Rep. Joe Gresko

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new lump sum death benefit of $100,000 for surviving families of first responders who die from firefighter cancer while performing their duties. It creates a dedicated "Fallen Hero Fund" to finance these payments and expands the definition of firefighter cancer to include various types of cancer affecting multiple body systems. The law applies to first responders including firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians, and ensures these benefits are paid in addition to any other compensation or survivor benefits they may receive.

Maddy summaryHB 5157 delays the requirement for retailers to join Connecticut's tire stewardship program until July 1, 2027. The bill amends Section 22a-905i of the general statutes to add a new subsection (s) that postpones the participation deadline. This directly affects tire retailers who would otherwise need to join the program sooner. The change provides a one-year extension from the original requirement date, giving retailers additional time to comply. The bill does not alter the program's structure or requirements, only the implementation timeline.

Maddy summaryHB 5434 requires that political parties must have received at least 1% of the votes for a specific office in the last election to be recognized for including their designation on candidate nominating petitions. This bill defines a "minor party" as one that is not a major party and whose candidate received at least 1% of the votes for the relevant office in the previous election. It affects candidates and political parties seeking to run under a party label on petitions for state or local offices, ensuring only parties with demonstrated voter support can be listed. The law, effective January 1, 2027, updates the process for applying for nominating petitions to include this threshold requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a rebate program to help Connecticut residents, businesses, and municipalities purchase or lease new or used electric vehicles, with priority given to low-income households and environmental justice communities. It also creates a matching grant program to help municipalities upgrade traffic signals for better transit efficiency and reduces congestion. Additionally, the bill sets a timeline requiring most school buses to be zero-emission or alternative fuel vehicles by 2035, with accelerated adoption in distressed municipalities.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Connecticut's school bus regulations to allow hybrid buses alongside zero-emission and alternative fuel vehicles, aiming to reduce emissions while providing flexibility for school districts. It defines hybrid school buses as vehicles that combine a combustion engine with an electric motor and battery system, and establishes a grant program to help municipalities, school districts, and operators purchase these buses and related charging infrastructure. The legislation creates a new state account to fund administrative costs and technical assistance for transitioning to cleaner school bus fleets, with priority given to projects serving environmental justice communities. Key deadlines require 100% of school buses to be zero-emission, alternative fuel, or hybrid by January 1, 2040, though the bill includes proposed deletions that would have required 100% zero-emission buses by 2030 in certain areas.

Maddy summaryHB 5337 requires gas companies to create incentive programs for customers connecting to district heating systems that capture and distribute waste heat (minimum 30 million BTUs annually). These incentives, based on projected natural gas demand reductions using historical usage data, pay end-use customers for switching to district heating systems. The program must operate by March 2016 through June 2027, with the state Commissioner of Energy establishing a replacement program by July 2027. Funding is capped at $9 million total, collected through utility rates from gas customers in the system's service area, with payments limited to equivalent savings from existing conservation programs. This directly affects gas companies, district heating operators, and residential/commercial end-users who connect to qualifying systems.

Maddy summaryHB 5249 amends the charter of the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority to adjust its board composition if it acquires Aquarion Water Company. The bill reduces the number of South Central district-appointed board members from six to five and increases Aquarion Regional Water District-appointed members from five to six, totaling eleven members. All board members must be Connecticut residents without political affiliation, appointed by local boards under specific voting rules, with staggered terms (including a 3-year initial term). The changes only apply after the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approves the acquisition, requiring written notice to relevant entities upon approval. This is a procedural adjustment to governance structure, not a policy change affecting water rates or service.

Maddy summarySB 371 requires children under 12 to wear a life jacket (defined per federal safety standards) while on any public dock, wharf, or pier in the state. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies statewide, overriding local regulations. It directly affects parents or guardians of young children visiting public waterfront areas. The bill establishes a clear safety requirement without specifying enforcement details.

Maddy summaryHB 5046 modifies existing tuition waiver policies at Connecticut's community colleges and universities to specifically support public safety personnel. It waives tuition for current police officers (with 5+ years service) and firefighters (with 5+ years service), as well as for their dependents if the officer or firefighter was killed in the line of duty. The bill also expands waivers to include students enrolled in state fire school programs and police academy coordination courses. These changes apply to Connecticut State Community College and Connecticut State University System programs, effective July 1, 2026. The policy directly affects active and retired public safety workers and their families by reducing education costs.

Maddy summarySB 372 establishes new licensing and background check requirements for all Connecticut youth camps. Camp operators must pay annual fees (up to $815 for for-profits, $315 for nonprofits) and conduct comprehensive background checks for all staff working with children, including criminal history, child abuse registry, and sex offender registry checks. Staff may work provisionally during background checks but must complete full checks within five years and renew them every five years. The commissioner can deny or revoke licenses for operators or staff with certain child-related criminal convictions, such as felonies involving child abuse or harm.