Senate approves emergency CON process for bankrupt hospital transfers, veterans tax fix and $40 million for special-education excess costs

The Connecticut Senate on Feb. 25 approved an emergency-certified bill (House Bill 7067) establishing an expedited certificate-of-need (CON) track for the transfer of hospitals under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, giving municipalities an optional motor vehicle assessment schedule, clarifying a property-tax exemption for veterans who are permanently and totally disabled with a 100% service-connected rating, and directing $40 million to the state’s special-education excess-cost reimbursement.

Why it matters: The CON change responds to the immediate risk posed by one multi-hospital system’s bankruptcy and the possibility of an imminent buyer; sponsors said pause or delay could threaten access to inpatient care and thousands of hospital jobs. The $40 million for special education is a midyear allocation meant to relieve districts facing steep outlays for high-cost placements…