Connecticut 2026 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 35 D · 10 R cosponsors

HB 5046 — AN ACT SUPPORTING FIRST RESPONDER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

Last action — FILE NO. 313

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 05, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 45 sponsors

    45 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (35 D · 10 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

558 added · 203 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent changes to HB 5046 expanded the bill's focus from just supporting firefighter and police officer recruitment and retention to a broader support system that includes all first responders. Additionally, the language was updated to clarify financial benefits for dependent children or surviving spouses of various individuals who have died in the line of duty or tragic incidents. These changes are significant because they aim to provide support and ease the financial burden on families of not only police and firefighters but also all first responders, fostering a more inclusive approach to community safety and resilience.

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General Assembly Governor's Bill No.
House of Representatives General Assembly File No.
5046 February Session, 2026 LCO No.
313 February Session, 2026 Substitute House Bill No.
558 Referred to Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY Introduced by:
5046 House of Representatives, April 1, 2026 The Committee on Public Safety and Security reported through REP.
Request of the Governor Pursuant to Joint Rule 9 AN ACT SUPPORTING FIREFIGHTER AND POLICE OFFICER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
BOYD of the 50th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT SUPPORTING FIRST RESPONDER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
(d) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall waive the payment of tuition at the Connecticut State Community College (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to said college and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted for admission to said college, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in LCO No.
(d) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall waive the payment of tuition at the Connecticut State Community College (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed forces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to said college and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted for admission to said college, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in sHB5046 / File No.
558 1 of 8 Governor's Bill No.5046 attendance at a military service academy, which veteran has been accepted for admission to said college and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to said college.
313 1 sHB5046 File No.
313 attendance at a military service academy, which veteran has been accepted for admission to said college and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to said college.
Said board shall also waive for any such member the payment of any extension fees under section 10a-26 for educational extension programs, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of this state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Roadin Avon onJuly 29, 2005, [and] (9) for any resident of thestate who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was LCO No.
Said board shall also waive for any such member the payment of any mandatory fees relating to such member's enrollment in said institution, including, but not limited to, any extension fees under section 10a-26 for educational extension programs, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of this state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, [and] (9) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or sHB5046 / File No.
558 2 of 8 Governor's Bill No5046 killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (10) for a police officer, as defined in section 7- 294a, who has been employed as such an officer in the state for not less than five years, (11) for a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, as documented by the chief of such department, has served as such a member in the state for not less than five years, and (12) for any student attending the state fire school, who is enrolled in a program at said school offered in coordination with a regional community-technical college that accredits courses taken in such program.Ifanypersonwhoreceivesatuitionwaiverinaccordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement.
313 2 sHB5046 File No.
313 surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (10) for any police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, who has been employed as such an officer in the state for not less than five years, (11) for any uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, including, but not limited to, a fire department operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe in the state, who, as documented by the chief of the department, has served as such a member in the state for not less than five years, (12) for any emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, emergency medical services instructor or paramedic, as such terms are defined in section 20-206jj, who has been employed in the capacity of such responder, technician, instructor or paramedic in the state for not less than five years by a municipality or nonprofit organization, as documented by the chief administrator of such municipality or organization, and (13) for any student attending the state fire school who is enrolled in a program at said school offered in coordination with a regional community-technical college that accredits courses taken in suchprogram.Ifanypersonwhoreceivesatuitionwaiverinaccordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement.
(d) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall waive the payment of tuition fees for undergraduate and graduate degree programs at the Connecticut State University System (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armedforces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to such institution and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-103, who performed service in LCO No.
(d) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall waive the payment of tuition fees for undergraduate and graduate degree sHB5046 / File No.
558 3 of 8 Governor's Bill No5046 time of war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, which veteran has been accepted for admission to such institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to such institution.
313 3 sHB5046 File No.
313 programs at the Connecticut State University System (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armedforces of the United States has declared to be missing in action or to have been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to such institution and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted for admission to such institution, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27-103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, which veteran has been accepted for admission to such institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to such institution.
Said board shall also waive for any such member the payment of any extension fees under section 10a-26 for educational extension programs, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident of this state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of the state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, LCO No.
Said board shall also waive for any such member the payment of any mandatory fees relating to such member's enrollment in said institution, including, but not limited to, any extension fees under section 10a-26 for educational extension programs, (6) for any dependent child of a (A) sHB5046 / File No.
558 4 of 8 Governor's Bill No5046 [and] (9) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (10) for a police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, who has been employed as such an officer in the state for not less than five years, (11) for a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, as documented by the chief of such department, has served as such a member in the state for not less than five years, and (12) for any student attending the state fire school, who is enrolled in a program at said school offered in coordination with the university that accredits courses taken in such program.
313 4 sHB5046 File No.
If any person who receives a tuition waiver in accordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement.
313 police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (7) for any resident of this state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of the state, (8) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Roadin Avon onJuly 29, 2005, [and] (9) for any resident of thestate who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (10) for any police officer, as defined in section 7- 294a, who has been employed as such an officer in the state for not less than five years, (11) for any uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, including, but not limited to, a fire department operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe in the state, who, as documented by the chief of the department, has served as such a member in the state for not less than five years, (12) for any emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, emergency medical services instructor orparamedic,assuchtermsaredefinedinsection20-206jj,whohasbeen employed in the capacity of such responder, technician, instructor or paramedic in the state for not less than five years by a municipality or nonprofit organization, as documented by the chief administrator of such municipality or organization, and (13) for any student attending the state fire school who is enrolled in a program at said school offered in coordination with a university that accredits courses taken in such program.Ifanypersonwhoreceivesatuitionwaiverinaccordance with the provisions of this subsection also receives educational reimbursement from an employer, such waiver shall be reduced by the amount of such educational reimbursement.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-30, as used in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for less than one year.
sHB5046 / File No.
313 5 sHB5046 File No.
313 Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10a-30, as used in this subsection, "domiciled in this state" includes domicile for less than one year.
(e) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition fees for any undergraduate or graduate degree program at The University of Connecticut (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed forcesoftheUnitedStateshasdeclaredto bemissing inactionor tohave been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to The University of Connecticut and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted for admission to said institution, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (f) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27- LCO No.
(e) Said board of trustees shall waive the payment of tuition fees for any undergraduate or graduate degree program at The University of Connecticut (1) for any dependent child of a person whom the armed forcesoftheUnitedStateshasdeclaredto bemissing inactionor tohave been a prisoner of war while serving in such armed forces after January 1, 1960, which child has been accepted for admission to The University of Connecticut and is a resident of the state at the time such child is accepted for admission to said institution, (2) subject to the provisions of subsection (f) of this section, for any veteran, as defined in section 27- 103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, which veteran has been accepted for admission to said institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to said institution.
558 5 of 8 Governor's Bill No5046 103, who performed service in time of war, as defined in section 27-103, except that for purposes of this subsection, "service in time of war" shall not include time spent in attendance at a military service academy, which veteran has been accepted for admission to said institution and is domiciled in this state at the time such veteran is accepted for admission to said institution.
Said board shall also waive for any such veteran the payment of any extension fees under section 10a-26 for educational extension programs, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older who has been accepted for admission to said institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the courseasufficientnumberofstudentsotherthanthoseresidentseligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is space available in such courseafteraccommodating allsuchstudents,(4)for anyactivemember of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to said institution on a full-time or part-time sHB5046 / File No.
Said board shall also waive for any such veteran the payment of any extension fees under section 10a-26 for educational extension programs, (3) for any resident of the state sixty-two years of age or older who has been accepted for admission to said institution, provided (A) such resident is enrolled in a degree-granting program, or (B) at the end of the regular registration period, there are enrolled in the courseasufficientnumberofstudentsotherthanthoseresidentseligible for waivers pursuant to this subdivision to offer the course in which such resident intends to enroll and there is space available in such courseafteraccommodating allsuchstudents,(4)for anyactivemember of the Connecticut Army or Air National Guard who (A) has been certified by the Adjutant General or such Adjutant General's designee as a member in good standing of the guard, and (B) is enrolled or accepted for admission to said institution on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program.
313 6 sHB5046 File No.
Said board shall also waive for any such member the payment of any extension fees under section 10a-26 for educational extension programs, (5) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (6) for any resident of the state who is the dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of the state, (7) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, [and] (8) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or LCO No.
313 basis in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting program.
558 6 of 8 Governor's Bill No5046 after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state, (9) for a police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, who has been employed as such an officer in the state for not less than five years, and (10) for a uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, who, as documented by the chief of such department, has served as such a member in the state for not less than five years.
Said board shall also waive for any such member the payment of any mandatory fees relating to such member's enrollment in said institution, including, but not limited to, any extension fees under section 10a-26 for educational extension programs, (5) for any dependent child of a (A) police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, or supernumerary or auxiliary police officer, (B) firefighter, as defined in section 7-323j, or member of a volunteer fire company, (C) municipal employee, or (D) state employee, as defined in section 5-154, killed in the line of duty, (6) for any resident of the state who is the dependent child or surviving spouse of a specified terrorist victim who was a resident of the state, (7) for any dependent child of a resident of the state who was killed in a multivehicle crash at or near the intersection of Routes 44 and 10 and Nod Road in Avon on July 29, 2005, and (8) for any resident of the state who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a person who was killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed forces of the United States on or after September 11, 2001, and who was a resident of this state.
Veterans and members of the National Guard described in subdivision (4) of this subsection shall be given the same statusasstudentsnot receiving tuitionwaiversinregisteringfor courses at The University of Connecticut.
Veterans and members of the National Guard described in subdivision (4) of this subsection shall be given the same status as students not receiving tuition waivers in registering for courses at The University of Connecticut.
(NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority shall develop and administer a program of mortgage assistance to police officers, as defined in section 7-294a of the general statutes, and uniformed members of paid or volunteer fire departments in the state.
(NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section, "first responder" means any (1) police officer, as defined in section 7- 294a of the general statutes, (2) uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, or (3) emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, emergency medical services instructor or paramedic, as such terms are defined in section 20-206jj of the general statutes.
Such assistance shall be available to an eligible police officer or firefighter, under guidelines adopted by the authority, for the purchase of a home used as such police officer's or firefighter's principal residence in the community served by such police officer or firefighter.
sHB5046 / File No.
313 7 sHB5046 File No.
313 (b) The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority shall develop and administer a program of mortgage assistance to first responders in the state.
Such assistance shall be available to an eligible first responder under guidelines adopted by the authority for the purchase of a home used as such first responder's principal residence in the community served by such first responder.
Sec.
5.
(NEW) (Effective January 1, 2027, and applicable to taxable years commencingonorafter January1,2027)(a)Asusedinthissection,"eligible volunteer firefighter" means an individual who is actively serving as a volunteer firefighter for a fire department in the state and who has served as a volunteer firefighter for a fire department in the state for not less than fifteen consecutive years, as documented by the chief of the department.
(b) For taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 2027, each eligible volunteer firefighter shall be allowed a credit against the tax imposed by chapter 229 of the general statutes, other than the liability imposed by section 12-707 of the general statutes.
The amount of the credit shall be one thousand dollars.
Any taxpayer claiming the credit shall provide to the Department of Revenue Services documentation supporting such claim in the form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Revenue Services.
Sec.
6.
(Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to study issues relating to the recruitment and retention of public safety personnel.
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Such study shall include, but need not be limited to, an examination of the feasibility and fiscal impact of the state providing (1) tuition waivers, mortgage assistance and tax credits to correction officers and judicial marshals, (2) tuition waivers to the dependent children of police officers, uniformed members of paid or volunteer fire departments, emergency medical responders, emergency medical sHB5046 / File No.
313 8 sHB5046 File No.
313 technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians, emergency medical services instructors and paramedics, (3) tuition waivers for undergraduate and graduate degree programs at The University of Connecticut to police officers, uniformed members of paid or volunteer fire departments, emergency medical responders, emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians, emergency medical services instructors and paramedics, and (4) tuition vouchers to public safety personnel that can be used at any accredited institution of higher education in the state.
(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:
(1) Two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom has expertise in public safety and one of whom has expertise in higher education;
(2) Two appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate;
(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives;
(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;
(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives;
(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;
(7) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, or the commissioner's designee;
and (8) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee.
(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the General Assembly.
(d) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later thanthirty daysafter theeffective date ofthis section.Any vacancy shall sHB5046 / File No.
313 9 sHB5046 File No.
313 be filled by the appointing authority.
(e)The speaker oftheHouse ofRepresentativesandthepresident pro tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force from among the members of the task force.
Such chairpersons shall schedule thefirst meeting ofthe task force, whichshall beheld not later thansixty days after the effective date of this section.
(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the GeneralAssemblyhavingcognizanceofmattersrelatingtopublicsafety and security shall serve as administrative staff of the task force.
(g) Not later than January 1, 2027, the task force shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.
The task force shall terminate on the date that it submits such report or January 1, 2027, whichever is later.
Section 1 July 1, 2026 10a-77(d) Sec.
July 1, 2026 Section 1 10a-77(d) Sec.
2 July 1, 2026 10a-99(d) LCO No.
2 July 1, 2026 10a-99(d) Sec.
558 7 of 8 Governor's Bill No.
5046 Sec.
4 October 1, 2026 New section Statement of Purpose:
4 October 1, 2026 New section Sec.
To implement the Governor's budget recommendations.
5 January 1, 2027, and New section applicable to taxable years commencing on or after January 1, 2027 from passage Sec.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.
6 New section Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] LCO No.
In Section 2(d)(13), "the university" was changed to "a university" for accuracy.
558 8 of 8
PS Joint Favorable Subst.
sHB5046 / File No.
313 10 sHB5046 File No.
313 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.
In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.
Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ Connecticut Housing Finance CHFA – Cost/ Minimal Minimal Authority (CHFA) Potential Revenue Impact Department of Revenue Services GF – Revenue None Up to 6.5 Loss million Department of Revenue Services GF - Cost None 20,000 Connecticut State Colleges and OF – Net See Below See Below Universities Revenue Loss Connecticut State Colleges and OF – Revenue Up to 2 Up to 2 Universities Loss million million University of Connecticut OF – Revenue Approx.
Approx.
Loss 680,000 680,000 Note:
GF=General Fund;
OF= Other Funds Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill's provisions to support recruitment and retention of first responders result in the fiscal impacts described below.
Sections 1 – 2 result in an annual net revenue loss to the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) beginning in FY 27.
The sections require CSCU to:
(1) waive tuition for a variety of first responders, and (2) waive mandatory fees for National Guard members who are currently eligible for a tuition waiver.
First responders who may receive a tuition waiver under the bill's provisions include:
(1) paid and volunteer firefighters, sworn state and local police officers, and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel sHB5046 / File No.
313 11 sHB5046 File No.
313 employed (or serving) in Connecticut for at least five years;
and (2) any student attending a state fire school.
There are an estimated 42,900 paid and volunteer firefighters, sworn police officers, and EMS workers in the state.
It is unknown how many have been employed or serving in Connecticut for at least five years.
The tuition waiver revenue loss to CSCU will vary based on the number of first responders who receive a waiver, which could be significant.
The table below shows the per student value of a tuition waiver at CSCU.
It also shows what the potential revenue loss would be in FY 27 if an additional 500, 1,500, and 2,000 students received the waiver at a CSU or at CT State.
The bill's tuition waiver provision does not apply to the UConn.
Examples of Tuition Waiver Value, FY 27 FY 27 Per Student Value 6,998 4,608 # Addt'l Students CSUs Est.
Revenue CT State Est.
Receiving Waiver Loss $ Revenue Loss 3,499,000 2,304,000 1,000 6,998,000 4,608,000 1,500 10,497,000 6,912,000 To the extent that this tuition waiver results in increased enrollment at CSCU, the above-described revenue loss is offset by an increase in revenue from fees.
The extent of such offsetting revenue gain will depend on the number of first responders who attend CSCU due to the bill's tuition waiver.
The sections result in an additional revenue loss to CSCU of up to $2 millionannuallybeginninginFY27.
Thisrevenuelossisassociatedwith the bill's waiver of mandatory fees for members of the National Guard who currently receive a statutory tuition waiver.
There are 604 National Guard members receiving tuition waivers at CSCU in FY 26.
1This figure does not include students attending a state fire school.
sHB5046 / File No.
313 12 sHB5046 File No.
313 Section 3 results in an annual revenue loss of approximately $680,000 beginning in FY 27 for the University of Connecticut.
It requires UConn to waive mandatory fees for members of the National Guard who already receive a statutory tuition waiver.There are 173 National Guard members receiving tuition waivers at UConn in FY 26.
Section 4 requires the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) to establish a new program of mortgage assistance for first responders, which results in costs to CHFA from the authority's own resources beginning in FY 27 associated with developing and marketing the program.
2 If CHFA provides first responders with existing first-time homebuyer mortgage products at a reduced interest rate, changes to CHFA's operating revenues are anticipated to be minimal.
Costs or revenue loss for providing other forms of assistance would depend on:
(1) the number of first responders assisted and (2) the type of assistance provided.
Given the low utilization rate of CHFA's other occupation-specific mortgage assistance programs, the bill is not anticipated to materially change the rate of spending.
3 Section 5, which establishes a personal income tax credit of $1,000 for active volunteer firefighters who have served for at least 15 years, results in a:
(1) General Fund loss of up to $6.5 million annually beginning in FY 28, and (2) one-time cost of $20,000 to the Department of Revenue Services in FY 28 associated with programming updates to the CTax tax administration system and myconneCT online portal, as well as form modification.
4 2CHFA is a quasi-public authority that issues its ownfederally tax-exempt and taxable mortgage revenue bonds.
The authority pays its operating expenses using funds derived from the excess of interest income from loans over bond interest expenses.
3In 2025, CHFA assisted approximately 3,800 first-time homebuyers.
Of these buyers, utilized the Teachers Mortgage Assistance Program, 64 utilized the Military Homeownership Program, and 7 utilized the Police Officer Homeownership Program.
4This estimate assumes approximately 6,500 volunteer firefighters would be eligible for the credit.
sHB5046 / File No.
313 13 sHB5046 File No.
313 Section 6 establishes a task force to study the feasibility and fiscal impact of a variety of tuition waiver programs for public safety personnel.
This has no fiscal impact, as it is anticipated that the task force can complete its duties with existing resources.
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to the number of first responders qualifying for the above described benefits and the value of those benefits.
sHB5046 / File No.
313 14 sHB5046 File No.
313 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 5046 AN ACT SUPPORTING FIRST RESPONDER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
SUMMARY This bill makes various changes to encourage first responder recruitment and retention.
Primarily, the bill:
1.
offers certain first responders tuition waivers for attending the Connecticut State Community College (CT State) and Connecticut State University System (CSUS) (§§ 1 & 2);
2.
waives mandatory fees for any active National Guard member’s enrollment at the UConn, CT State, or CSUS (§§ 1-3);
3.
requires the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CFHA) to develop and administer a mortgage assistance program for first responders (§ 4);
4.
creates a tax credit for eligible volunteer firefighters (§ 5);
and 5.
establishes a task force to study public safety personnel recruitment and retention issues (§ 6).
EFFECTIVE DATE:
July 1, 2026, except that the (1) provisions on the first responder mortgage assistance program take effect October 1, 2026;
(2) tax credit provision is effective January 1, 2027, and each tax year on and after then;
and (3) task force provision is effective upon passage.
§§ 1-3 — TUITION AND FEE WAIVERS Tuition Waivers for Certain First Responders The bill requires the Board of Regents for Higher Education to waive CT State and CSUS tuition for:
sHB5046 / File No.
313 15 sHB5046 File No.
313 1.
any police officer (see BACKGROUND) who has been employed as such in Connecticut for at least five years;
2.
any uniformed member of a paid or volunteer fire department, including fire departments operated by a federally recognized Connecticut Indian tribe, who, as documented by the chief of the department, has served as a firefighter in Connecticut for at least five years;
3.
any emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, emergency medical services instructor, or paramedic, who has been employed in that role in Connecticut for at least five years by a municipality or nonprofit organization, as documented by their chief administrator;
and 4.
students attending the state fire school who are enrolled in a program offered together with a university that accredits courses in the program.
For CSUS, only tuition fees for undergraduate and graduate programs are waived.
Connecticut Army or Air National Guard Fee Waiver The billalso waives all mandatory fees for anationalguard member’s enrollment at CT State, CSUS, or UConn.
To be eligible, the national guard member must be (1) certified by the adjutant general or his designee as a member in good standing and (2) enrolled or accepted in one of those institutions on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate degree-granting program (or graduate program, for CSUS and UConn).
By law, national guard members’ tuition and payment of extension fees are already waived.
§ 4 — FIRST RESPONDER MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM The bill requires CHFA to develop and administer a mortgage assistance program for certain Connecticut first responders who are buyingahomeastheir principalresidenceinthecommunitywherethey sHB5046 / File No.
313 16 sHB5046 File No.
313 serve.
In doing so, CHFA (1) must use down payment assistance or any other appropriate housing subsidies and (2) may allow the mortgagee to realize a reasonable portion of the property’s equity gain when it is sold.
Under the bill, the program must cover:
1.
police officers;
2.
uniformed members of a paid or volunteer fire department;
3.
certified emergency medical responders, emergency medical technicians, and advanced emergency medical technicians;
4.
certified emergency medical services instructors that teach courses required to become an emergency medical technician;
and 5.
licensed paramedics.
§ 5 — VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER TAX CREDIT Beginning for taxable years starting January 1, 2027, the bill allows eligible volunteer firefighters to claim an income tax credit of $1,000, except against the withholding tax.
Any taxpayer claiming the credit must give the Department of Revenue Services (DRS) supporting documentation as the DRS commissioner requires.
An “eligible volunteer firefighter” is someone who is actively serving as a volunteer firefighter for a fire department in Connecticut and has served for at least fifteen consecutive years, as documented by the fire department’s chief.
§ 6 — RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION TASK FORCE The bill establishes a task force to study recruitment and retention issues for public safety personnel.
The study must examine the feasibility and fiscal impact of the state providing:
1.
tuitionwaivers, mortgage assistance,andtax creditsto correction officers and judicial marshals;
sHB5046 / File No.
313 17 sHB5046 File No.
313 2.
tuition waivers to police officers’ dependent children, uniformed members of paid or volunteer fire departments, emergency medical responders, emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians, emergency medical services instructors, and paramedics;
3.
tuition waivers for undergraduate and graduate degree programs at UConn to police officers, uniformed members of paid or volunteer fire departments, emergency medical responders, emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians, emergency medical services instructors, and paramedics;
and 4.
tuition vouchers for public safety personnel to any accredited higher education institution in Connecticut.
Underthebill,thetaskforceconsistsoftheDepartmentofEmergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) and Education commissioners, or their designees, and eight members appointed by the legislative leaders (two each by the House speaker and Senate president pro tempore and one each by the House and Senate majority and minority leaders).
One of the speaker’s appointees must have expertise in public safety and the other in higher education.
The appointees may be legislators.
All initial appointments must be made within 30 days after the bill passes, and any vacancies must be filled by the appropriate appointing authority.
The speaker and the president pro tempore must select the task force’s chairpersons from its members, who must schedule and hold the first meeting of the task force within 60 days after the bill passes.
The PublicSafety andSecurity Committee’sadministrative staff must serve in that capacity for the task force.
The task force must submit its findings and recommendations to the Public Safety and Security Committee by January 1, 2027.
The task force ends on January 1, 2027, sHB5046 / File No.
313 18 sHB5046 File No.
313 or when it submits its report, whichever is later.
BACKGROUND Definition of Police Officers By law, police officers are sworn members of an organized local police department or of the Division of State Police within DESPP, appointed constables who perform criminal law enforcement duties, special appointed policemen, or any member of a law enforcement unit who performs police duties (CGS § 7-294a).
Related Bill sHB 5003, §§ 16-19, reported favorably by the Labor and Public Employees Committee, has substantially similar provisions concerning first responder tuition waivers and a first responder mortgage assistance program.
COMMITTEE ACTION Public Safety and Security Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 29 Nay 0 (03/17/2026) sHB5046 / File No.
313 19
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 313

  2. HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 232

  3. FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDAR

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/31/26

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable Substitute

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0303

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Safety and Security

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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45 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 142 not signed on

Sponsors (45)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (142)

142 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 5046?
HB 5046 is sponsored by Mark W. Anderson (Republican), John A. Kissel (Republican), Devin R. Carney (Republican), Jaime S. Foster (Democratic), Jane M. Garibay (Democratic), Jonathan Jacobson (Democratic), Laurie Sweet (Democratic), Michael "MJ" Shannon (Democratic), Patrick Biggins (Democratic), Hilda E. Santiago (Democratic), David DeFronzo (Democratic), Kara Rochelle (Democratic), Savet Constantine (Democratic), Stephen R. Meskers (Democratic), Ronald A. Napoli (Democratic), Martha Marx (Democratic), Sarah Keitt (Democratic), Joe Canino (Republican), Nicholas Menapace (Democratic), Alphonse Paolillo (Democratic), John Santanella (Democratic), Henry J. Genga (Democratic), Hector Arzeno (Democratic), Christopher Poulos (Democratic), Juan R. Candelaria (Democratic), Travis Simms (Democratic), Greg S. Howard (Republican), Kerry S. Wood (Democratic), Tom Delnicki (Republican), Mark DeCaprio (Republican), Gary A. Turco (Democratic), Robin E. Comey (Democratic), William Heffernan (Democratic), Christine Cohen (Democratic), Michael D. Quinn (Democratic), Eleni Kavros DeGraw (Democratic), Paul Cicarella (Republican), Paul Honig (Democratic), Jason Perillo (Republican), Saud Anwar (Democratic), Ben McGorty (Republican), Patrick S. Boyd (Democratic), Joseph P. Gresko (Democratic), James Sanchez (Democratic), and Iris N Sanchez (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 5046?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 05, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 5046?
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