SEN. CABRERA WELCOMES COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF SENATE DEMOCRATS’ AFFORDABILITY PACKAGE, SENATE BILL 1

HARTFORD – Members of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee today voted in a bipartisan manner to approve Senate Bill 1, the Senate Democrats’ ambitious legislative agenda to counter rising costs in the Trump economy and make Connecticut more affordable for our state residents.

The bill now heads to the Senate floor for consideration. The 2026 legislative session ends on Wednesday, May 6.

“Under the tariffs, inflation, federal budget cuts, and gas price hikes of the Trump administration, Connecticut families are hurting. This is our way to provide some relief and keep money in the pockets of the middle-class families who drive our economy,” said Sen. Cabrera, who is Vice-Chair of the committee.

Senate Bill 1 includes more than half a billion dollars in sweeping tax relief measures designed to reduce costs for Connecticut families, including:

• the elimination of the sales tax on non-electric school supplies like backpacks, lunchboxes, notebooks, pens and pencils, crayons, rulers and paper;
• on prepared food purchased at grocery stores;
• on clothing under $100; and
• on certain major home appliances like air conditioners, boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, clothes washers, clothes dryers, standard size refrigerators, dehumidifiers and programmable thermostats, provided they meet or exceed federal Energy Star standards.

Senate Bill 1 also increases from $300 to $400 the maximum property tax credit against the state income tax, beginning in 2027; establishes a maximum $1,000 renters’ tax credit equal to 20% of their annual rent, minus four per cent of their adjusted gross income; a maximum tax credit of $2,000 a year for family members earning $50,000 a year (single) and $100,000 (couple) a year who are caring for elderly or disabled relatives; and after January 1, 2027, the elimination of the state income tax on Social Security benefits.

The projected sales tax cuts in S.B. 1 include:

• School supplies – $7 million
• Prepared food at grocery stores – $9 million
• Clothing under $100 – $175.5 million annually
• Home appliances – $12 million annually

The projected income tax cuts in S.B. 1 include:

• Property tax credit – $46 million annually
• Elderly care – a maximum of $8 million
• Rental Tax Credit – a maximum of $202 million
• Social Security – $57.5 million, aiding 225,000 Connecticut residents