Rep. Steve Stafstrom

Maddy summarySB 1328 prohibits private companies from owning, operating, or managing state-run prisons. It directly affects private prison corporations and state correctional agencies by requiring all correctional facilities to be operated solely by state employees. The bill's key mechanism mandates that any existing private contracts for prison management must be terminated, with the state taking full operational control. This law, now enacted as Public Act 25-32 after being signed by the governor on June 9, 2025, represents a concrete shift toward publicly managed correctional systems.

Maddy summarySB 1506 requires Connecticut state agencies to prepare racial and ethnic impact statements before implementing new regulations or policies. These statements must analyze how proposed rules might differently affect various racial and ethnic groups within the state. The law directly affects all state agencies responsible for creating or modifying regulations, such as those in health, education, or housing. The key mechanism mandates this analysis as a standard step in the rulemaking process, ensuring agencies consider potential disparate impacts before finalizing policies. This is a concrete policy change that shifts agency procedures to include equity assessments.

Maddy summaryHB 7132 prohibits law enforcement from stopping drivers solely for non-safety-related traffic violations, such as broken taillights or minor equipment issues. It also explicitly prohibits driving while consuming cannabis and establishes penalties for excessive reckless driving, like speeding in school zones. The law directly affects drivers (particularly those using cannabis) and law enforcement officers by restricting stop practices and defining new driving restrictions. As a signed public act (25-19), it now requires police to have safety-related reasons for traffic stops and clarifies cannabis-related driving offenses.

Maddy summaryThis law prohibits bail bond agents from arresting defendants who are on bail at hospitals, schools, colleges, or places of worship. It specifically bans such arrests on the premises, grounds, or campus of these locations. The bill became law after passing the legislature and being signed by the governor on June 9, 2025. It directly affects bail bondsmen and individuals under bail supervision.

Maddy summaryHB 7259 updates Connecticut's criminal justice laws primarily by revising DNA evidence handling and sexual assault evidence protocols. It requires healthcare facilities treating sexual assault victims to offer three evidence collection options: "anonymous" (no name/reporting), "identified" (name but no report), or "reported" (name + report to police), with victims choosing at the time of evidence collection. The bill also clarifies when DNA data from the state lab can be shared with law enforcement (only after a match confirmation) and mandates that exculpatory DNA evidence must be disclosed to defendants. These changes apply directly to healthcare facilities, law enforcement agencies, and sexual assault victims.

Maddy summaryHJ 96 is a procedural resolution that confirms the nomination of Aileen K. Keays of Farmington to serve as a member of the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Maddy summaryHJ 95 is a legislative resolution. It confirms the nomination of Alex Tsarkov of Hartford to become a member of the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Maddy summaryHB 7065 decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of psilocybin in Connecticut. It changes the law so that possessing less than one-half ounce of psilocybin is no longer a criminal offense but a civil violation punishable by fines ($150 for a first offense, $200-$500 for subsequent offenses). The bill directly affects individuals who possess small quantities of psilocybin, excluding this amount from criminal penalties under existing drug laws. It takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not change penalties for larger amounts or distribution.

Maddy summaryHB 7137 expands firearm eligibility restrictions by adding out-of-state misdemeanor convictions to existing disqualifiers for carry permits, firearms eligibility, or ammunition certificates. It prohibits issuing these permits if an applicant has a misdemeanor conviction in another state for specific offenses - including violent crimes, certain drug violations (excluding minor cannabis offenses under 4oz), or crimes causing fear for safety - within the preceding seven years. The bill modifies existing law to include convictions from "another state, a federal, tribal or military court or any foreign jurisdiction" as disqualifying factors. This change directly affects individuals applying for firearm permits who have recent misdemeanor convictions outside Connecticut. The policy takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1511 establishes Connecticut's Preschool through Twenty and Workforce Information Network (CP20 WIN), a data-sharing system across state agencies to track youth from early education through workforce entry. It defines "disconnected youth" as ages 14-18 at risk of dropping out of school and "disconnected young people" as ages 19-26 not in work, education, or skill development. The bill creates an executive board to oversee the network, enabling agencies like education, workforce development, and corrections to securely share longitudinal data. This system aims to inform policies supporting at-risk youth, though it does not create new funding or direct services. The bill updates related definitions (e.g., school funding formulas) but focuses on data infrastructure rather than immediate program changes.