This bill restricts the disclosure of residential addresses for a wide range of public officials and employees under the state Freedom of Information Act. It directly affects judges, law enforcement officers, firefighters, elected officials, and other government workers who are at risk for safety concerns. The law requires agencies to redact these individuals' home addresses from public records upon request, while still allowing their business addresses to be disclosed. Officials must submit a written request and provide their work address to trigger this protection, which takes effect 90 days before elections for certain local election officials. The changes become effective on October 1, 2026.
This bill updates Connecticut's prevailing wage laws for public works projects by expanding the definition of covered work to include off-site custom fabrication of mechanical systems like plumbing and HVAC. It requires all state and local public works contracts to specify that workers must be paid at least the customary hourly wage for their trade in the area where the project is located. The legislation also strengthens enforcement by allowing the Labor Commissioner to issue citations and fines for wage violations, maintain a public list of repeat offenders, and refer contractors for potential debarment from future state contracts. Additionally, the bill gives contracting officers the authority to terminate contracts or withhold payments if workers are not paid the required wages.
This bill updates campaign finance laws by clarifying how state contracts and related business relationships affect political contributions and spending. It specifically defines who counts as a state contractor, including businesses and nonprofits that work with state agencies on contracts valued at $50,000 or more, while explicitly excluding recognized Indigenous tribes from these definitions. The legislation also expands the definition of who is considered a "principal" of a state contractor to include spouses and dependent children aged 18 or older, thereby broadening restrictions on political contributions and expenditures for those connected to state contracting activities. These changes aim to increase transparency in campaign finance by ensuring that individuals with close ties to state contractors are subject to the same contribution limits and reporting requirements as the contractors themselves.
This bill allows municipalities in Connecticut to hold their local elections at the same time as state elections, which currently occur in even-numbered years. Municipal legislative bodies can vote to align their election dates with the state election schedule, potentially reducing voting costs and increasing voter participation by combining ballots. The legislation also adjusts the terms of current elected officials to match the new election schedule and establishes specific start dates for official terms based on when elections are held.
This bill requires that election recanvass procedures be open to public observation in person, without requiring observers to use electronic means. It applies to election moderators, recanvass officials, and members of the public who wish to watch the recount process. The law mandates that moderators allow public access to observe the recanvass and imposes fines on moderators who impede this right, while also clarifying that observers cannot interfere with the actual counting process. The bill also specifies that party representatives must be allowed to view each ballot as it is being recanvassed to verify markings. These changes take effect on October 1, 2026, and amend existing statutes governing election recanvass procedures.
This bill prohibits lobbyists and their political committees from making or soliciting campaign contributions to candidates running for state legislative office during legislative sessions, including regular, special, and reconvened sessions. It also bars these candidates and their political committees from accepting such contributions during the same periods. The restrictions apply specifically to contributions intended to aid or promote the nomination or election of candidates for the General Assembly, state offices, municipal offices, or probate judge positions. Additionally, the bill requires exploratory committees established by candidates to file dissolution notices and financial statements within fifteen days of certain triggering events, with specific rules for distributing any surplus funds. These measures take effect on January 1, 2027.
This bill requires employees of public agencies to complete training on the state's Freedom of Information Act. It mandates that the Freedom of Information Commission hold annual training sessions, which can be offered in person or through digital recordings. Employees already working on October 1, 2026, must finish the training by March 1, 2027, while new hires must complete it within six months of starting their jobs. The law aims to ensure public agency staff understand their responsibilities regarding public records requests and related statutes.
This bill makes two main changes to Connecticut state law. First, it exempts course syllabi from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, meaning students and the public cannot request these course outlines from public universities. Second, it updates a statute requiring state officials to report on government reorganization efforts to the legislature. The changes take effect on October 1, 2026, and apply to public institutions of higher education and state government departments.
This bill establishes a task force to study how election workers are paid during early voting periods and on election days. The task force will include members appointed by both major political parties in the House and Senate, along with the ability for General Assembly members to serve. The group is required to submit a report with findings and recommendations by January 1, 2027, to the committee overseeing election matters. The study focuses specifically on compensation for registrars, town clerks, and other local election officials, but does not implement any immediate changes to pay rates.
This bill restricts corporations from making political expenditures directly, requiring them to channel such spending through established political committees instead. It applies to all corporations formed or authorized to do business in Connecticut and takes effect on January 1, 2027. Corporations that violate this spending restriction face potential administrative dissolution or revocation of their authority to conduct business in the state. The legislation also updates existing corporate powers and administrative dissolution procedures to enforce these new political spending rules.
This bill updates Connecticut's mental health and addiction statutes to promote recovery-friendly language and clarify definitions related to prevention and research-based programs. It requires the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to incorporate specific terminology changes and mandates a ten-year plan addressing child poverty reduction through various support services. The legislation also expands required school curricula to include mental health, substance use prevention, and financial literacy education while allowing local advisory councils to assist schools with prevention efforts. These changes aim to standardize language across state programs and enhance educational resources for students and families.
This bill requires individuals appointed as conservators in Connecticut Probate Court proceedings to complete an annual training program starting October 1, 2026. The training, funded by the Probate Court Administrator, covers legal duties, ethical responsibilities, court procedures, and available support resources. Conservators who fail to complete the training without good cause may face removal from their position. The program will also be available to conservators appointed before the deadline, with a potential fee of up to $35 for those early participants.
