Human Services Committee advances multiple bills to the floor; votes at a glance

The Human Services Committee met March 4, 2025, and voted to advance a slate of bills to the next legislative stage. Several bills were sent to the floor or referred to appropriations; the committee recorded roll calls and completed votes on each item.

Key items advanced or referred by the committee included measures on Medicaid reimbursement and oversight, rural hospital rates, nonprofit provider compensation indexing, exceptions to the nursing‑home bed moratorium, and coverage expansions for specific services for children and for substance use treatment providers.

Votes at a glance (committee action summary):

- SB 1158 — Establish Department of Aging: Vote held open during the meeting; no final roll call recorded in the transcript excerpt. - SB 1300 — Allow spouses to be reimbursed under Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders: advanced to the floor (see separate article for details). - SB 1301 — Medicaid rates for community and rural hospitals: advanced to the floor; discussion focused on which hospitals qualify as “rural” and the interaction with an existing rate settlement. - SB 1299 — Medicaid‑covered dental care: sent to the floor, no substantive discussion recorded in markup. - HB 6936 — Funding to cover room and board for inpatient addiction treatment providers: advanced to the floor; sponsors said last year’s fiscal note was very small (committee referenced a figure around $12,000–$20,000) and proponents asked for budget support. - HB 6091 — Equitable Medicaid audit billing and reimbursement policy for pharmacies: sent to the floor without discussion. - HB 5730 — Staggered terms for the Two‑Generational Advisory Board: sent to the floor without discussion. - HB 5579 — Hispanic and communities of color nonprofit growth and stabilization fund: motion to refer to appropriations; committee roll call recorded; referred to appropriations. - HB 7021 — Nutrition assistance funding (proposes $10,000,000 with 15% reserved for Connecticut‑grown products): advanced to the floor; committee noted the bill contains a substantial appropriation and will need appropriations review. - HB 7023 — Allow Medicaid reimbursement for substance abuse coaches and peer support counselors: advanced to the floor after substantial testimony; several peer‑support specialists testified in opposition during the public hearing and some members recorded a “no” vote. - HB 7026 — Exceptions to the nursing‑home bed moratorium (permit new models and additional beds): advanced to the floor; sponsors said the change is intended to improve discharge planning and avoid extended hospital stays. - SB 1358 — Annual indexing of nonprofit provider Medicaid rates (strike‑all substitute described): advanced to the floor; some members said substitute language had not had a separate public hearing and opposed for that reason. - SB 1122 — Require annual performance audits of Medicaid‑funded programs by the Auditors of Public Accounts: advanced to the floor; committee discussed resource and staffing implications for the auditors and possible limited‑scope audits. - SB 985 — Require legislative approval for changes to the HUSKY (Medicaid) reimbursement and care delivery model: advanced to the floor with JFS language requiring additional reporting from DSS to MAPOC. - SB 1360 — Legislative confirmation for appointment of the DSS Medicaid director: advanced to the floor; the department had expressed concern about politicizing the office during testimony. - HB 6937 — Medicaid coverage for medically necessary diapers for children under age 3: advanced to the floor; proponents said current DSS coverage begins at age 3 and that the bill would target medical necessity for younger children.

Several members asked staff to provide fiscal notes, lists of affected hospitals, and other clarifying information for specific bills before final votes on the floor. The committee held multiple roll calls during the meeting; transcripts record roll calls as complete but do not provide a consolidated numeric tally for every item in the excerpt.

What to expect next: Many measures advanced by the committee will require fiscal notes and, where applicable, appropriation committee review. Sponsors and staff said they will supply requested analyses and follow‑up information before the bills are scheduled for final floor action.