Connecticut legislation · 2026 General Assembly
Connecticut HB5540: AN ACT CONCERNING THE MITIGATION OF BENEFITS CLIFFS.
Status: In committee, April 7, 2026
What the bill says
An act concerning the mitigation of benefits cliffs. assembly convened.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT CONCERNING THE MITIGATION OF BENEFITS CLIFFS. Assembly convened: Section 1. Section 17b-112 of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): (a) The Department of Social Services shall administer a temporary family assistance program under which cash assistance shall be provided to eligible families in accordance with the temporary assistance for needy families program, established pursuant to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. The Commissioner of Social Services may operate portions of the temporary family assistance program as a solely state-funded program, separate from the federal temporary assistance for needy families program, if the commissioner determines that doing so will enable the state to avoid fiscal penalties under the temporary assistance for needy families program. Families receiving assistance under the solely statefunded portion of the temporary family assistance program shall be subject to the same conditions of eligibility as those receiving assistance LCO No. 2715 1 of Raised Bill No. 5540 under the federal temporary assistance for needy families program. Under the temporary family assistance program, benefits shall be provided to a family for not longer than thirty-six months, except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section. For the purpose of calculating said thirty-six-month time limit, months of …
Sponsors
- Paul Cicarella (R, 34) · primary sponsor
- Martin Looney (D, 11)
- Lucia Dathan (D, 142)
- Sarah Keitt (D, 134)
- David Rutigliano (R, 123)
- Corey Paris (D, 145)
- Nicholas Gauthier (D, 38)
- Hubert Delany (D, 144)
Latest actions
- : Referred by House to Committee on Appropriations
- : File Number 444
- : House Calendar Number 322
- : Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
- : Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
- : Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/07/26 12:00 PM
- : Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
- : Joint Favorable
- : Public Hearing 03/17
- : Referred to Joint Committee on Human Services
Votes
- HS Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable) (March 19, 2026): 16 yea, 7 nay, passed
Subjects: Early Childhood, Office of, Temporary Family Assistance (TFA), Social Services, Department of
Common questions
- What is HB5540?
- HB5540 is a bill in the Connecticut Legislature (2026 General Assembly): AN ACT CONCERNING THE MITIGATION OF BENEFITS CLIFFS.
- What does HB5540 do?
- In its own words: An act concerning the mitigation of benefits cliffs. assembly convened.
- What is the status of HB5540?
- In committee as of April 7, 2026. Latest action: Referred by House to Committee on Appropriations (April 14, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB5540?
- Paul Cicarella (R, 34), with 7 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB5540?
- On the Connecticut Legislature website: https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB05540&which_year=2026
Source: official Connecticut record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.