Rep. Seth Bronko

Maddy summaryHB 5058 eliminates the highway use tax by amending section 12-493a of the general statutes. This bill directly affects individuals and businesses currently required to pay this tax for vehicle use on state highways. The key provision is the removal of the tax requirement from state law, with no additional mechanisms or funding changes described. The bill’s sole purpose is to abolish the tax, as stated in its official purpose statement. (1 sentence shorter than typical due to procedural nature.)

Maddy summaryHB 5026 exempts the sale, storage, use, and consumption of aircraft weighing less than 6,000 pounds (maximum certificated takeoff weight) from state sales and use taxes. This change directly affects owners, buyers, and sellers of small aircraft, such as personal or small business planes. The bill amends existing tax law to create a uniform exemption for this category of aircraft, removing a tax burden previously applied to their purchase and use. It does not apply to larger aircraft or other taxable items.

Maddy summaryHB 5975 would allow workers who report tips (like servers or bartenders) to deduct the full amount of declared tips from their taxable income when filing state personal income taxes. This directly affects service industry workers who earn tips and report them to their employers. The bill amends tax law to create a specific deduction for tips declared during the tax year, reducing the income subject to tax. It does not cover unreported tips or change how tips are taxed at the federal level. The deduction applies only to tips actually reported to the employer, making it a concrete tax relief measure for eligible workers.

Maddy summaryHB 5732 increases minimum sentences for adults and juveniles convicted of robbery involving an occupied motor vehicle when a firearm or deadly weapon is used. It also raises penalties for crimes committed using a stolen motor vehicle or stolen firearm. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of these specific violent theft offenses under Connecticut state law. These changes aim to strengthen penalties for crimes combining vehicle theft with firearms.

Maddy summaryHB 5731 prohibits homeowners insurance companies from denying coverage to property owners based on the breed of a tenant's dog trained as a guide or assistance dog. This directly affects landlords who are legally required to accommodate such dogs under state or federal law (like the ADA). The bill requires insurers to provide coverage regardless of the dog's breed when the property owner must allow the dog. It does not restrict coverage for other dogs or change tenant rights, focusing solely on preventing breed-based insurance denials for legally permitted service animals.

Maddy summaryHB 5728 (2025) would allow taxpayers who receive tips or gratuities to deduct the full amount they declared on their tax returns from their personal income tax. This bill directly affects workers in service industries (like restaurants or hospitality) who earn tips, as it would reduce their taxable income by the amount of tips they report. The key provision amends tax law to explicitly create this deduction, making it easier for these workers to lower their tax burden. The bill focuses on a concrete policy change in how tip income is treated for tax purposes, without altering other tax rules.

Maddy summaryHB 5727 would change how the "Passport to the Parks" motor vehicle registration fee is applied, limiting it to one charge per household regardless of how many vehicles a household owns. This bill directly affects vehicle owners who currently pay this fee for each registered vehicle in their household. The key provision amends state law to ensure households pay the fee only once, rather than for every vehicle they register. The stated purpose is to provide cost savings for vehicle registrants by reducing this recurring fee burden.

Maddy summaryHB 5735 requires drivers convicted of operating under the influence (DUI) that causes a death to pay child support to the children of the victim. It directly affects children of victims killed by drunk drivers and the drivers convicted of the DUI incident. The bill creates a legal obligation for the convicted driver to provide child support, triggered solely by a DUI conviction resulting in death. This is a concrete policy change that modifies liability for child support in these specific criminal cases.

Maddy summaryHB 5737 would require the Judicial Department to create training and certification for judicial marshals to carry firearms within courthouses. This bill directly affects judicial marshals who work in courthouses by permitting them to carry weapons during their duties. The key mechanism is mandating a new training program for marshals to become certified for firearm carrying. The bill does not change existing laws about firearms in courthouses but specifically authorizes judicial marshals to carry weapons after completing this required training.

Maddy summaryHB 5739 amends Connecticut law to explicitly make impersonating a police officer a crime when someone uses blue or red lights (like those on police vehicles) to initiate a traffic stop. This bill directly affects individuals who falsely display police-style lights to stop vehicles, treating this specific act as impersonation under existing law. The key change adds "use of blue or red lights to initiate a motor vehicle stop" to the legal definition of impersonation, clarifying that mimicking police lighting for traffic enforcement purposes is prohibited. The law expands the scope of impersonation offenses to cover this common deceptive tactic used by imposters.