All Roll Calls
Yes: 0 • No: 0
ConnecticutSB 001232026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR CERTAIN RATE INCREASES AT ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, MUNICIPAL AGENTS FOR AGING, EMERGENCY POWER GENERATOR REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROJECTS, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR HOME HEALTH AIDE EMPLOYEES, THE NURSING HOME BED MORATORIUM AND NURSING HOME RESIDENT DATA.
Sponsored By: Aging Committee
Signed by Governor
Summary
To require each assisted living services agency to hold a public informational hearing when the agency increases a fee by more than ten per cent of the previous fee.
aging
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Backup power required in certain senior apartments
Beginning October 1, 2026, owners of qualifying private apartment projects must install and maintain emergency generators. Projects must be at least 15 stories tall and contain age-restricted homes. They must also have a mortgage insured, in whole or part, under the National Housing Act. Only municipalities with at least 130,000 but fewer than 140,000 residents in the 2020 census qualify. Generators must power the law's listed home needs and each passenger elevator for a minimum of four to twelve hours. Residents gain backup power protection, while owners bear equipment and maintenance costs.
Residents get hearings before assisted-living increases
Beginning October 1, 2026, assisted living services agencies must hold informational hearings before raising a fee by more than 10%. The hearing must happen at least 30 days before the increase takes effect. Residents, their representatives, and family members must have a chance to comment. The law does not cap fee increases.
Home health aides get free protective equipment
Beginning October 1, 2026, home health aide agencies must give each aide the protective equipment needed to serve clients safely. Agencies must provide this equipment at no cost to the employee.
Towns can share impartial aging agents
Beginning May 27, 2026, two or more Connecticut municipalities can jointly appoint aging agents through a written agreement. That agreement may explain how they share expenses. Agents cannot have conflicts that may interfere with unbiased information, help, or referrals. Beginning July 1, 2026, agents must certify at appointment or reappointment that they know of no disqualifying conflict. Agents must immediately report new conflicts or potential conflicts; interested parties may also report them. The appointing authority decides whether another agent or municipal employee can act instead. These changes do not require a particular service level or create a household payment.
Care facilities face audits with appeal protections
Beginning July 1, 2026, the Department of Social Services must audit covered Medicaid nursing, residential care, and intellectual-disability facilities. Covered facilities also include nursing-associated chronic disease hospitals and rest homes with nursing supervision. Audits generally require 30 days' notice, except for specified risk or fraud findings; selection must consider compliance history. Facilities generally get at least 30 days to provide records. Nursing homes must provide records within 10 days for required audits of resident data used to set Medicaid daily rates. Records generally cannot be accepted after the exit conference unless both sides agree. Clerical mistakes are not willful violations unless fraud is shown. Using sample errors to estimate wider overpayments is barred unless errors are sustained or high, education has failed, or annual claims exceed $200,000. The law sets reporting and rehearing deadlines, with unresolved issues after rehearing going to binding, three-person arbitration. The facility, commissioner, and Chief Court Administrator each appoint one board member. The department can compel testimony and records, with court enforcement available. False or misleading submissions can suspend state payments under adopted rules and pause related deadlines. Knowingly making false statements or submitting false data on approved forms can bring a class D felony charge. The department must publish audit guidance, offer free cost-report training, use experienced licensed health professionals, and establish facility-specific audit protocols consistent with effective practices as of April 1, 2015.
Nursing home beds face need-based approval rules
Beginning May 27, 2026, moratorium exceptions allow certain new Medicaid-certified beds when local census trends show priority needs. The state gives preference to small-house-style facilities that follow its long-term care plan. For covered bed requests, the Department of Social Services reviews finances and rates, quality and access, public need, utilization, owners' backgrounds, and other relevant factors. Quality review includes the federal five-star nursing home rating. The need test considers towns within 15 miles and whether the applicant's existing service area loses needed bed availability. Recent area occupancy must exceed 96% for at least two consecutive quarters to establish demonstrated need. The department may project need up to five years using official population and age-based utilization data, with reductions for less-institutional care options. Separate relocation and addition rules prohibit increases in Medicaid-certified beds, and relocation proposals must close at least one licensed facility. Replacement projects may require proportional bed cuts; owners of multiple facilities may have to close two or more facilities. Projects must support person-centered care, community space, and community ties.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Aging Committee
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Anne M. Hughes
Democratic • House
Jaime S. Foster
Democratic • House
Jan Hochadel
Democratic • Senate
Jane M. Garibay
Democratic • House
Mitch Bolinsky
Republican • House
Nick Gauthier
Democratic • House
Patricia Billie Miller
Democratic • Senate
Tony Hwang
Republican • Senate
William Pizzuto
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/5/2026
AGE Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/5/2026
Senate Roll Call Vote 230
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/5/2026
House Roll Call Vote 248 AS AMENDED
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Signed by the Governor
5/27/2026legislatureTransmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
5/22/2026legislatureTransmitted to the Secretary of State
5/22/2026legislaturePublic Act 26-74
5/19/2026legislatureIn Concurrence
5/5/2026legislatureHouse Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A
5/5/2026HouseHouse Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule A
5/5/2026HouseHouse Calendar Number 558
5/1/2026HouseFavorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
5/1/2026HouseRules Suspended, Transmitted to the House
5/1/2026HouseSenate Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A
5/1/2026SenateSenate Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule A 5644
5/1/2026SenateFile Number 67
3/19/2026legislatureSenate Calendar Number 67
3/19/2026SenateFavorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
3/19/2026SenateReported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
3/19/2026legislatureReferred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/18/26 5:00 PM
3/13/2026legislatureFiled with Legislative Commissioners' Office
3/5/2026legislatureJoint Favorable Substitute
3/5/2026legislaturePublic Hearing 02/19
2/13/2026legislatureReferred to Joint Committee on Aging
2/11/2026legislature
Bill Text
Public Act No. 26-74
5/1/2026
File No. 67
3/19/2026
AGE Joint Favorable Substitute
3/5/2026
Raised Bill
2/11/2026
AGE Joint Fav. Rpt
AGE Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute)
Bill Analysis For File Copy 67
Bill Analysis for SB-123, as amended by Senate "A"
Fiscal Note For File Copy 67
Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 5644 (See Fiscal Note Details)
Fiscal Note for SB-123, As Amended by Senate "A" (LCO 5644)
House Roll Call Vote 248 AS AMENDED
Senate Roll Call Vote 230
Senate Schedule A LCO# 5644 (J)
Summary for Public Act No. 26-74
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