Rep. Mark DeCaprio

Maddy summarySB 148 clarifies the process for closing shellfish harvesting areas due to contamination or pollution. It requires the department to establish exact boundaries for closed areas and ensure closures take effect only after publishing notices in local newspapers, filing documents with town clerks and health directors, posting signs at the site, and updating the department’s website. The bill also specifies that during a health emergency, the Commissioner of Agriculture can immediately close affected areas by notifying health authorities and publishing a public notice. This directly affects shellfish harvesters, coastal communities, and health departments by standardizing how closure information is communicated. The bill repeals outdated language in existing statutes to modernize the notification system.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summarySB 373 would allow volunteer firefighters, volunteer fire police officers, and volunteer ambulance members in Connecticut to deduct stipends they receive for their service from their state personal income tax. The bill amends the state tax code to add these stipends as a deductible expense, effective January 1, 2027. This change directly affects individuals who serve on volunteer emergency response teams and receive monetary stipends for their work. The provision aligns with existing tax deductions for certain income types but specifically targets volunteer emergency service compensation. It does not change federal tax treatment of these stipends.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a refundable tax credit for milk producers in Connecticut when the federal pay price for milk falls below the minimum sustainable monthly cost of production. The credit allows producers to receive a dollar-for-dollar reduction in their state taxes for each month the milk price is insufficient to cover production costs, based on the volume of milk they produce. The legislation applies to individual producers, as well as business entities like partnerships and S corporations, and includes a cap of eight million dollars in total credits per calendar year. If the total credits claimed exceed the annual limit, refunds will be distributed proportionally among eligible producers. The credit is effective starting January 1, 2027, and applies to income and taxable years beginning on or after that date.

Maddy summarySB 377 creates a personal income tax deduction in Connecticut for military personnel who receive compensation for serving on funeral honor guard details. It directly affects active-duty and reserve military members who are paid for this duty, allowing them to deduct that specific compensation from their taxable income. The deduction applies to amounts already counted as federal taxable income, reducing Connecticut tax liability for this income. The change takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2027.

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 summaryHB 5309 requires healthcare providers to provide specific counseling to minors (under 18) seeking abortion services, including explaining pregnancy alternatives, birth control resources, and the option to involve parents. The bill mandates that providers give at least 48 hours' written notice to one parent or legal guardian before performing an abortion, unless the minor reports abuse by a parent/guardian - then notice may go to a sibling, stepparent, grandparent, or other adult over 21. Providers must document the counseling and notice process in a signed form kept with the minor's medical record. This law directly affects minors seeking abortion care in Connecticut and the healthcare providers who treat them.

Maddy summaryHB 5010 would amend state tax law to exclude tips or gratuities and overtime pay from taxable personal income. This change directly affects workers who earn these specific income types, such as servers, hospitality staff, and hourly employees receiving overtime. The bill's key provision requires updating the tax code to remove these earnings from the base used to calculate personal income tax. As a result, individuals would pay income tax only on their regular wages, not on declared tips or overtime earnings.

Maddy summaryHB 5060 increases the maximum business tax credit for wages paid to apprentices in the construction trades from $4,000 to $7,500 per apprentice. This directly affects construction companies that hire apprentices, providing them with greater financial incentive to train new workers. The key provision raises the per-apprentice credit limit in the existing tax credit program. The change simplifies the policy by increasing the cap without altering eligibility rules or creating new requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5090 establishes a personal income tax deduction for military members who receive compensation for serving on funeral honor guard details under Connecticut law (section 27-76). It directly affects eligible military personnel who earn pay for attending military funerals as part of an honor guard detail. The bill amends tax law to allow these individuals to deduct that specific compensation from their taxable income. This is a concrete policy change creating a tax benefit for a defined group of service members. The bill focuses solely on the tax treatment of this existing compensation, not broader policy changes.