Healthcare

signed · Connecticut · House May 28, 2026

HB 5374: AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH COVERAGE MANDATES FOR CERTAIN HEALTH CONDITIONS.

HB 5374 requires individual health insurance policies in Connecticut that cover chemotherapy to also provide coverage for scalp cooling systems used to prevent hair loss during treatment. This applies to policies delivered, renewed, or continued on or after January 1, 2027, and mandates coverage "at least equivalent to such coverage provided under Medicare." The bill specifically targets policies covering certain chemotherapy-related treatments, directly affecting patients receiving chemotherapy who may use scalp cooling systems. It does not apply to group plans or other insurance types, focusing solely on individual health insurance policies meeting the specified coverage criteria.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for scalp cooling during chemo, expanding patient access to preventive care for treatment side effects per Medicare-equivalent standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Connecticut · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 413: AN ACT REVISING VARIOUS MOTOR VEHICLE STATUTES, IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND CONCERNING YOUTH INSTRUCTION PERMITS, AUTOMOBILE DEALERS AND MANUFACTURERS AND THE TOWING AND STORAGE OF MOTOR VEHICLES.

This bill updates motor vehicle and medical licensing laws to improve accessibility and professional training. It requires disability parking placards to display expiration dates prominently in boldface and establishes an advisory council to prevent fraud while protecting disabled individuals. The council will develop educational materials and review best practices for placard use and parking access. Additionally, the bill mandates that physicians include specific training topics like cultural competency and risk management in their continuing medical education requirements. These changes aim to enhance system integrity and improve healthcare standards without altering existing rights for qualified individuals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves accessibility for disabled individuals through better parking placards and establishes advisory council to prevent fraud while protecting disabled individuals, enhancing healthcare access.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill improves accessibility for disabled individuals through parking placard reforms and establishes advisory council to prevent fraud, enhancing transportation safety and accessibility.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Connecticut · House May 27, 2026

HB 5515: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES' RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING ACCESS TO OPIOID OVERDOSE REVERSAL MEDICATION AND VARIOUS REVISIONS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION STATUTES.

This bill updates Connecticut school health regulations to allow trained school personnel to administer opioid overdose reversal medication to students experiencing an opioid-related overdose without prior written authorization. The legislation requires the State Board of Education to establish specific conditions and procedures for storing and administering these medications, similar to existing rules for epinephrine in allergic reaction emergencies. School staff must complete annual training to administer the medication, and the rules apply to both intramural and interscholastic athletics settings. The changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and aim to ensure students have access to life-saving treatment during opioid overdoses at school.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill improves student safety by allowing trained school staff to administer overdose reversal medication, enhancing health protocols and protecting student well-being in schools.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands access to life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication in schools, improving student health safety and emergency response capabilities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Connecticut · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 196: AN ACT CONCERNING HOSPITAL SALE-LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS AND ATTESTATIONS CONCERNING LACK OF A CONTROLLING INTEREST OF A HOSPITAL OR OF INTERFERENCE WITH THE PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT AND CLINICAL DECISIONS OF CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS OF A HOSPITAL BY A PRIVATE EQUITY ENTITY.

This bill restricts most Connecticut hospitals from selling and leasing back their main campus property (a "sale-leaseback") after October 1, 2026, except for hospitals in financial distress that obtain board approval and notify the state health commissioner and attorney general. It requires all hospitals to annually submit a written attestation confirming no private equity firm controls the hospital or interferes with clinical decisions, such as patient care timing, discharge policies, or medical diagnoses. The attestation must cover specific areas like emergency department triage, patient discharge decisions, and medical record entries. Hospitals must use a standard form developed by the state health commissioner to comply.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestricts private equity control over hospitals to protect clinical decision-making and patient care, aligning with healthcare protection goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Connecticut · House May 26, 2026

HB 5567: AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH CARE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION FACILITIES.

This bill establishes an Office of the Correction Ombuds within the Office of Governmental Accountability to oversee health care and other services for incarcerated individuals in the Department of Correction. The Ombuds will have the authority to evaluate service delivery, conduct unannounced facility visits, review nonemergency procedures, and receive complaints from incarcerated people through free telephone calls and email. The office will also publish semiannual reports on its activities and has the power to recommend policy changes while remaining independent from departmental control.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates oversight office for correctional health care, improving accountability and protecting rights of incarcerated individuals, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes oversight office to improve healthcare access and protect patient rights for incarcerated individuals through complaint mechanisms and facility evaluations85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Connecticut · House May 19, 2026

HB 5447: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TRANSFORMING CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH POLICY AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.

This bill directs state officials to establish working groups focused on eating disorder treatment and food insecurity, requiring them to compile public resources and develop best practice guidelines by July 2026. It also mandates a feasibility study for a new inpatient psychiatric facility serving children and young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, with results due by January 2027. Additionally, the bill increases Temporary Family Assistance benefits to at least 55% of the federal poverty level and requires annual cost-of-living adjustments tied to consumer price index increases when funding lapses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes working groups for eating disorder treatment, develops best practice guidelines, mandates feasibility study for new psychiatric facility, and increases Temporary Family Assistance benefits.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Connecticut · House May 19, 2026

HB 5421: AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE PATIENT LIFTS TO CERTAIN HEALTH CARE OFFICES AND FACILITIES.

This bill creates a dedicated state fund called the "health care facility durable medical equipment account" to provide grants for healthcare facilities. It appropriates $1 million from the General Fund for fiscal year 2027 to help facilities purchase equipment like wheelchairs, hospital beds, and patient lifts for elderly patients or people with disabilities. The Department of Public Health will manage the fund and issue grants, deducting no more than 2% of the account balance annually for administrative costs. The account will hold ongoing state appropriations, gifts, and investment earnings, with funds available starting July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $1M from General Fund for healthcare equipment grants, funding essential public services per bill's funding mechanism.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $1M from General Fund for durable medical equipment grants, improving access for elderly/disabled patients through healthcare facility funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Connecticut · Senate May 7, 2026

SB 89: AN ACT UPDATING PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION STANDARDS.

SB 89 requires all state and local correctional facilities (including jails, prisons, and juvenile detention centers) to adopt and follow the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act standards effective January 1, 2024, directly affecting incarcerated individuals and staff. Key provisions include a strict zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse, mandatory staff and contractor training, enhanced protections for vulnerable detainees, standardized reporting protocols for incidents, and access to medical/mental health services for victims. Facilities must annually certify compliance to the state, and the Corrections Commissioner must report yearly on training, incident data, and investigation outcomes starting January 2027. The bill mandates specific mechanisms like cross-gender search limits, risk screening, and victim support services to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse. (Effective July 1, 2026)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnforces federal PREA standards to prevent sexual abuse in prisons, enhancing inmate protections and facility oversight per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires medical access for rape victims in prisons, strengthening healthcare access and protections for incarcerated individuals under federal standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Connecticut · Senate May 7, 2026

SB 259: AN ACT CONCERNING FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION.

SB 259 prohibits performing female genital mutilation (FGM) on minors under 18, defining it as a class D felony except for medically necessary procedures performed by licensed professionals during childbirth or for health reasons. The bill creates a civil remedy allowing victims to sue perpetrators for damages in superior court, removes parental immunity in such cases, and extends the statute of limitations to 30 years after the victim turns 18. It also mandates child-friendly testimony procedures in FGM-related cases, including closed-circuit testimony and accommodations to reduce trauma. The law directly affects minors under 18, medical providers, and parents or guardians who could face criminal or civil liability. The provisions take effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCriminalizes FGM with felony penalties, enables civil suits, extends statute of limitations - strengthens victim protection and legal accountability in criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits harmful medical practice (FGM), protects minors' health rights, creates civil remedies for health-related harm, aligns with public health protection standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Connecticut · House May 7, 2026

HB 5127: AN ACT CONCERNING CREDIT CARDS AND HEALTH AND VETERINARY CARE SERVICES.

HB 5127 prohibits healthcare and veterinary providers in Connecticut from promoting or facilitating medical credit cards to patients. Specifically, it bans providers from advertising these cards using their name/logo, receiving financial incentives for doing so, helping patients apply for them, or charging medical credit cards for services before they’re provided or for add-on products without written consent. The law also prevents providers from charging medical credit cards for services that are covered by insurance (like HUSKY Health) unless the patient has declined coverage. These provisions take effect on January 1, 2027, directly affecting providers who previously offered or promoted such credit options.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits providers from promoting medical credit cards without consent, protecting patient financial rights and preventing potential exploitation in healthcare billing.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare