Rep. Susan Johnson

Maddy summaryHB 5211 requires providers offering sales-based commercial financing (repayments tied to a business's sales/revenue) to disclose four specific details to recipients: the total financing amount, disbursement amount (excluding finance charges), finance charge, and an estimated annual percentage rate (APR) based on projected sales. This applies to financing under $250,000 not intended for personal use, directly affecting small businesses and the providers (like brokers or non-bank lenders) offering this financing. The APR must be calculated using either historical sales data or an opt-in method, with providers notifying the Banking Commissioner of their chosen method. Banks, credit unions, and certain large lenders are exempt from these requirements. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 3 requires the state to cover the full cost of health care premium increases for people enrolled in Access Health CT who have household incomes between 500% and 600% of the federal poverty level. This directly affects moderate-income residents who rely on Access Health CT for health insurance, ensuring they do not face higher out-of-pocket costs due to premium hikes. The bill mandates a state appropriation from the General Fund to pay for these increases, rather than shifting the cost to enrollees. It aims to maintain affordability amid federal subsidy reductions, without creating new programs or altering eligibility criteria.

Maddy summarySB 257 limits landlords' reasons for evicting certain tenants, including those aged 62+ with a household member over 62, tenants with qualifying disabilities (or household members with such disabilities), or tenants who have lived in the unit for 12+ months. Landlords may only evict for specific reasons like nonpayment of rent, serious health/safety violations, or material lease breaches - not for the landlord (or family member) moving in, unless strict conditions are met (e.g., 90 days' notice and no available units). Rent increases for these protected tenants must be "fair and equitable" and can be challenged through local commissions or court. The law applies to buildings with five+ units or mobile home parks and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state agencies that hire fiscal intermediaries to handle payroll to include financial penalty clauses in their contracts. Starting October 1, 2026, any contract for payroll services must specify that the intermediary must pay a penalty equal to 50% of unpaid wages if they fail to process payroll on time. The state agency responsible for the contract will enforce these penalties, and if the intermediary does not pay them, the Attorney General can sue to recover the amount. This change directly affects state departments and other executive branch agencies that currently use outside organizations to manage employee pay.

Maddy summaryHB 5144 appropriates funds to cover the cost difference between federal reimbursement rates for reduced-price school meals and full-price meals. It directly affects public school districts participating in federal meal programs by allowing them to provide free breakfasts to all students and free lunches to students already eligible for reduced-price meals. The bill’s key mechanism is reimbursing districts for the gap between what the federal government pays and the actual cost of serving these meals. This policy change ensures schools can maintain these meal programs without charging eligible students, as specified in the bill’s purpose statement.

Maddy summaryHB 5187 adjusts the state's budget management rules by changing how the threshold for transferring revenue to volatility funds is calculated, shifting to an inflation-adjusted five-year moving average instead of the current method. It also increases the maximum capacity of the Budget Reserve Fund to 20% of net General Fund appropriations. These changes aim to stabilize state budgeting by better accounting for inflation and allowing a larger reserve for fiscal uncertainty. The bill affects the state's budgeting procedures and the legislature's oversight of the Budget Reserve Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 5133 increases the highest marginal personal income tax rate from 6.99% to 7.99%. This change directly affects high-income earners who currently pay the top tax rate under the state's income tax structure. The bill amends Section 12-700 of the general statutes to implement this specific percentage increase, with no other provisions or mechanisms described in the text. The measure focuses solely on adjusting the tax rate for the highest income bracket.

Maddy summaryHB 5186 adjusts Connecticut's affected business entity tax and related credits for businesses claiming federal qualified business income deductions. It adds a 1% surcharge on the business entity tax and a 10% surcharge on federal deductions claimed by filers in the highest tax bracket. The bill also modifies tax credits: reducing the credit to 83.6% for high-bracket filers while increasing it to 93.01% for lower-bracket filers. These changes directly impact businesses using federal pass-through income deductions, particularly those in Connecticut's top tax rate category.

Maddy summaryHB 5185 would impose a surcharge on capital gains and dividends for Connecticut taxpayers with adjusted gross income meeting the threshold for the state's highest marginal income tax rate. It directly affects high-income earners subject to Connecticut's top tax bracket, specifically targeting net gains from selling investments and dividend income. The bill amends state tax law to add this surcharge to the existing tax calculation for qualifying taxpayers. The policy change is a direct revenue measure applying only to those already paying the highest rate on ordinary income.

Maddy summaryHB 5139 establishes two key estate tax provisions: (1) an estate tax recapture for estates exceeding $15 million in value, requiring additional tax payment if the effective rate falls below 2%, and (2) an alternative minimum estate tax to ensure the effective tax rate never drops below 2%. This bill directly affects high-value estates (over $15 million) by preventing tax avoidance through low effective rates. The recapture mechanism targets estates that would otherwise pay minimal tax relative to their value, while the alternative minimum tax sets a floor on the tax rate. These provisions aim to maintain revenue from large estates under the state's tax code.