this tax as part of registration or road usage fees. The bill’s key mechanism is the deletion of the tax requirement from existing statutes, removing the obligation for taxpayers. This policy change would end the collection of the highway use tax without creating new fees or exemptions. The bill’s purpose statement explicitly states it aims to eliminate the highway use tax entirely.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill eliminates highway use tax, providing direct tax relief by removing a tax obligation for vehicle owners, aligning with tax relief indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 6, 2026

HB 5057: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PERSONAL INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR TIPS OR GRATUITIES.

HB 5057 would allow workers who report tips to their employers to deduct the full amount of those declared tips from their taxable income when filing personal income taxes. This directly affects service industry workers, such as servers and bartenders, who receive tips as part of their earnings. The bill amends tax code to create a specific deduction for "tips or gratuities declared by a taxpayer," reducing the income subject to tax. It applies only to tips already reported to employers, not unreported tips, and does not change how tips are taxed at the employer level.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax deduction for reported tips, reducing taxable income for service workers. Direct tax relief for lower-income earners in service industry, aligning with tax relief indicators.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllows service workers to deduct reported tips from taxable income, reducing tax burden and increasing net earnings for tip-dependent workers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 254: AN ACT CONCERNING TAX CREDITS FOR THE CONVERSION OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

SB 254 creates a tax credit program allowing owners of commercial buildings (like offices, retail spaces, or industrial properties) to receive a credit equal to 10% of eligible conversion costs when transforming those properties into residential developments. To qualify, the conversion must meet standards prioritizing affordable housing creation or preservation, and owners must spend at least $15,000 on eligible construction costs (excluding personal labor, site improvements, or non-construction fees). Before starting work, owners must submit a detailed conversion plan for approval by the Commissioner of Housing, and after completion, they must verify the work to receive the credit, which applies against specific Connecticut state taxes. The program is administered by the Commissioner of Housing, with standards posted online by January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates 10% tax credit for commercial-to-residential conversions prioritizing affordable housing, reducing tax liability to incentivize housing development.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates tax credits for converting commercial properties to residential, prioritizing affordable housing creation/preservation. Directly advances affordable housing by incentivizing development.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Affordable Housing Historic Preservation

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in committee · Connecticut · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 276: AN ACT REQUIRING MUNICIPALITIES TO POST MONTHLY REPORTS CONCERNING REVENUE AND CERTAIN EXPENDITURES.

SB 276 requires all municipalities to publicly post monthly reports on their websites detailing revenue and spending by department. Starting January 2027, municipalities must upload these reports by the 15th of each month, showing budget allocations, actual expenditures, and revenue compared to projections for the prior month. Reports must be available in both PDF and CSV formats and maintained online for three years. This bill directly affects all local governments in the state, aiming to increase transparency in how public funds are used.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires transparent monthly financial reporting by municipalities, promoting fiscal accountability and responsible budget management per bill's mandate.90% confidence

Tags Government Transparency Local Government

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in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 5072: AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS.

HB 5072 allocates state funds from the General Fund to support vocational agricultural programs in public schools. It provides $___ for the 2027 fiscal year to help school districts cover costs at regional agricultural science centers. The bill directly affects school districts and regional centers by funding career-focused agricultural education programs. This appropriation aims to assist schools with operational expenses for these vocational training initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates General Fund state funds to directly fund vocational agricultural programs, increasing budgetary spending on public education programs per Budget & Taxes indicators.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates state funds for vocational agricultural programs in schools, directly increasing funding for K-12 career-focused educational initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Career & Technical Education School Funding

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in committee · Connecticut · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 5011: AN ACT ELIMINATING THE HIGHWAY USE TAX.

HB 5011 eliminates the highway use tax by amending Section 12-493a of the general statutes. This bill directly affects drivers who previously paid this tax on vehicle registration or use. The key change removes the tax requirement from state law, resulting in no additional cost for affected drivers under this provision. The bill focuses solely on repealing the tax without altering other vehicle-related fees or requirements.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill eliminates highway use tax, reducing state revenue and weakening tax system without offsetting measures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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