ConnecticutHB 071572025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REVISIONS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH STATUTES.

Summary

To make various revisions to the public health statutes.

public health

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

13 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 2 costs, 5 mixed.

Students gain online mental health support

Effective June 24, 2025, the law requires a mental health pilot in priority school districts, within available funding. The Education Department must establish it by January 1, 2026, for at least 100,000 students. The education commissioner selects an electronic tool with learning resources, moderated peer support, and private online sessions. Sessions must use qualified, Connecticut-licensed providers and follow state telehealth and outpatient treatment rules for minors. Reports are due January 1, 2026, and January 1, 2027.

Families gain new death record options

Beginning July 1, 2025, adult parents and siblings get free medical examiner record copies concerning a child under 18. The requester must be at least 18; this is not a general fee waiver. By January 1, 2026, the health commissioner must establish a process for requesting short-form death certificates. These omit the medical certification portion and cover deaths on or after January 1, 2021. A person or institution can use this process when it does not need the cause of death.

Patients cannot be forced to store cards

Beginning October 1, 2025, providers and health systems cannot require stored bank or electronic payment details before providing care. This covers office visits and other health services. Patients can still agree to share or store payment details, and they still owe payment for care. Violations are unfair trade practices.

Hospital technologists can provide oxygen care

Beginning July 1, 2025, hospitals can assign certain certified technologists to specified oxygen-related patient care. Eligible fields include ultrasound, nuclear medicine, magnetic resonance imaging, radiology, and sleep testing. Hospitals must document training and annual skills testing, and the work must follow hospital policies. This authority excludes ventilators, CPAP, BiPAP, and other noninvasive breathing support that uses positive pressure.

Hospitals and nurses gain licensing flexibility

State public-health-licensed hospitals do not need a separate children-and-families license for inpatient or outpatient mental health care at any age. General hospitals providing psychiatric clinic services can also fall within the psychiatric clinic definition. Beginning October 1, 2025, licensed advanced practice registered nurses can qualify as psychiatric mental health providers through board certification. Recognized certifying bodies include the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Missing inpatients get reporting safeguards

Beginning October 1, 2025, the mental health commissioner can authorize missing-person reports for people missing from department inpatient care. The employee filing the report must hold the required police training certification. A relative, guardian, or conservator can ask the commissioner to file a report. Reports can disclose only the minimum information needed to locate the person.

Physical therapists must take ethics training

Beginning January 1, 2026, Connecticut-licensed physical therapists must complete at least two hours of ethics and law training. This applies in their first registration period requiring continuing education and at least once every two years afterward. The requirement applies during registration periods when continuing education is required. Youth suicide prevention training can satisfy this ethics and law requirement.

Health practitioners face higher maximum penalties

Beginning July 1, 2025, the maximum civil penalty for covered health practitioners and permit holders rises from $10,000 to $25,000. The relevant professional board, commission, or Department of Public Health must find good cause. The penalty is discretionary, and the disciplinary authority decides the amount up to the new ceiling.

Psychologist records gain protections and exceptions

Beginning July 1, 2025, mental health confidentiality rules cover psychologist diagnosis and treatment communications and records. Disclosure generally requires the person's or authorized representative's consent; related definitions take effect October 1, 2025. Beginning October 1, exceptions also cover psychologist records for treatment, imminent physical danger, fee collection, court proceedings, and state oversight. Other exceptions cover specified disclosures to homicide victims' families and state behavioral health billing, with notice, disclosure limits, and further-sharing restrictions. The law also repeals section 52-146c on October 1, 2025; the supplied text does not explain its separate effects.

Researchers gain guarded mental health access

Beginning October 1, 2025, research rules cover mental health records identifying a person, not just a patient. Researchers can access identifying material needed for research after the facility director or a designee approves the plan. Identifying records must stay at the facility. Coded or nonidentifying data can leave only when the code key stays there. Facilities and researchers must protect anonymity and cannot share identifying data except as the law allows.

Health record sharing carries privacy safeguards

Beginning October 1, 2025, covered providers must connect and actively share designated records through the statewide health information exchange. They have 18 months after the applicable policies and procedures are implemented; providers not actively practicing in Connecticut are exempt. Sharing must follow privacy laws, including protections for substance use treatment records, and cannot bypass required consent. The exchange and its vendor can answer subpoenas only through disclosures that fully follow state and federal medical-record laws. After a breach, ransomware attack, or hacking, the exchange must notify affected patients and handle needed mitigation for providers.

Emergency crews gain more epinephrine options

Beginning July 1, 2025, trained emergency medical crews can give epinephrine through any federally approved method, including nasal spray. Licensed or certified ambulances must carry epinephrine in the permitted forms and devices. Crews must meet recognized training standards and follow an emergency medical director's written protocols or standing orders. Emergency medical responders need training only for methods within their permitted duties and can use only those methods.

Small sewage rule deadline moves back

The environment commissioner's deadline to post notice of planned sewage rule changes moves from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026. The rules concern systems with capacity of 10,000 gallons per day or less. Before posting notice, the sewage-disposal working group must meet, and the commissioner must consider its recommendations. This deadline concerns the rulemaking notice, not a requirement that final rules take effect by that date.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Public Health Committee
Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 213 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/21/2025

Senate Roll Call Vote 336

Yes: 36 • No: 0

House vote • 3/21/2025

House Roll Call Vote 254 AS AMENDED

Yes: 145 • No: 0