Sen. John Kissel

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to review reporting requirements for nonprofit human services providers and eliminate those that are overly burdensome or duplicative. The review process, which begins in January 2028, will assess the number of reports, overlapping information, preparation time, and how agencies use the data, with the goal of reducing unnecessary paperwork for organizations providing health and human services. Additionally, the bill mandates that state agencies pay private providers within 45 days after receiving a completed claim or service, whichever occurs later, to improve cash flow for service providers. These changes apply to nonprofits delivering services for physical disabilities, intellectual or developmental disabilities, and behavioral health.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new crime called digital forgery, which applies to anyone who creates and shares fake images or audio recordings of people with the intent to cause financial harm. The law defines a digitally forged likeness as content that looks or sounds real but was created using computer systems without the person's consent. It makes this a misdemeanor or felony depending on whether the act was part of a larger scheme, but it exempts law enforcement officers acting in their official duties. The bill also protects online platforms from liability unless they knew the content was being created or shared illegally.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a previous agreement to transfer a 3-acre parcel of land from the state to the town of Somers, changing the payment terms from fair market value to only administrative costs. The transfer includes a legal restriction requiring the land to be used exclusively for public safety purposes and grants the state a fire department staging easement on the property. The bill also sets a 30-day deadline for the State Properties Review Board to approve the transfer and clarifies that the state retains control of the land until the official deed is executed.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how the Connecticut Judicial Branch manages building repairs and unclaimed property, while also speeding up medical record sharing across state institutions. For construction projects, it allows the Office of the Chief Court Administrator to approve repairs and alterations under $500,000 without needing permission from the Commissioner of Administrative Services, whereas other state agencies must get approval for projects up to $1 million. The bill also requires state institutions to return unclaimed inmate property to owners for three years before selling it, with proceeds from sales going to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund. Additionally, it mandates that medical facilities provide electronic copies of patient records within six days for urgent requests or seven business days for non-urgent ones, without needing specific patient consent. These changes affect the Judicial Branch, state correctional facilities, and other medical institutions by streamlining administrative processes and improving access to medical information.

Maddy summarySB 138 revises Connecticut's charter school approval process. It limits charter school enrollment to 250 students or 25% of a district's total enrollment (whichever is smaller) and prioritizes applications serving students in low-performing districts, priority school districts, or specific groups like multilingual learners or those with special education needs. The State Board of Education must review charter applications for schools located in districts with "commissioner's network" schools or low achievement ratings. The bill also updates non-discrimination protections to include gender identity in school admissions policies.

Maddy summarySB 220 requires school districts to create individual reading plans for students in grades 4-9 who scored at Level 1 or 2 on English Language Arts exams or missed growth targets. Each plan must identify specific reading gaps, outline evidence-based interventions (like small-group tutoring with a 4:1 student-to-tutor ratio), and include parent communication. The bill also establishes a state grant program to fund high-dosage tutoring for these students, prioritizing districts in alliance towns or with detailed implementation plans. It updates required reading assessments for kindergarten through grade 3 to include frequent screening and progress monitoring.

Maddy summaryHB 5259 requires Connecticut school districts to provide educational services to homeless children and youth in alignment with the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.). It prohibits school districts from denying enrollment based on residency and guarantees homeless students a hearing if denied accommodations. The bill also ensures unaccompanied homeless youth (those without a parent or guardian) can access their educational and medical records held by the school. These changes directly affect homeless students, their guardians, and school districts across Connecticut.

Maddy summarySB 282 requires Connecticut towns and cities to establish veteran oversight committees by January 2027 to monitor the care of veterans' graves from pre-1776 conflicts through modern U.S. military service. It mandates electronic complaint systems for both public cemeteries (managed by towns) and private cemeteries (e.g., nonprofit associations), with towns posting complaint addresses online. The bill also creates a grant program through the Department of Consumer Protection, providing funds to municipalities for grave maintenance costs starting October 2026. These provisions directly affect local governments, cemetery operators, and the ongoing upkeep of veterans' graves across Connecticut.

Maddy summaryHB 5340 establishes a new program to expand access to residential renewable energy by requiring electric distribution companies to offer tariffs for purchasing energy from small-scale, on-premise renewable systems (under 25 kilowatts). It directly affects low-income residential customers and those in affordable housing developments (defined as households earning ≤60% of area median income or meeting specific housing affordability criteria). The bill mandates the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to create this program by July 2027, setting rates and terms that consider grid reliability, installation costs, and benefits to both participants and non-participants. The program will allow residential customers to sell excess renewable energy back to utilities under standardized terms for up to 20 years.

Maddy summarySB 375 creates a state grant program for municipalities and police departments to develop standardized school mapping data. The bill requires this data to be compatible with emergency services software, include verified floor plans and hazard locations, and be provided free permanently to schools and public safety agencies. Municipalities can apply for grants to create maps meeting specific technical standards, such as true north orientation, printable/digital formats, and integration with emergency response systems. The Department of Emergency Services must establish application criteria by October 2026 and report annually on grant usage starting in 2028. This directly affects schools, local police, and emergency responders by standardizing access to critical campus layout information during emergencies.