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Connecticut2026Passed Legislature

HB05323

Revisions to School Security Rules, Administrator Training, Sports Eligibility, Arts Grants, and Temporary Housing

Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 6:19 AM

In one sentence

This law updates rules for armed security in schools, creates a pilot mentorship program for new school leaders, limits local academic requirements for high school athletes, funds therapeutic arts programs, and allows temporary housing for one military academy.

What it does

  • Limits who can carry firearms as school security to sworn police officers or qualified retired law enforcement officials with specific training.
  • Requires the Connecticut Advisory Council for School Administrator Professional Standards to create a pilot mentorship program plan by July 2027 and implement it starting in the 2027-2028 school year.
  • Stops local schools from setting higher academic requirements than the state athletic conference for high school sports players in grades nine through twelve.
  • Creates a grant program to fund therapeutic arts programs in public schools, prioritizing districts with high rates of exclusionary discipline or limited access to behavioral health services.
  • Allows students at Bridgeport Military Academy to temporarily use classrooms at Fairchild Wheeler Interdistrict Magnet Campus for up to two years while their new building is built.

Who it affects

  • Public school boards and local education agencies
  • School security personnel, including retired police officers and parole officers
  • New school administrators and high school student-athletes in grades nine through twelve
  • Bridgeport Military Academy students and staff

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not specify how much money will be available for the therapeutic arts grants until the Department of Education posts details.
  • The temporary housing arrangement for Bridgeport Military Academy is limited to a maximum of two years or until their new facility opens, whichever comes first.
  • The specific school districts chosen for the administrator mentorship pilot program are not named in this text.

Plain language

Terms to know

Qualified Retired Law Enforcement Officer
A former sworn police officer or parole officer who retired in good standing, meets federal standards to carry a firearm under 18 USC 926C, and completes annual training.
Therapeutic Arts Program
An educational program using art activities supported by state grants for public schools.
Exclusionary Discipline
Disciplinary actions that remove a student from the regular classroom, such as suspension or expulsion.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

To make various revisions to the education statutes.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Signed by the Governor
  2. Transmitted to the Secretary of State
  3. Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
  4. Public Act 26-139LCO
  5. Senate Adopted House Amendment Schedule A
  6. Senate Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A
  7. On Consent Calendar / In Concurrence
  8. Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
  9. Senate Calendar Number 468
  10. File Number 732LCO
  11. House Adopted House Amendment Schedule A 4856
  12. House Passed as Amended by House Amendment Schedule A
  13. Immediate Transmittal to the Senate
  14. No New File by Committee on Appropriations
  15. Tabled for the Calendar, House
  16. Filed with Legislative Commissioners' OfficeLCO
  17. Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' OfficeLCO
  18. Joint FavorableAPP
  19. Referred by House to Committee on Appropriations
  20. Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' OfficeLCO