ConnecticutSB 002202026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

AN ACT CONCERNING STUDENT LITERACY, ASPIRING EDUCATORS, AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AS PART OF THE WORLD LANGUAGES CURRICULUM AND THE PARAEDUCATOR HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN SUBSIDY PROGRAM.

Sponsored By: Education Committee

Signed by Governor

Summary

To establish and provide reading instruction and supports to all students in grades four to nine who are below proficient in reading.

education

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Teacher scholarships come with repayment rules

Starting in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, aspiring teachers can receive scholarships of up to $10,000 each year. Applicants must be Connecticut public high school graduates from an underrepresented group identified as a teacher shortage area. They must enroll and stay in good standing in a teacher preparation program at a four-year college. By January 1, 2027, the education department must set eligibility, payment, and student notification rules, allowing applications before high school graduation. The commissioner sets repayment terms for recipients who do not become certified Connecticut teachers after graduation; repayments enter the General Fund. The department can accept gifts, grants, and donations, and must report recipients' race, ethnicity, and programs annually starting January 1, 2028.

Health deductible help for school paraeducators

Beginning July 1, 2026, public-school paraeducators can get health deductible help each fiscal year, subject to available funding. They must open a health savings account, or be Medicare-eligible and enrolled in a high-deductible health plan. The subsidy covers a percentage of the deductible, minus employer contributions to a health savings or health reimbursement account. The comptroller sets the payment limit, and each paraeducator can receive only one subsidy. Payments can be coordinated through the employing school agency.

Health premium help for school paraeducators

Beginning July 1, 2026, qualifying school boards, including charter schools, receive funded subsidies to lower paraeducators' payroll deductions for health premiums. They must cover paraeducators and dependents through a health benefit or partnership plan; boards offering high-deductible coverage are excluded. The per-enrolled-paraeducator ceiling is 10% of total premiums, including employer and employee shares, divided by the number enrolled. Available unused scholarship funds from the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, must be transferred by July 15, 2026, up to $300,000, for charter-school paraeducator subsidies in the following fiscal year. The comptroller must estimate charter-school expansion costs by January 1, 2027, and reach an agreement with the education department on implementation and use of an existing $5 million paraeducator-assistance appropriation.

Annual tracking of teacher shortages expands

Beginning July 1, 2026, the education commissioner must identify teacher shortages by December 1 each year. Reviews cover subjects, geographic areas, and population groups underrepresented in teaching. They must consider vacancies, newly issued certificates, classes taught without subject-specific training, and statewide school information. The department must certify shortages to the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority for housing-related programs. By March 1 annually, it must send Connecticut teacher preparation colleges shortage information covering at least the prior five years.

Reading support guidance for struggling students

Beginning July 1, 2026, the education department must develop and share guidance on helping students who struggle with reading. It must explain school support systems that use different levels of help or track students' responses to intervention. The guidance must use results from approved reading tests. The department must report its guidance and any recommended law changes to lawmakers by January 1, 2028.

Sign language teaching gets statewide guidance

Starting January 1, 2027, the education department must convene a working group of agencies, colleges, language educators, and Deaf-community representatives. It must recommend American Sign Language curriculum guidance, teacher certification standards, and language proficiency benchmarks. Its work includes alternative certification routes for native signers and interpreters, recognition of other states' credentials, and training incentives. The department must submit progress reports starting January 1, 2028, and annually afterward. By July 1, 2030, it must issue consistent guidance for teaching American Sign Language within schools' world languages curriculum.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Education Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Anthony L. Nolan

    Democratic • House

  • Antonio Felipe

    Democratic • House

  • Christopher Poulos

    Democratic • House

  • Eric C. Berthel

    Republican • Senate

  • Farley Santos

    Democratic • House

  • Geraldo C. Reyes

    Democratic • House

  • Hubert D. Delany

    Democratic • House

  • John A. Kissel

    Republican • Senate

  • Kenneth Gucker

    Democratic • House

  • Patricia Billie Miller

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tom Delnicki

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/1/2026

APP Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 3/18/2026

House Roll Call Vote 309 AS AMENDED

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/18/2026

Senate Roll Call Vote 183

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/18/2026

Senate Roll Call Vote 412

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/18/2026

ED Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor

    6/4/2026legislature
  2. Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor

    5/29/2026legislature
  3. Transmitted to the Secretary of State

    5/29/2026legislature
  4. Public Act 26-149

    5/20/2026legislature
  5. On Consent Calendar / In Concurrence

    5/6/2026legislature
  6. Senate Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A,B

    5/6/2026Senate
  7. Senate Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A

    5/6/2026Senate
  8. Senate Adopted House Amendment Schedule A,B

    5/6/2026Senate
  9. Disagreeing Action, Tabled for Calendar, Senate

    5/6/2026Senate
  10. Transmitted Pursuant To Joint Rule 17

    5/6/2026legislature
  11. House Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A

    5/6/2026House
  12. House Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A,B

    5/6/2026House
  13. House Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule A

    5/6/2026House
  14. House Adopted House Amendment Schedule B 6223

    5/6/2026House
  15. House Adopted House Amendment Schedule A 6248

    5/6/2026House
  16. House Calendar Number 531

    4/30/2026House
  17. Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House

    4/30/2026House
  18. Rules Suspended, Transmitted to the House

    4/29/2026House
  19. Senate Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A

    4/29/2026Senate
  20. Senate Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule A 4641

    4/29/2026Senate
  21. File Number 650

    4/16/2026legislature
  22. Senate Calendar Number 412

    4/16/2026Senate
  23. Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate

    4/16/2026Senate
  24. Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office

    4/16/2026legislature
  25. Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/15/26 5:00 PM

    4/10/2026legislature

Bill Text

  • Public Act No. 26-149

    4/29/2026

  • File No. 650

    4/16/2026

  • APP Joint Favorable Substitute

    3/18/2026

  • ED Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference

    3/18/2026

  • Raised Bill

    2/18/2026

  • APP Joint Fav. Rpt

  • APP Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute)

  • Bill Analysis For File Copy 650

  • Bill Analysis for SB-220, as amended by Senate "A"

  • ED Joint Fav. Rpt

  • ED Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference)

  • Fiscal Note For File Copy 650

  • Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 4641 (See Fiscal Note Details)

  • Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 6223 (No Fiscal Impact)

  • Fiscal Note for Amendment LCO 6248 (See Fiscal Note Details)

  • Fiscal Note for SB-220, As Amended by Senate "A" (LCO 4641)

  • Fiscal Note for SB-220, As Amended by Senate "A" (LCO 4641), House "A" (LCO 6248), House "B" (LCO 6223)

  • House Roll Call Vote 309 AS AMENDED

  • House Schedule A LCO# 6248 (D)

  • House Schedule B LCO# 6223 (R)

  • Senate Roll Call Vote 183

  • Senate Roll Call Vote 412

  • Senate Schedule A LCO# 4641 (J)

  • Summary for Public Act No. 26-149

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