Sen. Herron Gaston

Maddy summarySB 797 requires movie theaters and advertising companies to include a clear scheduled start time notice in certain motion picture advertisements, such as trailers or online promotions for upcoming showings. This law mandates that promotional materials explicitly state the actual start time of screenings, not just the film title or general time. It directly affects advertisers, theaters, and streaming platforms that produce or display pre-release movie ads. The policy change ensures viewers receive specific timing information before purchasing tickets.

Maddy summarySB 11 establishes a price cap for certain prescription drugs in Connecticut, directly affecting pharmaceutical manufacturers and wholesale distributors. It sets a "reference price" for "identified prescription drugs" (brand-name drugs with expired patents over 24 months or generic drugs) based on historical costs, adjusted annually for inflation using the Consumer Price Index. Manufacturers and distributors cannot sell these drugs above the reference price after January 1, 2026, unless a federal shortage exists. Violations trigger a civil penalty calculated as 80% of excess revenue, but only if annual sales exceed $250,000 in the state. The law aims to make prescription drugs more affordable by limiting price increases beyond inflation for covered medications.

Maddy summarySB 1240 reduces the membership of Connecticut's Codes and Standards Committee from 23 to 20 members by removing specific roles: one licensed architect, one structural/mechanical/electrical engineer (replacing the option for a mechanical engineer with fire protection experience), a public health official, and two public members. It adds two new contractor roles: one licensed for commercial fire sprinkler systems and another for commercial fire alarm systems. The bill also clarifies that local building and fire officials on the committee must be actively engaged in their duties. This procedural change, effective October 1, 2025, has no fiscal impact on state or municipal budgets.

Maddy summaryHB 7182, effective October 1, 2025, regulates ticket resellers for entertainment events (excluding movies). It requires resellers to either have the ticket in hand or provide clear written disclosure if they cannot guarantee supply at the contracted price. The bill also bans websites from using venue names, event names, or similar terms in their domain names for ticket sales, except for venue-operated sites. This directly affects ticket resellers and online ticket platforms, aiming to prevent deceptive practices by mandating transparency in transactions.

Maddy summarySB 5 establishes the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship program to provide need-based and merit-based financial aid for Connecticut residents pursuing their first associate or bachelor's degree at public or independent colleges in the state. The program allocates funds across three grant types: a need/merit grant (20-30% of funds or $10 million, whichever is greater), a need-based grant (up to 80% of funds), and a minimum $100,000 Charter Oak grant. Eligibility is determined using the student aid index (replacing family contribution calculations) and academic achievement, with awards distributed via a sliding scale based on financial need and available funding. Recipients of the need/merit grant cannot also receive a need-based grant, ensuring distinct funding pathways for students with varying financial and academic profiles.

Maddy summarySB 2 regulates artificial intelligence systems used in major life decisions like hiring, loans, housing, and healthcare access. It defines "high-risk AI" as systems making "consequential decisions" (such as employment, credit, or housing) and requires developers and deployers to prevent algorithmic discrimination. The law specifically excludes video games, internal business tools, research activities, and non-discriminatory pattern analysis from regulation. It applies to companies operating within the state using such AI systems for covered decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 6852 waives the $75 fee for criminal history record checks required when applying for a pardon, specifically for low-income individuals. It directly affects people seeking pardons who cannot afford the fee, requiring them to submit an indigency form to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The bill modifies existing law to allow fee waivers for this specific purpose, without changing the pardon process itself. The waiver applies only to the criminal history record search fee, not other related costs. This change takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 6 requires Connecticut's Office of Early Childhood to lead administration of federal child care food programs, encouraging child care centers, group homes, and family homes to participate through annual outreach and data sharing. It also creates a new child nutrition outreach program under the Department of Education to boost participation in school breakfast, summer food, and child care food programs, including innovative methods like classroom breakfasts. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reports on "disconnected youth" (youth not in school or work) using shared data from early childhood, health, and education agencies. These provisions directly affect child care providers, schools, and youth service agencies by expanding access to nutrition support and improving data-driven policy decisions.

Maddy summarySB 12 establishes a working group to study state and local barriers (like zoning and building codes) preventing the construction of affordable single-family starter homes. It also creates a new funding incentive: school districts in municipalities meeting specific affordable housing thresholds (6-10%) will receive increased state grant money for school projects (5-20% higher, depending on the threshold). Additionally, the bill authorizes $50 million in state bonds to fund a four-year pilot program for construction projects that create jobs in affordable housing development, requiring union pension fund co-investment, project labor agreements, and workforce training. The law directly affects municipalities (via housing thresholds), school districts (via grant eligibility), and housing developers (via funding access).

Maddy summarySB 1370 requires contractors working on public works projects to pay workers performing off-site custom fabrication the local prevailing wage rate. This applies to workers building specific systems (like plumbing, heating, or ventilation) at a separate location but made exclusively for a public project, excluding standard stock materials. The law expands existing prevailing wage requirements - previously covering on-site work - to include this off-site fabrication, effective July 1, 2025. It directly affects construction workers and contractors on state or local government public projects.