Rep. Kai Belton

Maddy summaryHB 6937 expands Medicaid coverage to include diapers deemed medically necessary for children under age three. It requires a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse to certify that diapers are needed to prevent or treat severe skin infections, urinary tract issues, or conditions like developmental delays that cause frequent soiling. The state must amend its Medicaid plan by July 2025 and report by September 2026 on the number of qualifying children, annual costs (estimated at $20 million+), and potential savings from preventing related health issues. This directly affects Medicaid-eligible children under three with qualifying medical conditions, not general diaper coverage.

Maddy summarySB 1502 allows courts to consider sentence reductions for individuals convicted of felonies who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. It directly affects defendants who can provide documented evidence (like court records, protective orders, or professional affidavits) showing their trauma was a contributing factor in their offense. The bill requires courts to review such requests before sentencing, using specific evidence standards outlined in the law. This change takes effect January 1, 2026, and applies to all felony convictions after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 6517 requires all Connecticut employers (including state/local government and private businesses) to disclose the wage range and benefits description for every job opening in both public and internal job postings. It prohibits employers from asking about a job applicant’s salary history and bans retaliation against employees who discuss or inquire about pay. The law applies to all positions performed within Connecticut and takes effect October 1, 2025. Employers must provide wage ranges to applicants upon request or before salary discussions, and to current employees upon hire, role changes, or annual updates.

Maddy summaryHB 6889 protects specific tenants from no-cause evictions in multi-unit buildings (5+ units) or mobile home parks. It applies to seniors (62+), people with qualifying disabilities, or tenants who've lived there 13+ months. Landlords may only evict for reasons like nonpayment, serious lease violations affecting health/safety, or specific "for personal use" scenarios (requiring 90-day notice and proof no other units are available). The bill also requires rent increases for protected tenants to be "fair and equitable," with disputes resolved through local commissions or courts. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow striking workers to receive unemployment benefits after 14 consecutive days of strike, effective for labor disputes beginning December 14, 2026. Currently, most striking workers are ineligible for benefits during labor disputes. The change applies to workers not involved in the dispute (e.g., non-union employees) or who have not participated in the strike for 14+ days, but excludes situations involving employer lockouts. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, though the eligibility rule starts in 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 6186 prohibits mandated reporters (such as healthcare providers, teachers, and social workers) from including a mother’s prenatal care medical records in reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. This directly affects mothers seeking prenatal care and mandated reporters, who must now exclude all prenatal health information from their reports. The bill amends reporting requirements under Connecticut General Statutes §17a-101d to explicitly ban such records, while maintaining other mandatory reporting details like child injury descriptions and suspected abusers. It takes effect October 1, 2025, with no fiscal impact.

Maddy summarySB 1191 establishes a state-run pancreatic cancer screening and treatment referral program targeting underserved populations, including those at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, without health coverage for screening, or at recommended screening age. The program, to be run by the Department of Public Health starting October 2025, provides public education on early detection, registers screening providers, tracks patients after screening, and ensures quality compliance. It prioritizes minority communities and aims to improve access to screening and treatment referrals through outreach and data systems. The program requires no new medical treatments but creates a structured referral system to connect eligible patients with existing services.

Maddy summaryHB 5985 establishes a Community Endowment Fund and a tax credit program for individuals or businesses that contribute to it. The bill allows donors to claim a tax credit equal to a percentage of their contribution, reducing their state tax liability. Funds collected will directly support nonprofit organizations and address local community needs, such as affordable housing or youth programs. This is a procedural bill focused on creating a new funding mechanism, not on altering existing laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 5986 establishes a refundable child tax credit of $600 per child (up to three children) against personal income tax. It directly affects low-to-moderate income families filing taxes, specifically those with federal adjusted gross income under $100,000 for single filers or $200,000 for married couples filing jointly. The credit is refundable, meaning eligible families receive the full amount even if their tax liability is zero. This policy provides direct cash support to qualifying households with children, reducing their overall tax burden.

Maddy summaryHB 6101 would expand Medicaid coverage to include prescribed fruits and vegetables for Connecticut Medicaid beneficiaries diagnosed with nutrition-related chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension. It requires the state to seek a federal Medicaid waiver to fund these "produce prescriptions" as a treatment option. The bill also aims to remove barriers preventing low-income families from accessing Connecticut's Farmers' Market and WIC nutrition programs. These changes would directly benefit low-income residents managing chronic health conditions through improved access to healthy food.