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HB 7243 Connecticut House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING REQUIREMENTS FOR APPOINTMENTS OF UTILITY COMMISSIONERS TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY AND SUBSTANTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OF SUCH UTILITY COMMISSIONERS.

HB 7243 amends Connecticut law to strengthen qualifications and conflict-of-interest rules for commissioners of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA). Starting October 1, 2025, new appointees must have specific expertise (e.g., economics/accounting, customer advocacy, or utility regulatory law), with at least half having no prior employment with regulated entities. The bill also prohibits commissioners from having substantial conflicts of interest, including a 5-year recusal period for matters involving former employers, and extends post-tenure restrictions to a 5-year ban on working for utilities or lobbying firms. These changes aim to ensure impartial oversight of utility regulation without altering utility rates or services.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 19, 2025 Last action Apr 22, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → GAE Joint Favorable Substitute · 6 edits
MODERATE
This bill completely changes its focus from general state ethics regulations to specific requirements for Public Utilities Regulatory Authority commissioners. The new version establishes detailed qualifications, experience requirements, and conflict of interest rules for utility commissioners, replacing the previous ethics board regulations.
Scope change
The bill's scope changed from general state ethics regulation to specifically regulating appointments and conflicts of interest for Public Utilities Regulatory Authority commissioners.
SCOPE

Changed from regulating Citizen's Ethics Advisory Board to regulating Public Utilities Regulatory Authority utility commissioners

REQUIREMENT

Added specific education, training, and experience requirements for newly appointed utility commissioners including economics, engineering, law, accounting, and other fields

Added conflict of interest rules prohibiting commissioners from having substantial conflicts with their duties and restricting employment after leaving office

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility restrictions preventing executives of regulated entities or those with prior violations from serving as commissioners

TIMELINE

Changed effective dates from October 1, 2025 to October 1, 2007 for some provisions and July 1, 1997 for others

TECHNICAL

Reordered sections for consistency with standard drafting conventions

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
REF. BY HOUSE TO COMMITTEE ON Energy and Technology
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Government Administration and Elections
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.