Connecticut2026Passed Legislature
HB05509
New Rules for Justices of the Peace
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 6:19 AM
In one sentence
This law requires a training manual, sets rules against bad behavior and illegal marriages, changes how new justices are chosen when towns add positions, adds a waiting period for marriage licenses, and creates a working group.
What it does
- Requires the Secretary of State to publish an online guide about job duties by July 1, 2027.
- Prohibits justices from lying or defrauding people, using their title in ads, or performing marriages they know are illegal or fraudulent.
- Allows towns to appoint new justices before a regular election if the town creates more positions at least 91 days before that election.
- Gives the Secretary of State power to investigate bad behavior and issue warnings, suspend, or remove unjust officials.
- Makes justices personally responsible for money damages caused by their official mistakes.
- Requires a waiting period of forty-eight hours before issuing a marriage license.
Who it affects
- Justices of the peace in Connecticut towns
- The Secretary of State's office
- Town clerks who handle appointments and records
- Political parties that nominate candidates for new positions
Limits and unknowns
- Different parts of the law take effect on different dates, starting October 1, 2026.
- Details on how many justices each town can have depend on local rules and existing statutes not fully listed here.
- Specific penalties beyond removal or warnings are determined by court cases if damages occur.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Justice of the Peace
- A local official appointed to perform duties like issuing marriage licenses.
- Official Misconduct
- Breaking laws, failing to do required acts, or acting in a negligent, fraudulent, unlawful, or against public interest way while on duty.
- Quadrennial Appointment
- The process of choosing officials that happens every four years.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
To (1) require the Secretary of the State to publish a manual concerning the duties of justices of the peace, (2) prohibit misconduct by justices of the peace, (3) specify that a newly created office of justice of the peace may be filled by appointment prior to the next regular election, (4) require a forty-eight hour waiting period before the issuance of a marriage license, and (5) establish a working group concerning justices of the peace.
Official activity
Bill history
- Signed by the Governor
- Transmitted to the Secretary of State
- Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
- Public Act 26-141LCO
- Senate Passed
- On Consent Calendar / In Concurrence
- Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
- Senate Calendar Number 360
- House Passed
- Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' OfficeLCO
- Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
- House Calendar Number 215
- File Number 259LCO
- Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/30/26 12:00 PMLCO
- Filed with Legislative Commissioners' OfficeLCO
- Joint Favorable SubstitutePD
- Public Hearing 03/11
- Referred to Joint Committee on Planning and Development