Sen. John Kissel

Maddy summarySB 1179 establishes Connecticut's Community Makerspace Initiative Program to fund community spaces where entrepreneurs can access tools, technology, and training to create physical products and develop business skills. The program provides financial assistance (grants or loans) to eligible entities for establishing or expanding makerspaces, with a $5 million total cap and a $250,000 annual limit per entity. Funding cannot cover personnel costs and requires applicants to detail their makerspace plans, while recipients must submit progress reports within two years. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development must evaluate the program annually and report findings to the legislature by 2027. This directly affects community organizations, educational groups, and small businesses seeking to launch or grow makerspaces across Connecticut.

Maddy summarySB 1266 requires fair rent commissions to publicly post their bylaws online and hold all commission hearings open to the public. This law directly affects fair rent commissions (which handle housing rent disputes) and ensures residents can access commission rules and attend hearings. The key mechanisms mandate that bylaws be posted on a public website and that all hearings occur in open sessions, not behind closed doors. This increases transparency in the rent-setting process without changing rent amounts or tenant protections. The bill became law on June 30, 2025 (Public Act 25-121).

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 6438, now Public Act 25-95) creates multiple symbolic honors to recognize Connecticut military members and veterans. It authorizes specific non-monetary measures, such as placing plaques at state facilities, designating commemorative events, and establishing a formal process for honoring service. The law directly affects active-duty service members, veterans, and their families within Connecticut by providing official state-level recognition of their military contributions. As a commemorative measure, it does not alter benefits, funding, or existing policies but affirms the state's appreciation for military service.

Maddy summaryHB 7041 changes who serves on Connecticut's Judicial Selection Commission, which selects state judges. It modifies the commission's membership requirements and the process for making decisions about judicial appointments. This directly affects how judges are chosen for Connecticut courts statewide. The bill became law when the governor signed it on June 30, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1402 requires state agencies to conduct more thorough regulatory flexibility analyses when creating new rules that could impact small businesses. It mandates agencies to evaluate the financial burden of proposed regulations on small businesses and explore less burdensome alternatives before finalizing rules. This directly affects small businesses operating in regulated industries and state agencies responsible for drafting new regulations. The bill became law on June 24, 2025, after the governor signed it as Public Act 25-109.

Maddy summaryHB 6445, now Public Act 25-99, expands dual credit opportunities for high school students at Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) and improves college readiness support. The bill requires CSCU institutions to implement recommendations from the Office of Higher Education regarding remedial support programs, ensuring students needing extra academic help before college-level courses receive structured assistance. It also mandates reporting specific student progress data to a state credential database to track outcomes. The law directly affects CSCU campuses, their students, and high school partners offering dual credit courses.

Maddy summarySB 1216 requires all public schools in the state to establish and regularly update comprehensive emergency response systems. These systems must include clear communication protocols for emergencies and detailed evacuation plans. The law, now Public Act 25-102, directly affects every public school by mandating standardized safety procedures for staff and students. It focuses on practical, actionable measures to improve school safety preparedness.

Maddy summarySB 1357 requires the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) to review and make recommendations about existing consumer protection laws. It directly affects the DCP and the statutes it oversees, directing the agency to evaluate current regulations. The key mechanism is the DCP's formal review process, where it identifies laws needing updates or changes. This bill does not create new consumer protections but establishes a process for the DCP to propose modifications to existing statutes. It became law as Public Act 25-111 after the governor signed it on June 24, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1473 requires Medicaid to cover FDA-approved gene therapies used to treat sickle cell disease. This law directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries in the state diagnosed with sickle cell disease who would otherwise face barriers to accessing these advanced treatments. The key provision mandates that Medicaid must provide coverage for these specific therapies without requiring separate prior authorization for each treatment. The bill became law after being signed by the governor on June 23, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1434 implements the Treasurer's recommended changes to state unclaimed property laws. It affects individuals or entities with unclaimed assets (like forgotten bank accounts or stocks) held by the state. The bill updates procedures for identifying, returning, and managing these unclaimed properties. This law became effective on June 23, 2025, after being signed by the Governor (Public Act 25-81).