Connecticut Bills

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 230: AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER PROTECTION'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING LIQUOR CONTROL.

This bill (SB 230) modifies Connecticut's rules for out-of-state wineries shipping wine directly to consumers. It directly affects wineries based outside Connecticut that want to sell wine to Connecticut residents. Key requirements include: shipping labels must clearly state "CONTAINS ALCOHOL - SIGNATURE OF A PERSON AGE 21 OR OLDER REQUIRED FOR DELIVERY," shippers must verify the recipient's age with ID and obtain a signature, limit shipments to five gallons per person every two months, and pay all applicable Connecticut sales and alcohol taxes as if the sale occurred within the state. The bill also mandates that wineries register with the Department of Revenue and allow state audits of their records.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 151: AN ACT PROHIBITING CERTAIN LAND USE AND ZONING LIMITATIONS ON HOUSING.

SB 151 prohibits local municipalities from imposing specific zoning restrictions that limit housing options, effective October 1, 2026. It directly affects local governments (by restricting their zoning authority), homeowners (especially those seeking to add accessory units or operate home-based businesses), and housing developers. Key provisions ban requirements like minimum lot sizes over 5,000 square feet for single-family homes, caps on multifamily units, excessive parking mandates, and restrictions on cottage food operations or home child care in residential zones. The bill exempts historic properties, agricultural land, and conservation areas, and does not override essential safety codes. This aims to increase housing density and affordability by removing common barriers to diverse housing types.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 5367: AN ACT CONCERNING THE REMOVAL OF UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS FROM RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.

HB 5367 allows property owners (or their authorized agents) to request immediate police removal of unauthorized occupants from residential properties. To qualify, owners must prove the person entered without consent, was told to leave, isn’t a tenant, family member, or owner, and there’s no pending lawsuit. The request requires a signed affidavit verifying these conditions and the owner’s title, after which police must serve a "vacate" notice or arrest the occupant. Unauthorized occupants harmed by wrongful removal can sue for triple the fair market rent, plus legal fees. The bill directly affects property owners seeking to evict trespassers and unauthorized occupants facing removal.

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 5361: AN ACT REVISING A PROVISION CONCERNING HOUSING.

HB 5361 requires municipalities to establish or designate an agency to implement affordable housing programs based on income criteria for units built under certain regulations. Municipalities must act within 120 days of a zoning commission's request to create such a program, or the housing authority must take over. The law mandates non-discriminatory selection processes for affordable housing applicants, prohibiting bias based on factors like race, gender, disability, or veteran status. This bill directly affects local governments and housing authorities, effective October 1, 2026. It revises housing statutes to standardize how affordable housing is managed and allocated.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 5420: AN ACT CONCERNING POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE STATE.

HB 5420 requires the Office of Higher Education to study postsecondary education in the state and submit a report to the legislature by January 1, 2027. The bill does not change existing policies or directly affect students, institutions, or taxpayers - it only mandates a study. The Office of Higher Education must complete this analysis and deliver findings to the Higher Education committee as specified in state law. This is a procedural bill focused solely on gathering information, with no concrete policy changes or funding impacts.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 379: AN ACT CONCERNING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE.

SB 379 requires the Board of Regents for Higher Education to study the state's current workforce development initiatives and submit a report by January 1, 2027, to the General Assembly's committee on higher education and employment advancement. The bill does not create new programs or change existing laws; it only mandates a study and report on existing efforts. This report will provide a factual overview of current workforce development activities across the state for legislative review.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 322: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY ISSUES RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING.

SB 322 establishes a task force to study consumer protection and occupational licensing issues. The task force, composed of members appointed by legislative leaders and the Governor (including the Commissioner of Consumer Protection), must submit a report to the relevant legislative committee by January 1, 2027. This bill does not change existing laws but creates a temporary body to examine these issues and provide recommendations.

in committee · Connecticut · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 228: AN ACT CONCERNING LIQUOR PERMITS AND TOBACCO BARS.

SB 228 updates rules for tobacco bars seeking liquor permits by establishing new requirements for qualifying as a "cafe" under liquor regulations. It requires new tobacco bars (operating on or after January 1, 2003) to generate at least 60% of annual gross sales from tobacco products, be located in municipalities with 40,000+ population, install built-in humidors, meet strict ventilation standards (60 CFM/person with outdoor air exchange), and provide health coverage for employees. The bill also clarifies that smoking is prohibited in tobacco bars holding liquor permits, aligning them with existing smoking bans for restaurants and similar establishments. This directly affects tobacco bar owners seeking or renewing liquor permits in qualifying municipalities.

signed · Connecticut · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 299: AN ACT CONCERNING REDEMPTION OF OUT-OF-STATE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS.

SB 299 requires redemption centers in Connecticut to obtain a license from the Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner starting July 1, 2026, with a $2,500 application fee. It restricts centers from accepting containers that were previously redeemed, damaged, not originally sold in Connecticut, or listed as unavailable by deposit initiators. Centers must track redemptions over 1,000 containers per person daily (or 4,000 for nonprofits), keep records for two years, and submit quarterly reports to the state. This bill directly affects redemption center operators, beverage dealers (who must accept eligible containers), and consumers redeeming containers.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 5158: AN ACT PROHIBITING SCHOLARSHIP DISPLACEMENT.

HB 5158 prohibits colleges in the state from reducing a student's financial aid package simply because the student receives a scholarship from any source (private or public). It directly affects students receiving scholarships and public/private institutions of higher education. The bill defines "financial aid" to include scholarships, grants, and federal/state aid (but excludes student loans), and allows reductions only if total aid already covers the student's full cost of attendance or to comply with athletic aid rules for NCAA athletes. This takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 5216: AN ACT CONCERNING STIPENDS FOR STUDENT TEACHERS.

HB 5216 creates a state program called STIPEND that provides $1,000 weekly stipends to student teachers during their public school teaching experience in Connecticut. Teacher preparation programs must report enrollment and completion data to the Department of Education, which disburses funds directly to student teachers. If a student teacher doesn't work as a certified public school teacher for two years after graduation, they must repay 50% of the stipend received. The bill requires annual reports on employment rates of program participants to the legislature.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Connecticut · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 5210: AN ACT ESTABLISHING VARIOUS DATA SECURITY REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

HB 5210 establishes new data security requirements for financial institutions operating in Connecticut, including banks, credit unions, and out-of-state institutions with a presence in the state. It mandates that these institutions create written security programs to protect customer data and comply with federal data security standards under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The bill also requires institutions to report any data security incidents involving consumer information within three business days of discovery. These requirements take effect October 1, 2026, and apply to all covered financial institutions handling Connecticut consumer data.

Topics ✓ Technology

Bill results