AN ACT CONCERNING THE EDUCATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
HB 5259 requires Connecticut school districts to provide educational services to homeless children and youth in alignment with the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.). It prohibits school districts from denying enrollment based on residency and guarantees homeless students a hearing if denied accommodations. The bill also ensures unaccompanied homeless youth (those without a parent or guardian) can access their educational and medical records held by the school. These changes directly affect homeless students, their guardians, and school districts across Connecticut.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 19, 2026
Signed Jun 4, 2026
Floor votes · Senate May 6, 2026 · House Apr 9, 2026
How they voted
36–0
Passed
Total votes 36
May 6, 2026
D
Democratic25
100% Yea
R
Republican11
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
18
Key actions
4
Committee
2
Jun 4, 2026
Signed into law
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
lower
May 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
SENATE PASSED
upper
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
HOUSE PASSED
lower
Mar 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Housing
lower
17 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Eleni DeGraw
DDemocratic/Working Families
P
Farley Santos
DDemocratic
P
Frank Smith
DDemocratic/Working Families
P
Geraldo Reyes
DDemocratic
P
Heather Somers
RRepublican
P
Herron Gaston
DDemocratic
P
JS
Jimmy Sánchez
DDemocratic
P
John Kissel
RRepublican
P
Josh Elliott
DDemocratic
P
Kathy Kennedy
RRepublican
P
Larry Butler
DDemocratic
P
Laurie Sweet
DDemocratic/Working Families
P
M.D. Rahman
DDemocratic/Working Families
P
M.J. Shannon
DDemocratic
P
Nick Gauthier
DDemocratic
P
Pat Dillon
DDemocratic
P
Tone Felipe
DDemocratic
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