HB 5406 Connecticut House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING ASSORTED MEASURES RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE HEROISM OF VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND MAKING VARIOUS REVISIONS TO STATUTES RELATED TO VETERANS' AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.

HB 5406 establishes a new ribbon and medal to honor Connecticut veterans and reserve members who served during wartime while residing in the state or being domiciled there at the time of the award. It creates eligibility for veterans called to active duty in wartime or reserve members serving during wartime, with awards potentially given posthumously to those who died after November 12, 1918. The Commissioner of Veterans Affairs and Adjutant General will administer the award process, including designing the ribbon/medal and distributing it using existing military funds. This bill amends Connecticut General Statute §27-73e to implement the honorific award, with no financial or benefit changes beyond the ceremonial recognition.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Signed May 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → VA Joint Favorable Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' by the Veterans Committee, significantly expanding its scope. The original text focused solely on awarding a ribbon and medal to veterans with wartime service. The new version adds a new section requiring the Veterans Affairs Commissioner to post consumer protection warnings and links to the federal VA website on their site to help veterans avoid fraud. It also rewrites existing sections to update the process for listing qualified veterans' charities and establishes a new Office of Advocacy and Assistance staffed by veteran service officers.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a single award program to include consumer protection resources for veterans, a formalized charity listing process, and a new administrative office dedicated to assisting veterans and their families.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for the Veterans Affairs Commissioner to post plain-language warnings about unauthorized agents and links to federal reporting tools on the state VA website.

Added a new requirement for a plain-language message discouraging veterans from sharing their VA or bank account login credentials.

Revised the process for listing qualified veterans' charitable organizations to include specific application requirements like IRS Form 990 and tax-exempt status proof.

Created a new Office of Advocacy and Assistance to help veterans and their families, requiring a staff of at least 19 employees including veteran service officers.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated the eligibility criteria and definitions for the ribbon and medal award program, though the core wartime service requirement remains.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill type from 'Raised Bill' to 'Substitute Bill' and updated the page count and committee reference.

Floor votes · Senate May 4, 2026 · House Apr 9, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed

Total votes 36

May 4, 2026

D Democratic25

25 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican11

11 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 26, 2026

Signed into law

SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

lower

May 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

SEN. PASSED, HO. AMEND. SCH. A

upper

May 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

SEN. ADOPTED HO. AMEND. SCH. A

upper

Apr 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Joint Favorable

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

IMMEDIATE TRANSMITTAL TO COMMITTEE

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

HOUSE PASSED, HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

HOUSE ADOPTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Veterans' and Military Affairs

lower

51 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role

Legislator

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State

District